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Trying to fix a worthless Bass
- Thread starter Markshan
- Start date
This one “might” help.
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/a-ver...sses-with-control-plates--334603447286711494/
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/a-ver...sses-with-control-plates--334603447286711494/
I read that McCartney has never changed the settings on his from neck pickup only, full open. One article suggested that anyone doing a Hofner restoration should just wire the neck pickup to the output jack.
Speaking of neck pickup, since I rebuilt both pickups, how would I decide which one goes in which position. Higher resistance? Lower?
So one pickup has a black wire and one has a red wire. Is there any sort of standard with that about which one would be neck and which would be bridge?
Is stronger the higher reading or the lower reading? I always get confused with resistance and impedance.
Well, given that they both measure 11.8 I don't suppose it much matters.
Higher reading should go at the neck. higher resistance = more wire = strings cutting more fields of force = higher output.
That wouldn't be a restoration though; it would be a mod.
Well it's not really a restoration anyway because it's not a Hofner but I do want to wire it up correctly. Working on it right now. I got the ground wire over to the tailpiece and I have all of the wires ready to be soldered to the control panel. I came back now just to get that link to the diagram that stereo player gave earlier.
Not only did they both have the same reading, they even both had the same length of wire. I put the neck position with the red wire for the highly scientific reason that it was easier to see the red wire inside the body.
Nothing is screwed down yet but I went into the room with the amp and did the old tap on the pole piece test and everything does seem to be working so I will continue with putting everything back together. Yay!
I'm too tired to get into tuning the nut and bridge tonight but the basic reassembly is done. It seems pretty good so far.
The new control plate worked out fine. If you look closely you see my work at the ends of the control but it really doesn't jump out at you.
I know the tail piece does not look original at all. I initially ordered one that did look original, but functionally it was complete garbage. It was like a piece of stamped tin and wouldn't adjust straight. This tail piece has some actual weight to it and has the quick change strings, although with the cost of the La Bella's and how often I will probably end up actually playing this instrument I don't know how often I'll be changing strings. But it's nice to have a decent upgrade tail piece on there anyway.
The new control plate worked out fine. If you look closely you see my work at the ends of the control but it really doesn't jump out at you.
I know the tail piece does not look original at all. I initially ordered one that did look original, but functionally it was complete garbage. It was like a piece of stamped tin and wouldn't adjust straight. This tail piece has some actual weight to it and has the quick change strings, although with the cost of the La Bella's and how often I will probably end up actually playing this instrument I don't know how often I'll be changing strings. But it's nice to have a decent upgrade tail piece on there anyway.
Nope, no plans to. I like it better without. But if I did want a pickguard I would cut a new one because the thing that was on there is literally about the same weight and thickness as the plastic they make milk jugs with. Plus, if I did cut a new one it would have to be material that matches the control plate pretty much exactly or it would bother me forever. Do you have a preference? Maybe I will print up a BASSMAN sticker instead. (Okay, I won't be doing that but hopefully most of you get the reference.)
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It's looking good. Consider turning the string retainer on the tail piece over, there is no sense making putting strings on any more cumbersome than it already is. You have your hands full now tightening the string and keeping the bridge from sliding off the body as it is. Don't add trying to keep the string from falling out of the slot to it.
