In 2004, Klaus Schöller and Ulrike Schrimpff (Höfner management buyout owners, 2004-2026; holding vehicle name unverified) controlled the Höfner name. Its one line on record was built at Hofner Hagenau (Baiersdorf) (Germany).[1, 2, 3, 4]
A Höfner guitar from 2004 belongs to whichever era was running on its product line that year. An era is a stretch when the company that controlled the name and the plant that built the line both stayed the same. If you know the line, the table below tells you which version of Höfner you have. The name dates from 1887[1, S1024], 117 years before.
Line by line in 2004
Line
Controlled by
Parent
Built at
Era
Grade
Höfner German-built guitars and basses (Schönbach, Bubenreuth, Hagenau; 1930s to present)
Höfner German-built guitars and basses (Schönbach, Bubenreuth, Hagenau; 1930s to present): a new era begins under Klaus Schöller and Ulrike Schrimpff (Höfner management buyout owners, 2004-2026; holding vehicle name unverified), built at Hofner Hagenau (Baiersdorf)[1, 2, 3, 4]
Höfner German-built guitars and basses (Schönbach, Bubenreuth, Hagenau; 1930s to present): the 2003–2004 era ends (The Music Group (TMG; British investment consortium that bought the Boosey & Hawkes instrument division in 2003), Hofner Hagenau (Baiersdorf))[1, 3, 4]
Where Höfner was built in 2004
Hofner Hagenau (Baiersdorf). See every brand each plant built for, and every plant in the same country:
Every numbered marker on this page points here: the document, its grade and the passages relied on. An era is computed, so it cites the facts it was derived from. A fact marked “no source” has no claim attached yet.
So, at the end of 2004, Höfner was sold to Klaus Schöller and his wife Ulrike Schrimpff. Klaus had been the former general manager at Höfner while Ulrike had been Finance Director at Höfner since 1995.Höfner in 2004: owners and plants
the main step taken was to close the factory at Bubenreuth and move all production to the newer factory at Hagenau, which was enlarged and modernized in 1997.Höfner in 2004: owners and plants
In 2003 Boosey & Hawkes decided to sell their "instrument division", which included Höfner, to a British investment consortium named The Music Group (TMG). So, at the end of 2004, Höfner was sold to Klaus Schöller and his wife Ulrike Schrimpff.Era ends: Höfner German-built guitars and basses (Schönbach, Bubenreuth, Hagenau; 1930s to present), 2004
Klaus Schöller and Ulrike Schrimpff remained as the owners of the business until June 2026.Höfner in 2004: owners and plants
Höfner remained a part of this conglomerate until December 2004, when the Music Group sold the company to Klaus SchöllerEra ends: Höfner German-built guitars and basses (Schönbach, Bubenreuth, Hagenau; 1930s to present), 2004