As much as I love my other two basses, this has instantly become the gem of my otherwise modest quiver. I first came across it online and, despite the auction stating that it was not producing any amplified sound, I still couldn't believe the low start price on the auction. It began at $1800NZD (about $1150USD or £880GBP). My disbelief proved well-founded, as I got in a bit of a bidding war with another guy and it got up to $2800NZD. Thinking this was still a good price for such an instrument, I persisted. I met the guy in Hamilton, about an hour from where I live, to pick it up. He told me about how he had owned it since new, and how he used it in the studio until the early 70s. Since then, it has been in its case, in his wardrobe, or under his bed.
I took the bass to a local guitar tech (and amazing pedal builder) Waylon McPherson, who told me the pickups needed to be rewound and it wasn't really a job he could do for me. He gave me the name of Glyn Evans, a guy in Auckland who would be the man for the job. So, she went up to Auckland, got her pickups rewound, new LaBella flats (the ones designed specifically for these basses) fitted, and a setup.
I've had it back for about a week now, and just cannot stop playing it, acoustic or amplified. It is so resonant, has the tonal character I've always longed for, and is so easy to switch between palm muting, fingerstyle, and absolute-beginner-but-developing picking. I've used it at a couple of rehearsals now, too, and it just sits in the right place, like a P bass, but with more character. I think I'll take it along to my next gig, on Saturday, as long as I can get more accustomed to the tighter string spacing and shorter scale before then.
I still need to switch out the knobs for real Höfner ones, as the previous owner said he broke the original ones back in the late 60s and replaced them with these rather cheap-looking ones. They serve their purpose for the time being, though.
I never really thought I'd own a bass of this kind of vintage. I still can't really believe it. I've put about $3300NZD into it now ($2100USD or £1600GBP), and I still think I've gotten a good deal. It's not a small amount of money, but life is short and you've got to enjoy what you play.
By the way, these LaBella flats are great. I've always used GHS flats, but these just go so well on this bass.
Enjoy the pics!
I took the bass to a local guitar tech (and amazing pedal builder) Waylon McPherson, who told me the pickups needed to be rewound and it wasn't really a job he could do for me. He gave me the name of Glyn Evans, a guy in Auckland who would be the man for the job. So, she went up to Auckland, got her pickups rewound, new LaBella flats (the ones designed specifically for these basses) fitted, and a setup.
I've had it back for about a week now, and just cannot stop playing it, acoustic or amplified. It is so resonant, has the tonal character I've always longed for, and is so easy to switch between palm muting, fingerstyle, and absolute-beginner-but-developing picking. I've used it at a couple of rehearsals now, too, and it just sits in the right place, like a P bass, but with more character. I think I'll take it along to my next gig, on Saturday, as long as I can get more accustomed to the tighter string spacing and shorter scale before then.
I still need to switch out the knobs for real Höfner ones, as the previous owner said he broke the original ones back in the late 60s and replaced them with these rather cheap-looking ones. They serve their purpose for the time being, though.
I never really thought I'd own a bass of this kind of vintage. I still can't really believe it. I've put about $3300NZD into it now ($2100USD or £1600GBP), and I still think I've gotten a good deal. It's not a small amount of money, but life is short and you've got to enjoy what you play.
By the way, these LaBella flats are great. I've always used GHS flats, but these just go so well on this bass.
Enjoy the pics!
