How to differentiate between Hennigs - Sofa vs. Classic?

[Suspiria]

I am not saddle shopping. I am not saddle shopping. I am not saddle shopping.

But hypothetically if i were saddle shopping. I would be looking at Hennigs. Horse loved the last one but the seat was much too small for me.

So as I hypothetically go forward with this, how can one differentiate between Sofa and Classic? Everyone says “Classics are junk” but no one can define exactly how, or what that means, or what to look for. I’m even leery of buying online because, how does a seller prove that their Sofa is actually a Sofa?

TIA

[iberianfan]

Sent you a pm. :winkgrin:

[outerbanks77]

I’m also interested in this question. I’ve read that the Hennigs built around 2006 had faulty head plates that could break, so I would be buying a newer one unless there is documentation that the headplate has been replaced. I hadn’t heard about the classic being “junk” though, so I’m curious what that’s about.

[Suspiria]

All I have been able to find about the Classics is that the leather quality isn’t as good. Which, a) how can you tell unless the saddle is side-by-side with a Sofa or a Princess? and b) Is probably still nicer than any leather with which I am acquainted.

The head plate thing is interesting. Explains all the 2006 models on Fine Used Saddles right now.

[NO-CTRL]

You can email Hennig with the serial and they’ll tell you everything you need to know they speak very good English too .
I wouldn’t buy a 2006 one due to the faulty heads. Not worth the gamble of getting a dud one .
Mine is a classic with double soft flaps . I adore it and it was worth every cent, I had a saddler widen it from a medium to a wide / xwide and strip flock it and it’s like it was made for my made .

[blob99]

I have an old classic (from the 70s) and used to ride in a sofa. I love the classic and it’s far from junk or poor quality leather–its held up very well!

But they do ride differently. The sofa has a straighter leg, the classic a slightly deeper/more locked in seat.

Though mine is a much older model, so it’s of course, not the same the current ones, but I think these differences still apply!

[Suspiria]

In my experience looking around, the Classic has a much flatter/more open seat, but I’ve only seen Hennigs that are 2000 and newer.