I haven’t been here in a while if you look at the label inside of my guitar you’ll see that it has a ridiculous serial number of 00092. A few years ago I was on the phone and back and forth with emails with honor headquarters in Germany but as stated by the gentleman that I was speaking with, people were around that would know about my guitar from the 1980 we’re all gone now. If you look at The Archives and specifically says that the acoustic model HG 04 has the year listed as 1981 but if you look on the way the wheel see playing later date stamp is seven of 80. I’m thinking that this was some kind of prototype or they were just testing the market and in 1981 it may have been put into mass production this is an incredible guitar it sounds as true as it did when it was brand new when I bought it at 20 years old I cannot seem to find anything. Black lettering on the headstock a date stamp even the labels are different I’m not seen the label exactly like the one I have and forget the serial number that’s something Corporate could not answer either
The historical models list is not 100% accurate, especially when it comes to dates. There are models listed as being made from 1978-1985 when there are dated examples of the model from 1976. So yours being dated a year before the document says it was introduced is not remarkable.
The Japanese acoustic guitars (I’m assuming it’s Japanese because the country is in shadow) were made by multiple factories with multiple serial number formats, which don’t seem to be sequential and none of which can be definitively decoded. There is a tendency with 5 digit serial numbers on guitars with known dates for the first digit to match the year (9 = 1979, 0 = 1980, etc.) and yours fits into this. But again, they’re not sequential and 00092 is just an identifying number and by no means ridiculous.
In addition, the labels changed all the time and even the headstock shape and logo can differ within the same model number. Probably a result of production moving around. Do you have a photo of the headstock?
Yes. I appreciate that info also. Thanks for that. There’s another photo of a number inside of the guitar looking toward the neck that I had forgotten about. I’ll include the picture of the headstock which is typical of those with vertical block lettering. After that I’ll send the photo of the number inside of the guitar
Here’s a photo of the guitar, I’ll have to find the photo of that number inside by the neck above the bracing and I’ll send that as soon any information you can offer would be greatly appreciated thanks again
Hi Peter,
according to the list of production dates I have, the HG-04 was manufactured in series from 1981 - 1985, presumably in Japan. As you say, there is nobody still around at Hohner who would have any first hand knowledge of these instruments, and company records from this era are fragmentary. Your guitar could very well be from a pre-production run. Phil’s comments make good sense to me, he is very knowledgeable and may be able to help you further,
cheers
Steve
There’s an enthusiast-maintained document of the Japanese made Hohners and the HG-04 is recorded in there as having two different configurations - one with a horizontal logo and adjustable bridge, one with a vertical logo and fixed bridge, like yours. The horizontal logo one is actually in the 1978 catalogue so the Hohner historical guitars PDF is demonstrably wrong about the dates in this case.
My understanding, as a Hohner dealer in those days, as well an attendee of both the NAMM Show in the USA and the Musikmesse in Germany, is that anything badged as “Hohner International” was manufactured specifically for Hohner USA, rather than Hohner Germany.
I don’t think that’s necessarily correct. Although Hohner USA may well have commissioned models which were aimed specifically at the US market under the Hohner International name, the designation Hohner International has frequently been used for entry level instruments which were/are marketed worldwide, also in Europe. This certainly appears to be the case with harmonicas, I’m not sure about guitars though.
That’s awesome Phil! I’ve never seen that before. Regarding my guitar, I’m not so sure that the 00092 serial number really has any meaning at all and is basically just an inventory number. It would make sense to me I think because the HG 04 he does have a production date of 1981 and you can see clearly on my label that it says 7/80. Don’t believe that they would put that date stamp on if any kind of date or information could be ascertained by the serial number. I’d like to think that it was a test product that was used to test the waters and it’s marketability before going into full production in 1981. Now comes the sad part. As I may have said, I turned 64 last October and have decided to sell it. My cringe to think what my wife would do with it . A this beautiful guitar is like my friend that’s been with me since it was brand new 44 years ago. I’d like to know that it went to somebody who is going to appreciate it as much as I have all these years. I’m not sure what to ask as far as a price. Most likely I’ll go high and so to speak test the waters myself. One thing is for sure about this ancient guitar. I can’t find it’s equal anywhere. I can find other HG 04 guitars but I haven’t seen one with the vertical head stock logo. I know I promised you a picture of the number inside let me see if I can get that oh okay[quote=“StephenChambers, post:7, topic:4511, full:true”]
My understanding, as a Hohner dealer in those days, as well an attendee of both the NAMM Show in the USA and the Musikmesse in Germany, is that anything badged as “Hohner International” was manufactured specifically for Hohner USA, rather than Hohner Germany.
[/quote]
Thank you Steve for both of those emails
. Every bit of information that I can get helps me out. You know and all of the HG 04 guitars that I’ve looked at and even some that are very similar, I have not come across a label that is identical to the one inside of my guitar… literally dozens and dozens of guitars and not one has that label. I’ve seen a few other labels and they appear on many guitars so why not the one I have? I’m still looking for that photo among a thousand photos of that stamped number on the inside looking towards the neck. Sorry for the delay I may have to take it again but I’m not sure how it would help or would it mean. But thanks so much I appreciate everything
The Hohner International trademark belonged to M. Hohner, Inc., Andrews Road, Hicksville, NY [Hohner USA]. First used on 21st January 1974, it was filed on 20th May 1974, Serial Number 73021843.
But Hohner International instruments were certainly marketed in other countries - I’m not saying they weren’t - indeed I sold plenty of them in Ireland. Though whether they were supplied direct to the UK & Ireland distributors, or came via Hohner Germany, I couldn’t tell you…
