"How bad is it?" Silvertone Hornet resurrection

[TerribleTim68]

So, I'm gonna chime in my thoughts on color here since you seem to be struggling with that. When I see this sort of shape my brain pictures the surf scene, and I go to those colors. You already have the Coral on the other one, so I'd lean towards something in the seafoam green realm, and maybe do a distressed look on that similar to the Coral one. I also think the seafoam green works well with tort -

 

[JIO]

So after further examination - it was the typical red/black, as traces in the neck pocket reveal. I removed the rusted tilt-neck adjuster (nut and inset hex bolt) and will replace with a new one.

 

[JIO]

So, I'm gonna chime in my thoughts on color here since you seem to be struggling with that. When I see this sort of shape my brain pictures the surf scene, and I go to those colors. You already have the Coral on the other one, so I'd lean towards something in the seafoam green realm, and maybe do a distressed look on that similar to the Coral one. I also think the seafoam green works well with tort -
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You have a point, might as well do something different. I'm not a big Sea-foam guy, maybe because it's become the cliche colour for "retro" - but also I don't think I've ever been drawn to that colour. I like Daphne and Sonic blue better. However, I was looking at a couple pastel colours. I've seen and like that Ibanez model, it has a very similar body shape - very retro. The Teisco Del Rey EB-2 came in a somewhat similar pale blue-grey.

This is the baritone version (TB-64) - and how the blue-grey turns more green as it ages. Most I've seen have (same colour) painted necks/hs. Always liked this shade. Interesting to note - this pic shows one w/o the body cut-away that was so cool.

As seen here -

Check out this one - kind of Aztec gold - both would look good w/tort. This one has an unpainted neck. Perhaps it was a re-fin...

 

[JIO]

I made another trip to the hardware store to look at paint colours - left again w/o choosing but I think I have narrowed it down to 3; the hand-rubbed bronze (looks black) with gold glitter-blast like on my Teiscobird, the coral - like I finished my Coral in, and a "Lava soap" grey-green like the Teisco baritone.

Black looks sexy. Also looks good with black witch-hat knobs. (just ordered two sets of V/T)

 

[JIO]

While at the shop today, I recessed the body for the 3 neck-attachment collars and installed 3 steel mollies for machine-bolts for the bridge. I did this on my Coral for a more dynamic bridge interface. The vintage Dano bridge is basically attached by 1 screw, and it rests on two screws for height adjustments. Having them be a more solid, easily adjustable system (via machine-bolts and inset metal mollies) is a big improvement. I need to get 3 appropriate length bolts for it - and will post pics once I do. I like how simple/basic the original Dan bridge was, but with equally simple up-grades - it is even better.

This peripherally brings up the long debated concern about bridges. One camp is more about minimal, the other maximal. In my builds, I have incorporated both and (for me) the verdict is still out. The Dano system is one of the most minimal out there - and yet, it works. Because of this, I can't confirm superiority of one over the other having done both. In the most common applications - it's basic Fender-style bent-plate vs "high mass" bridges. I can see advantages/disadvantages of both - but regardless... they both work. Maybe I don't have the super-ear to dicern such nuance - but to a "players" ear - I have yet to hear one version that is FAR superior to the rest enough to say - this is THEE way.

 

[Slidlow]

While at the shop today, I recessed the body for the 3 neck-attachment collars and installed 3 steel mollies for machine-bolts for the bridge. I did this on my Coral for a more dynamic bridge interface. The vintage Dano bridge is basically attached by 1 screw, and it rests on two screws for height adjustments. Having them be a more solid, easily adjustable system (via machine-bolts and inset metal mollies) is a big improvement. I need to get 3 appropriate length bolts for it - and will post pics once I do. I like how simple/basic the original Dan bridge was, but with equally simple up-grades - it is even better.

This peripherally brings up the long debated concern about bridges. One camp is more about minimal, the other maximal. In my builds, I have incorporated both and (for me) the verdict is still out. The Dano system is one of the most minimal out there - and yet, it works. Because of this, I can't confirm superiority of one over the other having done both. In the most common applications - it's basic Fender-style bent-plate vs "high mass" bridges. I can see advantages/disadvantages of both - but regardless... they both work. Maybe I don't have the super-ear to dicern such nuance - but to a "players" ear - I have yet to hear one version that is FAR superior to the rest enough to say - this is THEE way.

Then do as I do and go for aesthetics.

 

[JIO]

Then do as I do and go for aesthetics.

Aesthetics is always a driving force but is very subjective. I watched this vid on a very technologically ingenious Swiss guitar. There's a lot I like about it, but not so much the way it looks. But to the designer - it is their vision of pleasing aesthetics.



But back to Dano-technology ... what I like about their approach is making simplicity work, as their original bridge illustrates. Other than some tweeking for intonation and grounding as I did on my Coral, it functions properly in an aesthetically pleasing minimalism. Similarly, a Fender 'bent plate' bridge gets the job done. Is one way better than the other? I don't know, both ways (minimal vs high-mass) work and both have an aesthetic. As a designer/builder, I usually err on the side of how it will look with the rest of the parts of the whole, as long as it is also functionally sound.

My Calabrone pushed the concept of bridge into outer space.

 

[Slidlow]

Everything needs to be considered as a whole.

 

[TN WOODMAN]

I’m kinda liking the lava soap green. Or a vintage white.or the original red/black burst.

 

[JIO]

I’m kinda liking the lava soap green. Or a vintage white.or the original red/black burst.

I wanted to keep in a somewhat vintage-specific range, but something different than the red/black to have it stand out. I like the Lava grey-green also - it's a toss up between that and the black, which is a guaranteed winner. The other thing to consider is that these body's are pretty large, so a dark colour (like black) will tend to de-emphasize that and a lighter color (like the Lava grey-green, much like the coral colour) will emphasis it's largeness. Here's a pic of me playing my (coral) Coral and you can see what I mean. I'm 6'1", and it still looks big. A blk&wht pic illustrates this best as it reduces the colour to a value. If I did the Hornet in the Lava grey-green it would be lighter in value and look even bigger. (and vintage white even bigger) If I did go that route - a black hs face would work well.

 

[dwizum]

I'm not personally a big fan of the gray/green color. It looks too close to Olive Green and then it just sort of gets a weird vibe like you're trying to give it an army look or something. Just my opinion.

 

[JIO]

I'm not personally a big fan of the gray/green color. It looks too close to Olive Green and then it just sort of gets a weird vibe like you're trying to give it an army look or something. Just my opinion.

I get not wanting an "army" look - the colour I saw was much lighter. It sorta reminds me of my '66 122s Volvo estate wagon I owned - loved that car.

 

[dwizum]

I get not wanting an "army" look - the colour I saw was much lighter. It sorta reminds me of my '66 122s Volvo estate wagon I owned - loved that car.

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Yes! That's a great color. My dad had a p1800 in that color! Such a great vintage color because while it definitely looks vintage, it's not a totally predictable "surf" color.

 

[JIO]

Yes! That's a great color. My dad had a p1800 in that color! Such a great vintage color because while it definitely looks vintage, it's not a totally predictable "surf" color.

Surfing in Sweden...

 

[JIO]

I'd paint it pink and slap on the Hello Kitty decal.

Missed this post - coral is the closest to 'pink' it will ever see (but as of now, I doubt it will be coral) A coin-toss of hand-rubbed bronze metallic (nearly black) and Lava soap grey-green.

 

[Slidlow]

I vote hand-rubbed bronze metallic it that helps?

 

[Jon Clegg]

I vote hand-rubbed bronze metallic it that helps?

Agreed.

 

[JIO]

The Hand-Rubbed Bronze Metallic is a slam-dunk. I've done it, it looks great, and dark colours hide a world of evils. This is going to be nice - but I'm not striving for "perfection" (which in my universe, is a laughable concept) - this is an abused 50 yr old, and like in the Wizard of Oz, it will be fluffed-up, shaken-out and burnished to a nice sheen - ready to ROCK!

 

[Fat Freddy]

Retro, surfy looking bass?.....Something along these lines for me....

 

[JIO]

Retro, surfy looking bass?.....Something along these lines for me....

View attachment 3642629

That's nice and all.., but I never angled to "surf" in my colour choice. 'Retro' I guess as referencing a mid-late 60's palette that isn't common today... but surf was never was a consideration.