1960 Höfner 500/3 blonde #203

[ilan]

UPDATE: took the bass from the luthier today. He reset the neck and made a new ebony base for the bridge.

The neck was bowed, I adjusted the truss rod to a point where I think it's maxed out, there's still a little too much relief but it's okay.

Next: fret redress and possibly planing the last 1/3 of the fretboard (and partial refret); a correct Teacup knob and white plastic strap buttons.

[ilan]

So here are my three hollowbody short-scale basses - the Bulgarian Orfeus Hebros, 1964 Höfner Senator, 1960 Höfner 500/3.

The long-scale 1964 Gretsch 6070 is not in the pic.

[ilan]

Couple more pics...

   

[ilan]

It's thicker (2 3/8") than the Senator (2"), and sounds louder and punchier both unplugged and plugged.

The neck is 3-piece (the Senator's is 2) and also feels a bit thicker than the Senator's.

Under the top there are TWO bass bars - weird. The Senator has one (on the treble side).

The truss rod nut is really tiny (6mm).

The SOLO/RHYTHM switch cuts some output, the TREBLE OFF rolls off some highs, the BASS ON/OFF does nothing I can detect. Not that I need a bass cut capacitor in my life...

[Highlander]

You look well pleased with yourself in that shot... nice...

[Dave W]

Looks nice!

Scott should have sent his Höfner to your luthier for a reset, never mind the distance.

[Chris P.]

Very cool! Love 'm! Already saw it being posted at the Höfner page at facebook:)

[ilan]

I took it to band rehearsal last night, just to show the guys, also took my Fender P to actually play... but ended up playing the Höfner most of the time. It sounded surprisingly good for a loud rock band. Strung with TI flats of course. I had to be careful with feedback (D notes make it go crazy) but it really mixed in well.

[Highlander]

Resonant note... can be great for some things to know where they are...

[daan]

THat is beautiful. I miss my Hofner.

[ilan]

I miss my Hofner.

Sometimes I miss my first Höfner too, a '67 blade-pickup 500/1. Sold it to my teacher 38 years ago (he still owns and plays it!) but kept its original teacup knobs all those years. Yesterday I installed one of them on my 500/3 (which had some kind of a replacement knob). So now it has something from my old bass which I haven't seen for almost 4 decades.

[hieronymous]

That bass is simply beautiful, and all the more significant given the story of its acquisition and now with something so seemingly insignificant as a knob but actually filled with such meaning. Play it in good health!