Hopf Allround, Manfred Pletz, 1968

Instrument:
It is known that Hopf purchased many instruments from other manufacturers. Especially electric and jazz guitars were mainly not made by Hopf. Fasan, Klira, Glassl and Hüttl, among others, built for Hopf. In the case of the Allround, experts do not agree whether the design goes back to Gustav Glassl or Manfred Pletz... However, due to some typical Pletz details, e.g. the neck fastening by means of furniture screws, we assume that our guitar was built by him. Almost unjustly forgotten today, the master luthier Manfred Pletz, who lived in Taunusstein-Bleidenstadt in the immediate vicinity of Hopf, was one of the most innovative and independent spirits of the German post-war era. For example, he was the master teacher of Lakewood founder Martin Seeliger. And he developed the legendary Saturn and Explorer models for Hopf in their extremely individual construction and also built most of them himself by hand. The Allround is more of a thinline standard in the style of the time, but the finish in beautiful French walnut, for example, is also extravagant and the design with the small, Florentine cutaway is an unmistakable stroke of genius.

Material:
The guitar is a real thinline without central block with archback and archtop. The laminated maple body has walnut as the top veneer layer all around. The top has a really uniquely beautiful rotary cut veneer. Sides and back are made of sliced veneer, the back is bookmatched. The neck is built of the then inevitable and extremely complex to manufacture laminated beech wood, as usual straight as a die and indestructible. It carries a beautiful rosewood fingerboard with mother-of-pearl side markers. Black lacquered headstock with inset Allround lettering. Massive and chromed vibrato tailpiece by ABM-Müller with Hopf engraving, plus a fully compensatable Hoyer bridge. Also mounted is the rarely found palm rest with damper function! Open single tuners with transparent pearloid grips.

Electrics:
As usual, no two Allrounds are alike - they're all fully handmade unique pieces. Here Pletz has chosen two beautiful, fully nickel-plated Schaller single coils plus complete Schaller control equipment. The pickups are selected with a classic three-way toggle switch, each with its own volume and tone control. In addition, there is a master volume control for quick switching off when pulling the cable. Everything is easy and intuitive to operate and perfect for versatile sounds.

Instruments history:
Unfortunately completely unknown. We received it from a private middleman. The old dealer's plate is still present and indicates the Deußer music store in Würzburg, Germany as the place of first sale.

Restoration work:
Complete cleaning and blowing out of the body. Polishing of all lacquer surfaces and hardware. Tuners cleaned and re-oiled. Fingerboard cleaned and oiled, frets polished. Electrical system checked and found to be in good condition. Finally, new strings were fitted and a setup was carried out. There was nothing more to do.

Current condition:
Above all else, the Pletz-Hopf is a walnut beauty and without a doubt the most beautiful Allround we have ever had! The perfect manufacturing quality combines classic and modern elements. The look is dominated by gorgeous walnut and nickel-plated hardware, noble, elegant and very high quality. The guitar is in original condition, right down to the last screw. It is virtually flawless, and completely free of flaws or wear, only the fingerboard shows a few plectrum marks. The two single coils deliver the expected fat sound, the bridge pickup a little weaker and crystal clear-brilliant, the neck pickup blows everything away with a powerful appearance. We like them best when connected together. The neck is flawless, fretboard and fretsticks like new. The string action is low and offers the easiest playability. Switches and controls work silently and reliably. The guitar is of course perfectly clean and odourless. A great and original sixties player with wonderful sound in top condition to play and look at. Or highlight in a collection. If you are looking for an Allround, don't hesitate, because a nicer and better one can't come, this one can't be topped.

Measures:
Overall length 108 cm/42.6”; body length 51 cm/20”; lower bout width 41 cm/16.1”; waist width 23,5 cm/9.3”; upper bout width 29 cm/11.4”; body depth 4,5 cm/1.8”; scale length 62 cm/24.4” (zero fret to saddle); fingerboard width 4,3 cm/1.7” at zero fret, 5,3 cm/2.1” at 12th fret; overall weight 3.110 g, string action on 12th fret 1-2 mm/0.04-0.08” (adjustable).

Purchase and payment:
Just send us an email to info@german-vintage-guitar.com and you will receive your invoice immediately. Or simply order here through the shop.