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Thread: Looking for Information on an old Hofner Mandolin...See Photos

  1. #1

    Default Looking for Information on an old Hofner Mandolin...See Photos

    I am looking for some information on this Hofner Mandolin. I cannot find a serial number but it has (some numbers I cannot read written above Special on the label). I am in the dark about this so I would appreciate any help i could get as to the age, Model and Value......I know Guitars but not Mandolins....Thanks
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  2. #2
    Moderator MikeEdgerton's Avatar
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    Default Re: Looking for Information on an old Hofner Mandolin...See Photo

    Some catalog images can be seen here. Every thread with the word Hofner in it on the cafe can be found here. As far as value goes they aren't really valuable. It's not a Beatle bass sort of thing.
    "It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
    --M. Stillion

    "Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
    --J. Garber

  3. #3
    Registered User Cobalt's Avatar
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    Default Hofner or Hobner?

    Quote Originally Posted by spins View Post
    I am looking for some information on this Hofner Mandolin.
    Are you sure about the name, it looks like HoBner to me?
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    The Hofner logo for comparison looks like this:
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    I myself have an instrument with the Hobner name (see pictures), it sounds reasonable, but is cheaply made, I'm not sure where it came from, but I doubt that it is what it purports to be.
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  4. #4
    Registered User Cobalt's Avatar
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    Default Re: Looking for Information on an old Hofner Mandolin...See Photo

    It seems to bears some resemblance to the Givson:
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  5. #5

    Default Re: Looking for Information on an old Hofner Mandolin...See Photo

    You're right it is a Hobner………….Thanks for the Info......I thought it was a Hofner

  6. #6
    Mando accumulator allenhopkins's Avatar
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    Default Re: Looking for Information on an old Hofner Mandolin...See Photo

    OMG, a "fake" Hofner? With a Hobner logo obviously designed to replicate the Hofner logo, and fool the unwary?

    Anyway, here's a Hobner on eBay for $140.

    And this website has pix of Hobner guitars with prices listed in Indian rupees -- might suggest country of origin (cf. Post #4 above).
    Allen Hopkins
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  8. #7

    Default Re: Looking for Information on an old Hofner Mandolin...See Photo

    It seems they have overlooked rule #1 of counterfeiting: only counterfeit something there is a demand for.......

  9. #8

    Default Re: Looking for Information on an old Hofner Mandolin...See Photo

    Yea i was thinking the same thing

  10. #9
    Moderator MikeEdgerton's Avatar
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    Default Re: Looking for Information on an old Hofner Mandolin...See Photo

    When that was made they had a market. They weren't manufacturing fake Rolex watches for the masses, they probably sold everything they made wherever it was they were selling it. You can't put it into a context where you think about who would think it was a real Hofner. To be honest, a real Hofner mandolin isn't worth all that much either.
    "It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
    --M. Stillion

    "Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
    --J. Garber

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