Some observations: yes, that strap button install is pitiful. I'd be bummed too. And yes, that bridge pickup is too close to the strings. If the neck one is that close, it too should be lowered. It's easy to raise the bridge, as mentioned above. Just turn the thumbwheels counterclockwise. Pyramid strings and Hofner are identical, just packed in different envelopes. Sometimes there are differences between batches. Understandable since they're handmade. An important point to remember: Hofners aren't designed to have slammed action like you'd get with a Fender or others. You CAN get some of them low, but that's not always good. With low tension strings like Pyramid or Thomastik, unless you have a light touch and the proper technique, you'll have a mushy mess on your hands. Don't be afraid to loosen the pickup height screws and push both pickups all the way down into the mount. That's where there gonna end up anyway, to get proper clearance. Most folks' are. And don't be afraid to raise the bridge a bit. You'll get used to the feel quickly, and the bass will sound and play better, believe me. Hofners are indeed a 3-way balance of straight neck, low pickups and slightly higher action from the 12th fret up. The neck angle is the critical, determining factor. I have fifteen of them, despite their idiosyncrasies. ;-)
