you been busy ?
But it looks like you missed a few spots eh ?
But it looks like you missed a few spots eh ?
Hofner Bass restoration...questions!
7 days later
Here she is...a sunrise photoshoot to get a bit of a naturally vintage flavoured photo.
Still a few things to get done, but for now she be strung and playing. And the consensus is...she's a winner! She slaps, pops and fingerstyles like a champ. The neck is something else - kinda a cross between a jazz neck (lovely radius), but slightly wider - though not as chunky as the majority of pbass necks I've tried.
Next mission is the pickup...more news this week I hope!
Looking good! Is it a 34" or a short scale?
Sweet looking bass. I was against the worn look at first, but the more I look at it the prettier it gets. Great work.
Thanks! It's a 34''. Would be a VERY cool bass were it SS or even better a 32''.peterleroux wrote: Looking good! Is it a 34" or a short scale?
Interestingly, it came with very low frets from the factory, compared to the skyscrapers on the Curbow. Add in the jazz radius neck vs flat neck of the Curbow and it's a entirely different playing experience.
Thanks ! It was a exercise in budget that lead to a 'creative' solution. Since the bass is no longer in original condition and I can't get the parts (or even figure out what they actually were) - my approach was do it on a budget.Lu22 wrote: Sweet looking bass. I was against the worn look at first, but the more I look at it the prettier it gets. Great work.
Attacking it with razor blades and tea seemed like a way to go about it... :?
The finish will evolve a little more, I want to age the white paint, kinda match the sun aging on the pickguard. I've tried a few methods - all failed thus far. I've got one more trick to try though.
Good Stuff!
6 years later
- Edited
Six years, I cannot believe. Insane. I've at least changed strings once in that time 
Also swopped in a schaller pbass pickup, Dimarzio pots and wiring.
I think the biggest changed came from changing the resistance of the tone pot from 500k to 250k. That really opened up the high end of the schaller. It's not the bassiest bass, but it's got a mid range sleaze that appeals.
The 'relicing' actually doesn't look all that different from the 2016 pics? Though the 2016 one's were a bit earlier, there's more yellow in that sunrise. By my eye, it's a bit darker than it was, actually now looks a bit more the age it's relicing suggests 
Wherever I rest by default is now very polished, so it's interesting to see where the wear patterns I would create be. The body is mostly worn where I would play, even the top horn is polished up - cause I spend a lot of time slapp happying away! If ya check the back of the neck, there's finger gunk where I like to play, 3rd, 7th or 12th fret - tells me I still dunno if I'm a guitar player or a bassist.
I think I might put some more work on the back of the neck - I want to remove some more paint, I really like the feel of the bare wood, sealed with sweat and hand oil 
Here's a 2022 set of pics - thanks for the poke @RCVN & @blood_bought
Good going. Six years, time flies. Good that the project not only survived, but advanced. How does this rank on your favourite scale?
modulator Good going. Six years, time flies.
Thanks! Eish, time has indeed whizzed by, the 'rona interlude' made things seem a bit surreal maybe?
Wellll, great question - so far #1, because I still have , play it and dig it. 
I have been looking around for something else for ease of slapping - I might add a cheap Gio Soundgear or similar - they are a lot easy to play and have a active circuit. No rush though, I'm playing more guitar lately, working on getting some shreddiness back in my life.
Nice one
Had a conversation recently, guy bought a left-hand bass with obvious neck issues, just because it was left. Could not sort it with truss rod, threw it in the cupboard. Some time later he looked at it again: previous owner(?) had shimmed the neck to sit with more than 10 mm action. Sorted that, set the truss rod, is a good player now, and has active pickups.
Sometimes the gems are just a bit mud-crusted.
Enjoy.
RCVN Have a look at them Yamaha's.
Thanks, I have 
They are good, I dug on the RBXA2 a long while back, just wasn't cheap enough at the time to tempt. Played great, sounded real good.
I'd have have a (Gio) Soundgear, just because I'm used to them. Everytime I play one (4 string) it's a familiar, easy playing, place. Can't say I like the sound - it's McD's compared to the Hoff's homemade fatty mids 
modulator Sometimes the gems are just a bit mud-crusted.
Enjoy.
Too true, thanks! I remember having fun with the refurb, getting all the overspray off the headstock was extremely satisfying. I've been looking around for a sister guitar to join, but nothing turn ed up quite as beat up.
looking good indeed! Id say you should totally remove all the finish from the neck, I cannot tell for sure but it almost look like the neck has a flame going on? or is it just my eyes
blood_bought cannot tell for sure but it almost look like the neck has a flame going on?
Eyes are good! Fairly sure it's a hunk of maple and the ribbing of the flames looks cool - makes me wonder what grain is lurking under the headstock.
From left to right are the various stages of erm...'finishing'
Freshly sanded, then first applications of 'stain', post oiling and buffing then 6 years later. I agree, expose more of the wood. Means neck off, so I'm waiting for a reason to re-string (I'll have to redo setup anyways).
V8 Ooh yes flamed for sure! If it was me id totally remove all the finish and get that flame to pop! Id be curious as well too see what is going on under the headstock!
Reminds me of a Squier hello kitty strat I bought for peanuts, when I got the guitar I found out it had a flamed maple neck haha. Rare but it happens. then I sold it :/
