Hofner Verythin Deluxe

Semi sounds without the weight

This looks like one of the lightest semi-hollows around…

You’re not wrong there. Smaller and thinner than all of the guitars in this round-up, this Chinese-made instrument is designed with comfort in mind. With its smaller headstock and narrow chambers, the Verythin Deluxe is actually lighter than most Strats – welcome news for those playing one-hour-plus sets night after night.

So it probably has less acoustic resonance?

As we learned with the Casino Coupe, size isn’t always everything – but in this case, there is a drop in volume when strumming acoustically compared with most semis. There is actually a plus side to that – with smaller chambers, there’s little chance of acoustic feedback ringing out and stealing your thunder.

What features make it stand out?

The Hofner Script & Lily artwork sits proud on the headstock, in between two sets of pearl-button tuners. The black and silver knobs work well against the transparent red finish, and the Hofner Full Size pickups are surprisingly powerful for a guitar that looks so lavishly innocuous, much like the tone machines of yesteryear.