1960 Höfner 500/3 blonde #203

ilan · March 24, 2014, 08:20:22 AM

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 · March 24, 2014, 08:22:37 AM

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 · March 24, 2014, 08:26:50 AM

Couple more pics...

ilan · March 24, 2014, 08:49:02 AM

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 · March 24, 2014, 09:53:53 AM

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

Dave W · March 24, 2014, 03:11:47 PM

Looks nice!

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

Chris P. · March 27, 2014, 11:21:00 AM

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

ilan · March 28, 2014, 02:11:10 AM

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 · March 28, 2014, 07:12:37 PM

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

daan · March 31, 2014, 05:28:09 PM

THat is beautiful. I miss my Hofner.

ilan · April 01, 2014, 12:19:46 AM

Quote from: daan on March 31, 2014, 05:28:09 PM
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 · April 01, 2014, 10:46:21 AM

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!