The Last Bass Outpost
Gear Discussion Forums => Other Bass Brands => Topic started by: ilan on March 24, 2014, 07:20:22 AM
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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.
(http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/ll127/ilanlukatch/Hofner%20500-3/neckreset4-1.jpg)(http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/ll127/ilanlukatch/Hofner%20500-3/neckreset2-1.jpg)
(http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/ll127/ilanlukatch/Hofner%20500-3/neckreset1.jpg)(http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/ll127/ilanlukatch/Hofner%20500-3/finishedbass.jpg)
(http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/ll127/ilanlukatch/Hofner%20500-3/ShlomoMoyal1.jpg)
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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.
(http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/ll127/ilanlukatch/Hofner%20500-3/3hollobodies.jpg)
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Couple more pics...
(http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/ll127/ilanlukatch/Hofner%20500-3/500-3pastil.jpg) (http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/ll127/ilanlukatch/Hofner%20500-3/500-3.jpg)
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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...
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You look well pleased with yourself in that shot... nice...
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Looks nice!
Scott should have sent his Höfner to your luthier for a reset, never mind the distance.
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Very cool! Love 'm! Already saw it being posted at the Höfner page at facebook:)
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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.
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Resonant note... can be great for some things to know where they are...
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THat is beautiful. I miss my Hofner.
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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.
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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!