Finally, after 30+ years!
I bought this bass MANY years ago for probably next to nothing. The pickguard was missing and the top was so scratched by a previous owner I decided to have the top refinished in natural by a guitar maker in Los Feliz - it would have been impossible to match the original Sunburst. I also changed the flimsy original tuners to Schallers.
However, there was some ongoing problem with the neck - it had a string buzz or rattle and the guitar maker couldn't fix it, so it sat. This is probably why I got it so cheap. SO - it has been sitting in it's gig bag in the closet for more than 30 years, in pieces.
Recently, our guitar player sent me over to Norik Renson at Renson guitars here in Studio City. He is the Wizard for all the hot players in town. I dropped the Hofner off there, he adjusted the neck, installed a new tailpiece, polished it a bit and strung it up with TI Flats. I got it back, cleaned the switches, put in new pots and wired it up - and - after a couple of ooopses - it works! I was also fortunate to find one of the original 3D molded Hoftner logos online, and it installed right into the holes that were waiting for it!
It has GREAT sound, but after playing my P bass most of the time, the close string and fret spacing take a LOT of care. I also find that it is extremely resonant in A on the D string -it will take off like Hendrix if I am too close to the amp!
Anyway - just wanted to share. I'll have a couple more interesting projects in the next few weeks.
I bought this bass MANY years ago for probably next to nothing. The pickguard was missing and the top was so scratched by a previous owner I decided to have the top refinished in natural by a guitar maker in Los Feliz - it would have been impossible to match the original Sunburst. I also changed the flimsy original tuners to Schallers.
However, there was some ongoing problem with the neck - it had a string buzz or rattle and the guitar maker couldn't fix it, so it sat. This is probably why I got it so cheap. SO - it has been sitting in it's gig bag in the closet for more than 30 years, in pieces.
Recently, our guitar player sent me over to Norik Renson at Renson guitars here in Studio City. He is the Wizard for all the hot players in town. I dropped the Hofner off there, he adjusted the neck, installed a new tailpiece, polished it a bit and strung it up with TI Flats. I got it back, cleaned the switches, put in new pots and wired it up - and - after a couple of ooopses - it works! I was also fortunate to find one of the original 3D molded Hoftner logos online, and it installed right into the holes that were waiting for it!
It has GREAT sound, but after playing my P bass most of the time, the close string and fret spacing take a LOT of care. I also find that it is extremely resonant in A on the D string -it will take off like Hendrix if I am too close to the amp!
Anyway - just wanted to share. I'll have a couple more interesting projects in the next few weeks.
