Hofner PU Replacement Question

[joeyangel]

Hey, all, this is my first post on TalkBass after lurking for a while – please be gentle with me.

I have a question regarding a ’65 Hofner Beatle bass I’ve had for years.

When I got it the PUs were bad. I also had a ’65 Hofner Club bass that died a tragic death. I had a pro switch out the better PUs at the time.

I don’t use the Hofner a lot, preferring to stick with my safer Eastwood Club. The last time I pulled the Beatle out, the PUs were hardly registering any output.

I’d like to take this to a pro for a checkup, but in the interest of being prepared for the worst case scenario, I’m looking for PUs to replace the originals.

I know this is blasphemy, but the bass has had work done to it already so it’s hardly mint to a ‘real’ collector. And it’s not doing me much good if I can only play it acoustically, right?
Anyway, I know that Northcoast sells Hofner Pus but they’re $200 a pop. Is there another, cheaper source?

Thanks in advance for any help!

[teej]

Look up eBay seller "bezdez." The last time I checked he had some no-name Hofner-style pups for ~$30. True, they aren't genuine Hofner. In fact, they aren't genuine anything, so they probably won't sound spectacular, but it's an option.

[rickfan63]

That's the bad thing about Hofner's... the hardware is fairly easy and cheap to replace, but the pick-ups are almost impossible to find decent replacements for. None of the aftermarket companies make them that I'm aware of, and Hofner wants ridiculous prices for theirs. Plus, there is no guarantee that they will fit, since they've changed the specs over the years. Good luck.

[joeyangel]

Thanks for the responses, guys - by all means, please keep 'em coming.

I was never excited about the quality of the repairs I had done to the Hofner. As a last resort, is there a reputable repair service for Hofners anywhere in the States?

[T-Bird]

Hi, joeyangel.

Welcome to TalkBass.

There's a few sources for Höfner/Hofner pickups. one that I was going to use for my 182 was:

http://www.thomann.de/gb/hoefner_pickup_63_h511b.htm

If the correct one for Yours is the 63.

62 is also available.

I found mine from an on-line auction, the pickup was taken from a Burns according to the seller. A few manufacturers used the same hardware so that is an option too.

The Gotoh VB-1F and VB-1R ARE NOT the same size, nor are they humbuckers .

IMO the switch assembly and the pots might be also good candidates for low output, mine was a real mess when I got it. Check them first.

The 62/63 pickup is quite easy to dismantle and repair, but obviously needs a bit of know how, so in a valuable vintage instrument I'd leave it to a pro.

Just my 0.02€
Sam

[dfp]

unabashed hijak: joeyangel, please tell us about your Eastwood Club!!! there's been very little reported on them here... i was so gassed when i saw the review and the lovely pic in BP magazine last year, but then so disappointed by every other pic i've seen of it on line... can you post some pix, either here or maybe in a new thread? thanks and good luck with your pickups!

[joeyangel]

Thanks, DFP, no worries about the hijack.

I’ll try to get some pics of the Eastwood over the weekend. My digicam’s close to dead, so that may have to wait.

I will say that their Club bass is almost as nice as the Hofner Club I had. Maybe not as refined insofar as the materials go, but it sounds every bit as thumpy to my ears.

Anyway, hopefully I can get a review up soon. I love hollowbodies, although I’ve usually been hired to play rock so I have to use solids instead.

[GlennW]

Are the pickups about 1/8" from the strings when the strings are fretted at the last fret?

If not, try raising them until they are and see how it sounds.

[joeyangel]

Thanks, Glenn, I'll check.

I remember the tech who worked on the bass saying that the output readings for all four original Hofner PUs were low. I picked the two hottest ones when the Club bass self-destructed.

Now it seems they're all dead. Anyone know how hard it would be to get these re-wound?

[teej]

Check http://www.curtisnovak.com/pickups/r...ss/index.shtml.

[joeyangel]

Thanks, Trevor, I came across this guy's site a bit earlier. I think I may give him a call on the off chance he can help.

Thanks - wish me luck!