This stunning looking archtop is the deluxe version of the Committee model, and fore-runner to the Golden Hofner. Made over a very short period in 1958 and into 1959, these Deluxes are rare and beautiful!
It would seem that the Deluxe was part of the development process leading up the Golden Hofner model, as they incorporate quite a few features of the Golden, most notably the 11-piece neck construction. The 17.5" wide "body has a solid carved spruce top, with heavily flamed maple back and sides. The effect of the binding and purfling around the body top and back has been increased dramatically by staining of the maple strips enclosed by the purfling.
This Deluxe has serial number 104, so probably the 5 th
one made. The hardware looks to be all original, including those fantastic machine heads with the buttons, unusually, all intact. Unusually the sides of the guitar have been stained and lacquered dark – under a black light test this looks to be original - if not original it certainly has been professionally carried out and we would guess this has been carried out very early on in its life – certainly suits the guitar.
Overall the guitar is in fantastic condition – action is nice and low right across the fretboard. There is some gentle lacquer checking to front, back and sides which is only visible from certain angles. There is one small mark to top right of the top and one small mark on the side, and a small crack at the top of the headstock. There are vacant holes where a floating pickup was once fitted and another vacant hole to the side which must have been for another scratch plate at some point – all shown in the last 6 photographs. Comes complete with quality fitted hard case.
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