Up for sale is a vintage 1959 Höfner Committee Acoustic Archtop Guitar in a beautiful Blonde/Natural finish.

The guitar is used and remains in good vintage cosmetic and excellent playing condition, especially considering its age. Dating to 1959, this Committee features the highly ornate appointments associated with Höfner's upper-end archtops of this period, including the elaborate floral headstock and fingerboard inlays, decorative tuning buttons, bound body and neck, and a beautifully figured birdseye maple back.

The guitar has recently been serviced and is currently set up with medium-low action. It plays exceptionally well up and down the neck, the frets remain in great shape, and the guitar has a wonderful acoustic voice with plenty of volume and character.

A new bone nut has been installed, along with a fresh set of D'Addario EJ16 .012–.053 phosphor bronze strings. One of the small individual metal bridge saddles has also been replaced.

As expected from a guitar approaching 70 years old, there are a number of cosmetic and age-related imperfections. There is finish checking throughout the top, back, and sides, along with checking and light cracking in areas of the binding. There is also a light center-seam split/line running along the top, which appears stable and does not appear to affect the structural integrity or playability of the instrument.

One tuning-machine button is cracked in half but remains functional and tunes properly. The clear pickguard has a crack near its mounting point that has been repaired. There are also a couple of small chips to the face of the headstock around the nut area from removal of the original broken nut. The neck heel shows a visible finish crack/check, but we do not see evidence that the crack extends into the underlying wood.

Despite these age-related imperfections, the guitar presents beautifully overall and has no major dings or large finish chips. Most importantly, it is an exceptionally nice player and sounds fantastic.

About This Model

The Höfner Committee was one of the company's high-end professional archtop guitars and represents some of the most elaborate workmanship found on Höfner's German-made acoustic instruments of the 1950s.

This example bears the internal Höfner "Master Class Guitar" label, identifying it as a Committee, No. 3346. The serial/registration number and period-specific appointments are consistent with 1959 production.

The Committee is particularly recognizable for its elaborate decorative appointments, including its oversized ornate headstock, floral and vine-style inlays, extensive binding, distinctive tailpiece, and highly figured woods.

This particular example has an especially attractive birdseye maple back, with extensive natural figuring visible across the body.

As an acoustic archtop, the Committee produces the focused, articulate response associated with traditional European jazz and orchestral archtops while retaining a surprisingly rich acoustic character.

Condition:

• Used
• Good vintage cosmetic condition
• Excellent playing condition
• Dates to approximately 1959
• Serial/registration number: 3346
• Finish checking throughout the top, back, and sides
• Light center-seam split/line visible along the top
• Checking and light cracking present in areas of the binding
• One tuner button is cracked but remains fully functional
• Clear pickguard has a repaired crack near the mounting point
• Minor chips around the headstock/nut area from previous nut removal
• Finish crack/check visible around the neck heel; does not appear to extend into the wood
• No major dings or large finish chips
• Frets remain in great condition
• Plays extremely well with medium-low action
• Recently restrung and serviced

Details:

• Brand: Höfner
• Model: Committee
• Year: 1959
• Serial/Registration No.: 3346
• Type: Acoustic Archtop Guitar
• Finish: Blonde / Natural
• Country of Manufacture: Germany
• Highly figured birdseye maple back
• Ornate floral headstock inlays
• Decorative fingerboard inlays
• Bound body, neck, and headstock
• Floating archtop bridge
• Decorative metal tailpiece
• Clear elevated pickguard
• Acoustic model with no electronics

Recent Service / Replacement Parts:

• New bone nut installed
• Fresh set of D'Addario EJ16 .012–.053 phosphor bronze strings
• One individual metal bridge saddle replaced
• Pickguard crack repaired
• Guitar set up and playing extremely well

Included:

• 1959 Höfner Committee Acoustic Archtop Guitar
• Clear pickguard as pictured

Not Included:

• Case
• Original broken nut
• Additional accessories or paperwork not pictured

This is a beautiful example of a late-1950s Höfner Committee that shows its age honestly but remains an exceptionally enjoyable and impressive-playing vintage archtop. The combination of the ornate period appointments, highly figured birdseye maple, blonde finish, and excellent playability makes this a particularly striking instrument.

The guitar will be carefully packed to ensure safe delivery.

Feel free to reach out with any questions—happy to help.