To Restore or not to restore....

[SRAC76]

I've never been a obsessive weight weenie, but looking at that I gotta ask, what's the tonnage on that thing?

The weight of it isn't bad.

 

[TroyK]

How's the neck?

 

[SRAC76]

Are you going to play it or put it in a climate controlled glass case and stare at it?

Nope it is going to be played I see no point in putting in a glass box for display.

 

[SRAC76]

My thoughts on EMG pickups are: not for this bass.

Does it work as is?

yes, it does work but whomever did the soldering didn't know what they were doing and it's got some cold solder joints going on. I plan on re-soldering.

 

[RR-rambler]

The Hofner tuners have posts with openings barely big enough for guitar strings, my buddy has one and regular bass strings would not fit through the holes in the Hofner bass tuner posts. He did get LaBella 'Deep Talking Bass' 760FHB2 flat wound strings to work in the Hofner posts, as they state they are made for the Hofner bass.

 

[SRAC76]

How's the neck?

The neck is in great condition it does need some cleaning and the lacquer cracking and flaking off.

 

[bolophonic]

One vote for replacing everything with modern electronics, hardware, and pick guard. I’d also sell off the original parts to fund the resurrection.

 

[bolophonic]

I’d also probably start by “restoring” those neck screws. Ugh.

 

[Stringly]

Rebuild custom! have fun, make a fun bass!

 

[SRAC76]

The pickup looks original to me.... What makes you think it's not?
What kinda pickup is it if it's not the original one?

Because of the horrible soldering and rewiring done on it suggests the pickup was switched out.

 

[SRAC76]

I wanted to share with everyone. I emailed the company to see if they could date this bass.
Also I'll be restoring what a can, replacing with new some without altering the look of it and I'll posting the end result.
Thanks for all the awesome input!


Dear Mr. S. Carbone,

I believe this is one of the earliest StratoBasses between 1965 and 1966.... this is
best I can tell you... still looks nice...hope you can bring it to live again and that
the Bass will play reasonable and sound well.

Hope I could assist you with my information.

with best regards

Framus & Warwick GmbH & Co Music Equipment KG

Hans-Peter Wilfer 02.03.2020, 05:53
CEO