NBD! Wunderbar Hoyer London Bass

View attachment 3884928 Please Welcome my NBD Hoyer London Bass.
I just got home with it and will have to clean it up and restring it. From what I’ve seen online about these there are several variations over time so I’m not sure if my tailpiece is stock or not. I think it is and that there was a chrome cover for it.
There is a headstock mend that looks well done and overall condition is pretty good.
I’ve only confirmed that the pickup and electronics work through headphones and a Zoom BFX-708 for a parking lot audition.
Got to go see what I’ve got so Auf Wiedersehen!

 

except for the fact that the 24th fret is loose on the treble side and needs a re glue so there’s a couple dead notes at the top of the “g” string at the moment.
It seems really well built and deluxe with the inlaid headstock and the pickup seems really hot and bright.
I couldn’t resist for $300 and a lovely 45 minute drive each way on a Sunday afternoon.
Set neck, hand carved German made early or mid 60s with exotic sound holes: I’d be haunted for ever if I didn’t try.

 

I've been playing this beauty and I've got to say that pickup is so bright and articulate that it it out-rickys a Rickenbacker with whatever these old round wounds are that it came with. It does feed back at moderate volumes but I am sitting right in front of the speaker at the moment and am not sure if the pickup might be a little microphonic or the hollow body is to blame.
The switch that originally attenuated volume is bypassed and I still need to glue a fret or two but I'm really impressed with the tone and playability. The action is great and the feel is slinky with the scale length.
Were these pickups used anywhere else? Did Hoyer design and manufacture them?
It would be nice to do something about the missing spots of finish on the back of the neck which I presume is nitrocellulose and I wonder if the tuners and tailpiece can be polished up but it's fine as is.
Definitely a keeper.

 

The bass must've been made in 1966 in Germany. Was Bill Lawrence doing work for Hoyer?

 

That's the pickup alright. As I said months ago the pickup is surprisingly lively, articulate and full bodied. It's like playing a classical guitar with fresh strings that's voiced an octave lower.
Still have not glued that top fret yet.

 

Actually, I did sort of clean it up a while ago and the chrome did clean up nicely:

 

The neck is kind of a deep C shape but not thick or chunky.
The frets are tiny and the ebony fretboard is a little dried out so there’s a couple frets that could do with a little work but it plays beautifully and that pickup is really articulate and full range.