Höfner Hofner Model 456 Archtop

When Hofner re-commenced production in Moehrendorf, Bavaria after WW2, the 456 was one of the archtop models offered. A very similar archtop had been produced with that model designation before the onset of the war when Hofner were based at Schoenbach in Bohemia.

The 456 was intended to be Hofner’s mid-range archtop, utilising nicely flamed maple for the body back & sides, with a maple top. A good standard of ornamentation was used on the guitar, with binding/multi-purfling around body top & back edges and sounholes, with the rosewood neck also bound. Pearloid strips were used for the fretmarkers, and on all but the very earliest guitars, a pearloid/tortoishell/pearloid celluloid fascia covered the front of the headstock.
Initially the 456 was only supplied in brown sunburst finish. Later, a natural blonde finish was available, and some examples even have a red-burst finish.

As with the rest of the Hofner range, the 456 was available from c1954 with the option of factory fitted electrics.

The 456 disappeared from the range in 1962, by which stage the 457 model would seem to have taken over as Hofner’s principle mid-range archtop.

reverb.com/item/10542308-hofner-456-model-1952-sunburst

reverb.com/item/5611145-hofner-president-457-1952-case-vintage-natural-burst-rare