You can get to Hap one through my 2nd link.

Yes, Hap had long hair and the moustache but lost those a long time ago.
However he still keeps another calling card - his hat. He's worn them for
decades, and many people don't recognize him without it. Since so few people
wear them he's easy to spot at NAMM ;-)

His interview doesn't go into it, but Hap started in vintage before it even
probably had a formal name. He was buying & selling 50's & 60's gear in NYC in
the early 70's and that rolled into Mandolin Brothers. He got involved with Ned
when Ned was trying to sell the design. Hap saw something and went into
business with him. The business side of things also brought about his departure
from Steinberger Sound though all of that is old history. Hap loves working
with Ned these days, especially since they have the luxury of doing things the
way they want to.

Hap works closely with EMG, PRS and a great many other manufacturers. He was
plugged into Asian manufacturing before it got big in the 90's, so he's long
known all the movers & shakers over there. Steinberger always did a brisk int'l
business so he's always had a global view of this stuff.

Andy



> Cool stuff. There's one of these interviews with Hap Kuffner, who
> was closely tied with the original distribution of Steinberger back
> in the day (although he doesn't talk about that in the interview):
>
> http://www.namm.org/library/oral-history/hap-kuffner
>
> He used to be famous for having a big handlebar moustache, although
> I don't think he's sported it for 10 years now.
>
> >
> > Some interesting videos with Ned and some of the people he works
> > with and has collaborated with:
> >
> > http://www.namm.org/library/oral-history/ned-steinberger
> > http://www.namm.org/taxonomy/term/1179