Höfner 4574 “Verithin” Cherry Red 1965

The Höfner 4574 was introduced around 1960 as the European-market counterpart to the Verithin sold through Selmer in the UK. Strictly speaking, “Verithin” was the Selmer model name, while guitars intended for continental Europe and other markets were designated 4574, although the Verithin name is now widely used for both. The design was Höfner’s take on the emerging thin-bodied electric archtop, but unlike a Gibson ES-335 it remained fully hollow rather than using a solid centre block.

This 1965 example has the earlier double Venetian cutaway body, finished in translucent Cherry Red. The body is only around 30 mm deep, with a laminated spruce top and laminated figured maple back and sides. The extensive body binding, bound f-holes, black pickguard and distinctive striped fingerboard inlays are typical Verithin/4574 details. Cherry became the model’s predominant finish after the earliest russet-red instruments.

By 1965 the 4574 had moved to Höfner Type 511 “Staple” humbucking pickups, replacing the earlier Type 510 single coils. This guitar has 511 pickups together with four rotary volume and tone controls and no conventional pickup selector. It also has Höfner’s Micromatic adjustable bridge and the factory Höfner vibrato commonly found on European-market 4574s.

There is a fair amount of normal playwear throughout, including marks and finish wear around the body and headstock. There are no breaks or cracks. The frets are approximately 90% there – relatively low but the guitar plays very well, and the vibrato operates smoothly. There is no serial number, which is correct for a European-market 4574. No case or bag is included.

SPECIFICATIONS

• Manufacturer: Höfner
• Model: 4574, commonly known as Verithin
• Year: 1965
• Country of manufacture: West Germany
• Finish: Cherry Red
• Finish type: Nitrocellulose lacquer
• Construction: Fully hollow thinline archtop
• Centre block: None
• Body shape: Symmetrical double Venetian cutaway
• Body depth: Approx. 30–32 mm / 1.25″
• Body length: Approx. 520 mm
• Lower bout width: Approx. 410 mm
• Top: Laminated spruce
• Back: Laminated figured/flamed maple
• Sides: Laminated maple
• Top construction: Arched
• Back construction: Arched
• Soundholes: Two f-holes
• F-hole binding: White
• Body binding: Multi-ply black and white
• Neck construction: Set neck
• Neck material: Laminated maple/beech construction
• Fingerboard: Rosewood
• Fingerboard binding: White
• Scale length: Approx. 650 mm / 25.5″
• Frets: 22 plus zero fret
• Fret material: Nickel-silver
• Fingerboard markers: Höfner multi-piece horizontal pearloid/tortoiseshell-style bar inlays
• Nut: Laminated white/black/white
• Zero fret: Yes
• Truss rod: Adjustable
• Headstock: Bound black face
• Headstock logo: Höfner block logo
• Headstock decoration: Bellflower/floral inlay
• Tuners: Six individual open-back geared tuners
• Tuner buttons: Cream plastic
• Pickups: 2 × Höfner Type 511 “Staple” humbuckers
• Controls: 4 rotary controls, individual volume and tone arrangement
• Pickup selector: None
• Control knobs: Cream Höfner knobs with metal Volume/Tone caps
• Bridge: Höfner Micromatic adjustable bridge
• Vibrato: Höfner factory vibrato tailpiece
• Pickguard: Black multi-ply floating pickguard
• Hardware finish: Nickel/chrome