His two sons, Josef and Walter, joined their father's company in 1919 and 1921 respectively. They successfully expanded Höfner's market to worldwide export, enabling them to survive the years of recovery, which marked the phase after World War II and the related resettlement from the "Sudetenland" to Bavaria. In 1950, new production facilities were built in Bubenreuth.

To date, more than two millions stringed and fretted instruments - from student to master models - have been produced, 75% of which have been exported worldwide, emphasising the outstanding position enjoyed by Karl Höfner GmbH in the world market.
businessman as well as a violin and guitar maker, invented an electrically amplified semi-acoustic bass. The distinctive 500/1 bass was launched at and used it on many of the Beatles' most famous songs. Paul still plays his "Beatle Bass" live on stage today.

A new chapter in Höfner’s history opened in 19 the 1956 Frankfurt Music Fair and subsequently rose to fame under a different name. In 1961 Paul McCartney bought his first Höfner bass in a shop in Hamburg94 when the company joined the internationally successful Boosey & Hawkes Group. Since then millions of Deutschmarks have been invested in new production technology. In 1997 the company moved from its premises in Bubenreuth to the neighbouring village of Hagenau. 
The product range of Höfner is extensive and not only confined to stringed instruments and classical guitars. In 1955, Walter Höfner, a creative 

Karl Höfner GmbH 
(inc. Roderich Paesold)
Egerlandstrasse 38 
91083 Baiersdorf - Hagenau 
Germany 
 

Telephone:	+ 49 - (0)9133 - 7758-0
Fax :	+ 49 - (0)9133 - 7758-58
Email :	hofner@boosey.com

Web:         http://www.boosey.com

 Carl Höfner,
  founder of the company
 
 

 The old company premises
around 1960
 
 

Guitar production in 1965