NAMM 2019 Video: Höfner releases Leader Classic, Leader Professional

Höfner may be known for their Violin Bass and vintage-leaning designs, but the brand’s two new guitars don’t take too many cues from the past. The Leader Classic and Leader Professional are lightweight, semi-hollow workhorses with modern features.

Leader Classic

This double-cutaway model catches the eye with its six-a-side headstock shape, inspired by the guitars the German brand made in the 60s. The Leader Classic features a lightweight hollow body construction with a solid spruce centre block that contributes to better sustain and less feedback. Other tonewoods include a flame maple top, back and sides, as well as an ebony fingerboard.

Tone is derived from two pickups: a NoWaxx Höfner P90 at the neck, and a NoWaxx exclusive humbucker at the bridge. These pups are governed by a master volume knob and a blend knob. The latter lets you swing between the P90’s brightness and the bridge humbucker’s darker character.

Available in an Orange finish.

Leader Professional

The Leader Professional boasts a similar hollow body construction as the Leader Classic, though the tonewoods are different. It features a spruce top, spruce back and sides, as well as a mahogany centre block.

This guitar is also loaded with the same pickups as the Leader Classic, which can be shaped by a master volume knob and a three-way pickup selector. As a final touch, the axe is fitted with a traditional stop tailpiece and a Tune-o-matic bridge.

Available in a Blue Sparkle finish.

Check out an overview of both models in the video above.

More information at hofner.com.