The President was the main "middle-of-the-range" archtop in the Selmer catalogue between 1952 and 1972/73 when it finally disappeared. It was really a deluxe version of the Hofner Model 457, which was also introduced around 1952.

The main features of the President, carried across all variants, were:

A spruce body top (solid carved spruce until 1959/60, then laminated spruce), and the use of fine flame maple veneers for body back and sides.

Blonde and Brunette finish options.

A single body cutaway (initially Venetian; later Florentine).

Beautiful vine/flower headstock inlay using mother of pearl.

Triple dot fret markers.

The European/US Market equivalent guitars were the Hofner 457 (full-depth body) and the 4570 (Thinline body). These were finished in a more basic format than the President however, without the headstock inlay work and compensator tailpiece.