Hofner 449 project, FINALLY!!!!

Knox in Box

Knox in Box

Rustbelt refugee.
Happy New Possibly Incoming Guitar Day

I was drooling over old framus arch tops today on eBay Classified, which go for ridiculously low prices at times, when I thought of the Höfner President I saw in Camden Guitars and couldn't buy.

So I start looking at Höfner and see that the well known ones go for high prices, while the non-electrified ones go pretty cheap so I see this from the 50's:
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For 150 bones, only missing a bridge. That's the original paint according to the seller. I asked for his PayPal but he hasn't answered yet. Wish me luck that he didn't get someone else. I've been wanting something truly vintage like this for a while. Going to install a pickup even it it might be a sin of some type. Just a floating neck attached one.

Update: Money sent, should be shipped Monday!!!
 
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That’s fucking gorgeous. For $150 I would take it straight to my luthier with a set of strings and have him make it perfect.
 
jp_nyc said:
That’s fucking gorgeous. For $150 I would take it straight to my luthier with a set of strings and have him make it perfect.
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I'm pretty handy like that, barring any major work I should be able to get it dialed right in assuming the neck isn't majorly warped or the frets totally fucked. Judging solely from the pics they look pretty good.

I'm excited, boy oh boy.
 
Electrictrifying this thing is going to be my project. I'm right now the sole bidder on a set of Hofner single coils like they used in the 50's with 3 more days to go. The ones like on this Club 60:



I've also bought raw ebony to make a pickguard and attempt a Benedetto type trapeze. Just wondering if I should wire it with a typical Hofner Plate ( I'm not allergic to it and rather like it on my bass) or a switch with master V&T controls....

Has anyone ever tried a strat single coil on an arch top? I can hide one in a P90 housing (In case I don't win those pickups). I have one I wound myself that I cut the ears off of in order to accommodate the P90 Thing (for my LP Jr). It sounds great, but I don't know about an arch top. [Shrug]
 
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Oh and DHL told me they would deliver yesterday and then said they couldn't at 4pm because of "unforeseen circumstances".

Dirty trick since I have nightshift and slept on my couch as to better hear the doorbell.....

Same shit today I guess...
 
Pretty sure Benedetto makes the whole deal, pickup, guard, vol, tone, input jack, all in one unit. Still gotta ground it to the strings somehow I guess, idk. Think the standard pickup is a mini hum but I bet they have options.
 
Pine Apple Slim said:
Pretty sure Benedetto makes the whole deal, pickup, guard, vol, tone, input jack, all in one unit. Still gotta ground it to the strings somehow I guess, idk. Think the standard pickup is a mini hum but I bet they have options.
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I like DIY stuff and that would cost more than the guitar. I thought maybe the wood bridge and trapeze isolated the strings from the electronics. But then again, a non grounded bridge would also be isolated. I'll find a way, copper tape on the underside of the trapeze should do it. If not, then I'll just stick with the metal trapeze and ground it.
 
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He had mentioned in the ad that the back was sanded down, but obviously hit the back with something wet before he took the photos and didn't mention the fading and residue from stickers that have been there for good knows how long. Even on the front (x2) the photos of the back are after some WD-40, in reality it has some major residue from sanding compound and such on it. May hit it with tru-oil or shellac and call it a day.

The good part is that the neck is straight, the bridge I bought needs to be sanded down a mm or two but it plays with medium high action, tuners are working well after a shot of WD-40 (probably still replace them), truss rod as well. Sound is not fabulous, but will transfer to pickups well. Sustain is better than expected.

It's not as beautiful as expected, but now I have no problems with drilling holes for pots and such. Oh, and the tailpiece is riveted on, so I'm not certain how I'll ground it, but I'm resourceful.
 
I'll leave the back looking sorta ratty, just want it to have a bit of shine back. The sticker fading and sand-thru marks are it's scars. Face is still pretty after I get some Good Gone.
 
Sanded that bridge down. Boy Rosewood is a motherfucker, can't wait to work on that ebony pickguard. Lol. Action is " really nice for an acoustic" low. Plays nice and no dead frets that I've found.
 
Spent some time today fabricating an ebony pickguard and spacer for my new tailpiece. (Original tailpiece had holes just large enough to let the ball ends get horribly stuck.

Selling that thing on Classifieds.

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I also took the time after this photo to remove the sticker glue that was on the front with some Goo Gone alternative. Looks nice.

Lost the bid last minute on those pickups, but the seller had a second set that I now bid on. I'm not feeling it though, because I ordered a Jazz Bass pickups also from them which came dead on arrival and the seller isn't answering. I lowered my max bid to something that will probably lose.

Epiphone Wild Cat P90s go really cheap for a set with chrome covers. I was hoping to not have to cut the top though.

We'll see. Maybe a single pickup will have to do.
 
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