Guitar Collector Forum

This one was built for the Frankfurt Music show in 1960, I guess to demonstrate just what could be done. The guitar is self contained with a speaker under the round hole on the upper bout. Not to my fancy, but a very nice piece of quality construction It was called the Fledermausgitarre.

There were a range of strange "self-contained" electric guitars in the 60's, with built-in amplifiers and speakers, although I thought most of them appeared mid or late sixties so I guess the Hofner must be one of the first to try the concept (I've never seen this Bat guitar before). I guess it's indicative of the era, with the emergence of the transistor and a brave new world of technology that made it seem that anything was possible. Interesting, though that a German company did this so early.

The guitar itself looks pretty wierd, an oddball collection of what look's like a standard Hofner neck with almost a cigar-box body. It must have been very heavy with built in speaker and, presumably, battery and looks pretty uncomfortable to play...

Thanks for sharing Geoff, and interesting guitar. Presumably it never got past the prototype stage?

THere's some nice photos of this here: http://www.vintagehofner.co.uk/gallery/ ... sol35.html