Hofner Setup Question (photos attached)

soulfool · #1 03-22-2010, 07:08 PM

I purchased a Hofner Icon a few months ago and have realized I'm in need of a setup... my action is too high and I'm getting a high pitch ring (unplugged) when I play certain notes that appears to be emanating from one of the pickups. I contacted the local music shop to get a setup quote and was told $75. Since this was a little more than I was expecting, I'd like to give it a try myself... just the bridge height, pickup height and truss rod.
To start, during one of many attempts to track down some Hofner setup info online, I stumbled upon a photo of a Hofner Icon in-stock at Elderly. There was a close-up photo of the bridge that showed the "posts" (that go through the bridge) practically all the way sticking out of the top of the bridge. (See attached screen-shot: .A). My question here is, is this too low? I want my action to be low but this seems extreme. The posts on my Hofner barely peek through the bridge (See attached: .B - this is my bridge). I think any lower would merit dropping the pickup down (I welcome anyone with info on adjusting the bridge pickup height as well) If I hear from this post that the heigh of the bridge shown in .A is acceptable, I probably still won't go that far down, but it's good to know I can get close to that position.
The second part of this process, after dropping the bridge height, and lowering the bridge pickup, I imagine would be adjusting the truss rod. Since I will have lowered the bridge I'm assuming I would TIGHTEN the truss rod slightly. Any advice you could give would be greatly appreciated.

stratovani · #2 03-22-2010, 07:59 PM

I bought a Hofner Icon about a month ago, then I got some La Bella Beatle Bass flats and put them on. Since I bought it all I did was adjust the bridge for action and intonation, and I never had to touch the truss rod. When I lay the bass on its back the G buzzes like an angry bee, but it sounds fine when I have it in my playing position, so I don't see any reason for me to mess with the truss rod. Other than that there's absolutely no buzzing anywhere on the fretboard. I adjusted the pickups to be parallel to the fingerboard, and it seems fine there, no wolf tones or any other funny sounds. I like my basses' action a bit high, so my Icon plays fine for me. My advice would be try to play your Icon without adjusting the truss rod, and see if you like it like that. If you think it's too high, then tighten the truss rod just a bit, maybe 1/8 of a turn, and see what that'll give you. Setting up an instrument is a process of small incremental changes, and if you approach it in a slow and deliberate manner, your chances of success increase.

Herbie 80's · #3 03-22-2010, 08:14 PM

Just adjust the bridge's position and height to match your action/ intonation needs.. simple setup, really. If the neck is too bowed, adjust the truss rod. If it is your first time, read a few guides, and then the initial 'omg what if I break it' factor goes down.

soulfool · #4 03-22-2010, 08:26 PM

Thanks. You mentioned adjusting the pickups to be parallel to the fingerboard. Even your bridge pickup? My neck pickup is parallel but my bridge pickup sticks up approximately 3/8" from the surround. You can kind of see how high it is in the .B photo. Adjusting the pickup heigh is basically tightening or loosening the screws in the surround (pickup frame), right?

walterw · #5 03-22-2010, 11:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by soulfool

Thanks. You mentioned adjusting the pickups to be parallel to the fingerboard. Even your bridge pickup? My neck pickup is parallel but my bridge pickup sticks up approximately 3/8" from the surround. You can kind of see how high it is in the .B photo. Adjusting the pickup height is basically tightening or loosening the screws in the surround (pickup frame), right?

by "parallel", you want the top surfaces of the pickups parallel with the strings.

the bridge pickup should be closer than the neck pickup. in the case of the hofner with its pickups right by the bridge and neck, that bridge pickup should be real close.

stratovani · #6 03-23-2010, 08:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by soulfool

Thanks. You mentioned adjusting the pickups to be parallel to the fingerboard. Even your bridge pickup? My neck pickup is parallel but my bridge pickup sticks up approximately 3/8" from the surround. You can kind of see how high it is in the .B photo. Adjusting the pickup height is basically tightening or loosening the screws in the surround (pickup frame), right?

Yeah, the bridge pickup on my Icon looks like that. I just bent it back a bit so it's a bit more parallel to the strings. And yes, you adjust the pickup height with the screws on each side of the pickup.

lethargytartare · #7 03-23-2010, 10:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Herbie 80's

Just adjust the bridge's position and height to match your action/ intonation needs.. simple setup, really. If the neck is too bowed, adjust the truss rod. If it is your first time, read a few guides, and then the initial 'omg what if I break it' factor goes down.

+1

Go through the process properly, and "what to do" with the bridge will become apparent.