Hoyer Model 43 London Bass Semi-Hollow Body Electric Bass Guitar, c. 1967
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Hoyer Model 43 London Bass Model Semi-Hollow Body Electric Bass Guitar, c. 1967, Erlangen, Germany, serial # 000510.
The Arnold Hoyer company is one of the less-remembered German builders active during the "Beat Boom" period but they were responsible for some interesting, rare and slightly off-kilter electric instruments in the 1950s and '60s. The firm actually dates back to 1874, founded by Franz Hoyer with a workshop in Schonbach initially building lutes and zithers, then classical and folk guitars. After the disruptions of WWII his son Joseph Hoyer moved the operation near Erlangen in Bavaria, Germany. Joseph's son Arnold eventually pushed the company into the booming electric market with sometimes interesting results!
One of these is the Model 43 London Bass, Hoyer's entry into their neighbor Hofner's best remembered realm. As is also typical of both Hofner and Framus there seem to be a number different versions of the design over a fairly short period but all share the same general layout and structure. The small body is sort of guitar-shaped but with a violin-like taper around the neck heel, made of maple with a spruce top. The neck is very long and slim, in this case made of longitudinally laminated strips of wood as is common with Framus instruments. This has a 30" scale and the fingerboard has hardly any taper, in common with many European basses. The neck is set in, but the heel is covered with a seemingly redundant screwed-on metal plate.
The Model 43 was offered in single or double pickup configuration, this single pickup version is the more common. Earlier production model 43's featured large f-holes in the body with a stop tailpiece; later production runs eliminated the f-holes. This one is a mid-period version still with large open soundholes but a metal cover added over the tailpiece. Some final versions adopted a trapeze tailpiece configuration. Although the bass appears fully hollow there is a substantial solid wooden block through center of the body that is NOT attached to the back, but rises up to meet the bridge under the top providing support for the screwed-on bridge hardware.
The single pickup with a center blade was designed by Bill Lawrence; it is a very hot unit indeed with quite a powerful sound. It is mounted in a center-body position giving a different tonal character than the typical German hollowbody bass. The wiring rig has tone and volume knobs and a 3-way tone switch that does-something! The fully adjustable Schaller bridge was also used on other German and some American guitars, as were the closed back Van Gent tuners. This is an eccentric but very nicely made, unique feeling and sounding bass, a definitely unusual variant on the 1960s Hofner formula.
Overall length is 44 in. (111.8 cm.), 13 3/8 in. (34 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 3 1/4 in. (8.3 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 30 in. (762 mm.). Width of nut is 1 3/8 in. (35 mm.).
Overall this is a nice, clean original bass. The finish shows some fairly heavy checking, with some light flaking off the upper edges of the fingerboard but not much play wear, just a few chips and dings. It appears all original (except possible the plastic strap button at the heel) and complete except the "Hoyer" logo has fallen off the headstock, leaving only a ghost image. The neck is very slim and comfortable and this is a super easy playing bass with a surprisingly powerful sound. It resides in a modern gig bag. Overall Excellent - Condition.
The Arnold Hoyer company is one of the less-remembered German builders active during the "Beat Boom" period but they were responsible for some interesting, rare and slightly off-kilter electric instruments in the 1950s and '60s. The firm actually dates back to 1874, founded by Franz Hoyer with a workshop in Schonbach initially building lutes and zithers, then classical and folk guitars. After the disruptions of WWII his son Joseph Hoyer moved the operation near Erlangen in Bavaria, Germany. Joseph's son Arnold eventually pushed the company into the booming electric market with sometimes interesting results!
One of these is the Model 43 London Bass, Hoyer's entry into their neighbor Hofner's best remembered realm. As is also typical of both Hofner and Framus there seem to be a number different versions of the design over a fairly short period but all share the same general layout and structure. The small body is sort of guitar-shaped but with a violin-like taper around the neck heel, made of maple with a spruce top. The neck is very long and slim, in this case made of longitudinally laminated strips of wood as is common with Framus instruments. This has a 30" scale and the fingerboard has hardly any taper, in common with many European basses. The neck is set in, but the heel is covered with a seemingly redundant screwed-on metal plate.
The Model 43 was offered in single or double pickup configuration, this single pickup version is the more common. Earlier production model 43's featured large f-holes in the body with a stop tailpiece; later production runs eliminated the f-holes. This one is a mid-period version still with large open soundholes but a metal cover added over the tailpiece. Some final versions adopted a trapeze tailpiece configuration. Although the bass appears fully hollow there is a substantial solid wooden block through center of the body that is NOT attached to the back, but rises up to meet the bridge under the top providing support for the screwed-on bridge hardware.
The single pickup with a center blade was designed by Bill Lawrence; it is a very hot unit indeed with quite a powerful sound. It is mounted in a center-body position giving a different tonal character than the typical German hollowbody bass. The wiring rig has tone and volume knobs and a 3-way tone switch that does-something! The fully adjustable Schaller bridge was also used on other German and some American guitars, as were the closed back Van Gent tuners. This is an eccentric but very nicely made, unique feeling and sounding bass, a definitely unusual variant on the 1960s Hofner formula.
Overall length is 44 in. (111.8 cm.), 13 3/8 in. (34 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 3 1/4 in. (8.3 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 30 in. (762 mm.). Width of nut is 1 3/8 in. (35 mm.).
Overall this is a nice, clean original bass. The finish shows some fairly heavy checking, with some light flaking off the upper edges of the fingerboard but not much play wear, just a few chips and dings. It appears all original (except possible the plastic strap button at the heel) and complete except the "Hoyer" logo has fallen off the headstock, leaving only a ghost image. The neck is very slim and comfortable and this is a super easy playing bass with a surprisingly powerful sound. It resides in a modern gig bag. Overall Excellent - Condition.