Hofner 459 VTZ 1967 Sunburst. Violin 6 string guitar. UBER RARE with Vibrato.

Hofner

459VTZ

VIOLIN

Electric Guitar

6 Strings

1967

EXTREMELY RARE WITH TREMOLO

TRADES WELCOMED.

“It just makes sense, doesn’t it..” folks always say when they see my original Hofner Violin 6 string guitar.  Thanks to Paul we always expect to see a Hofner Violin shape guitar as the iconic “Beatle Bass” so our eyes stutter a bit at a Hofner Violin shaped guitar with six strings.  Just does not match our mind’s stored recall matches. 

So now, you just need to think differently because here is a real, and extremely rare, HOFNER Model 459 VTZ 6 string Violin.  And what’s more, it has FUZZ TONE built into its electronics. 

The 459-VTZ

The model number was resurrected for use with a totally different guitar to the 1950's Model 459. This was a violin shaped guitar with six strings, based on the 500/1 bass guitar. Bolt-on neck. Bar type fret markers and vine-style mother of pearl headstock inlays. Two pickups fitted with active electronics. The “V” indicated that it has a “Vibrato”.  This Model is much rarer than the 459-VT most commonly seen.

Here are some online comments about this model:

Fuzzy Memories (1967 Hofner 459TZ Electric Guitar)

“Just exactly why and when electric guitarists began using distortion as a musical voice is a little fuzzy, as it were. You can probably blame it largely on rock and roll, though some of those Western Swing cats were definitely pushing things. There’s no question that the electric guitar was invented in order to be louder. Early electric guitars didn’t have enough output to overdrive the preamp stages of amplifiers, but following the War pickups had gotten powerful enough to distort an amp when you cranked it up. Popular history suggests that some early rock guitarists jammed pencils into their amp speaker cones in order to get distortion during the early ‘60s. By the later ‘60s—especially with the advent of transistor circuits—musical instrument designers began to come up with electronic methods for creating distortion and other special effects suitable for the psychedelic frame of mind of the guitar’s audience! Sometimes this was an external device, sometimes it was built into the amplifier, and sometimes, like on this 1967 Hofner 459TZ, it was put right into the guitar itself!”

“As far as I know, this 1967 Hofner 459TZ may have been the first of a long line of guitars with active electronic effects built in. Of course, the first thing you notice is the violin shape, which was, thanks to Paul McCartney’s bass, the company’s main claim to fame. That alone would make it pretty cool. But then there are those groovy ‘60s Hofner celluloid fingerboard inlays. You’d like it for those. But wait, there’s more! Those nifty dual-blade humbuckers were among the best on Euro guitars at the time.”

“But all that pales when you consider the effects! This has basically two active circuits, perfect for your psychedelic rendition of Ina Gadda Da Vida. One, the ‘T’ was a treble boost. Throw the switch and (most of the time) the treble kicks in for that biting, blow your mind solo! The other, the ‘Z’ is a built in fuzztone distortion circuit. Want nasty? Throw that switch and you get that nasal idea of distortion that was big in the Summer o’ Love. And some rarer ones had a Vibrato system which added a ‘V’ to the Model # becoming:  ‘459 VTZ.’”

“How long these were around or how many were made is a mystery, but not too many seem to show up. It wasn’t long after this guitar appeared that folks began experimenting with active onboard electronics that were more sophisticated, but still descended from this.”

CONDITION:

1.  Surface:  This guitar has been well played and has dents, dings, scratches, marks, gouges, etc. to show for it. In other words, it is the perfect “Natural Relic”.  No additional dragging, beating etc. required.

2.  Structure:  This guitar does not have any structural damage.  Only cosmetic.

3.  Finish: The finish on this guitar has faded and does have finish checking.  Again, it is a relic.

4.  Electronic:  Everything works.

5.  Knobs:  Tone and volume knobs are both worn with silver insert missing from one.

6.  Frets:  Show wear but still playable.

7.  Other Hardware:  In good condition,

8.  Modifications:  Back battery cover has been replaced.

Guarantee:

The guarantee (applicable to sales only-not trades).

1.           The guitar is in good “relic” condition. See above.

2.         The guitar is in fully operational condition.

3.         Buyer has 48 hrs. to inspect the guitar or have it inspected.  Any defects, damage, misrepresentations or other problems must be reported within that time period in writing to the Seller.

4.     If problems are discovered, Seller will either arrange for repair etc. at a location near the Buyer or request that the Buyer return the guitar to the Seller (Seller will reimburse Buyer for cost of shipment of guitar back to Seller).

5.         Seller will correct indicated problems and ship the guitar back to the Buyer within 7 days of receiving it.

6.         In the event that the guitar cannot be repaired or replaced with a similar item from Seller’s inventory, the Seller will give the Buyer Credit toward current or future purchases from inventory of Seller.

7.         In the case of damage during shipment, Buyer shall immediately inform seller of such damage and will maintain all original packing materials and box for inspection by the transportation company.

8.         EXCHANGES: Should one of these situations arise within the first 49 hours of receipt of the guitar by the Buyer, we will allow buyer to EXCHANGE this purchased guitar for any other guitar in our inventory at same price point (or higher with payment in prices).

a)          For Buyer Remorse or Buyer Mind Changing. 

b)        If there are any undisclosed physical attributes of this guitar that will prevent buyer from playing it successfully, e.g., neck to wide to be played with arthritic hands, guitar too heavy to be played due to back, shoulder, etc. problems.

9.   A Credit Memo, in the amount paid for the guitar, plus the cost of shipment paid by the Buyer, will be issued upon return of the guitar by the Seller.  This Credit Memo will remain valid in its full value for one year from date of issue.

Our goal is to make sure each and every Buyer is pleased with his/her purchase from us.

Thanks.