Hofner / Model 463 Acoustic Archtop / 1954 / Tan Spruce With Mahogany Back And Sides / Guitar For Sale
Non-cutaway. This super-rare, fifty-seven year old, non-cutaway sixteen inch-wide, three and a quarter inch deep archtop, weighs just 4.80 lbs. and has a nut width of just over 1 9/16 inches and a scale length of 25 1/4 inches. Two-piece carved close-grain spruce top, one-piece carved ribbon mahogany back, and ribbon mahogany sides. A wonderful medium-to-thick profile, three-piece maple neck with a two mahogany center strips. Two-layer (mother-of-peraloid and black) neck heel onlay. Brazilian rosewood fretboard with original triple-layer (white/black/white) nut, 'zero' fret and 22 original jumbo nickel-silver frets. Block shaped fretboard markers with inlaid eleven-piece mother-of-pearl, tortoiseshell, black and white strips. The top and bottom of the body are very ornately bound with a thick white binding on the sides and half-herringbone 'rope' purfling around the top and back. The f-holes are single-bound and the neck is triple-bound. Headstock with three-strip pattern of white mother-of-pearloid and tortoiseshell with arrow shape outline inlaid in white. Three-in-a row open-back strip tuners with white oval plastic buttons. Shaped white mother-of-pearloid pickguard with one-line border engraved in black and with mounting bracket to treble edge of body and two securing pins, one to the treble side of neck and the other to the treble side of the bridge. Original rosewood height-adjustable bridge with adjustable fret-wire inserts. Nickel-plated escutcheon 'Lyre' tailpiece with "Hofner" engraved on wide bar, secured by two pins and one screw. The inside of the spruce top is marked in pencil "27. 9. 54". The "Hofner" logo is impressed (in black) into the spruce top, just below the treble foot of the rosewood bridge. This incredibly rare guitar is near mint (9.25) condition with just some very fine finish checking on the top and a few tiny surface marks on the back. It has never had (nor required) a neck re-set, there are no cracks in the body and the neck has never been drilled for a strap button. Housed in a later (worn) black shaped softshell four-latch case with tan foam lining (8.00).
In our research we have been unable to find another example with all of the present refinements. It is very obvious that this model was produced in 'tiny' numbers…
Fretted Americana , USA 
We specialize in acquiring and offering the finest specimens of American vintage electric guitars with particular attention to those in their complete, original state. We are the only dealer to embrace a written code of ethics (in Terms & Conditions). We encourage you to read it.
HOW WE WORK
We want to inspire and win your trust and confidence. You don't want to have any negative surprises upon receipt of an instrument that you've invested yourself as well as your money into. Nor do you want any untoward surprises should you decide to sell it in the future.
To that end, every guitar that we offer is catalogued to a degree and depth of detail that is fast becoming the standard in the trade. When we declare an instrument to be completely original, it is. If it is not, we tell you exactly in what manner it has been altered.
We photograph each guitar at many angles to provide you with the broadest, clearest sense of its appearance. We will, upon request, provide you with images of all electronic components, inside and out.
Each guitar we acquire is skillfully and painstakingly dissected by David Brass, who is a trained luthier as well as a dealer and collector. All parts, no matter how small, are meticulously examined. We have an enviable reference library of wide breadth and scope that we refer to when necessary for crucial facts. The instrument is put under a black-light: original finish or refin? Even the most skillfully masked ding is uncovered. David then fastidiously reassembles the instrument. It is then cleaned with the finest products available for wood and metal.
An inspection certificate of authenticity signed by David is provided with every guitar you purchase.
We keep our inventory relatively small and highly select. We choose our guitars with extreme care so we can offer you the finest examples of the finest rare guitars in the world.
We are client focused to an extraordinary degree. If you expect or would like to be surprised by courteous, professional client service, we will pleased to accommodate that desire.
It is our fervent wish to establish a long-term relationship with you.
CODE OF ETHICS
We wish to establish an ongoing relationship with you based upon your trust in our knowledge and judgment.
To that end:
We meticulously inspect in detail every guitar that we offer. We check the finish, all of the electrical components, serial numbers, etc. With over thirty years of experience collecting and handling vintage guitars and our enormous reference library, we bring to bear all that is known about guitar manufacturers, models, and annual production.
We provide full, detailed descriptions and specs to each guitar.
We openly disclose any and all flaws we discover in writing. If the instrument is not completely “straight,” we will tell you so and why.
We endeavor to conduct ourselves to the highest standard of professional behavior.
We will deal fairly and ethically; no surprises, flim-flam, dubious business practices or shenanigans.
We value your sense of privacy and uphold the highest standards of discretion and respect
We allow a full 48 hour honeymoon period when you buy a guitar from us. If you are not 100% satisfied with it we will refund the purchase price in full, less shipping, upon return of the guitar in the same condition as sold. Please call us before returning the instrument.
Please inspect your new guitar immediately upon receiving it. If any guitar we offer is found to be not as described, we will happily refund the full purchase price, less shipping, upon return of the guitar in the same condition as sold. Please call us before returning the instrument.
