50's Hofner Action Issues

This Hofner archtop is in fantastic condition except for one thing...

[@arlenmargolin1650]

I'm so glad I tuned into this channel because for years I really had a problem getting my fish to stick together and never even realizing that they make fish glue it's amazing what you can learn

[@j0m026]

😆

[@robertlear2735]

funny! 🙂

[@danielmargolis3210]

With age comes wisdom.

[@pitchforkcustom]

with age comes a joke that works.. 😂

[@ahf5471]

One of the most interesting channels on KZbin.

[@marionrobertson3895]

Arthur. H you are certainly right I agree 100 % I just love his channel.

[@nocturnalferalguitarist]

For sure and it's my ASMR

[@taotuhao5969]

Ted, I want to thank you so much for helping me learn how to fix my own guitars. As a full-custody, single Dad with two teenagers I can't really afford my dream guitar. So I play budget guitars, and have most of them playing nicely except for one. 2 years ago I bought a Mitchell ME1CE on sale for about $230, it is a beautiful looking guitar that looks and feels well made. But it had a problem, a buzzing issue which i thought i could easily fix or so I thought. I messed with this guitar countless times and finally got the action adjusted so that it was perfect. But it still buzzed like crazy past the 8th fret and it sounded too bright. It turns out that the guitar was shipped without a proper fret job. So I followed your instructions, used a fret rocker and then filed down my frets so that they are all now perfectly balanced. The end result is that now this cheapo guitar plays like a guitar worth 5 times it's cost and for the first time in 2 years I actually want to play this guitar. I owe it to you sir! Thank you so much for for your highly practical lessons, I was ready to pawn this guitar or trade it for another one, and now I want to keep it. Thanks again!

[@terryeaster1]

Rock on full custody dads! I raised my 20 year old son, he is an incredible person, and I am raising my 10 year old son.

[@dickravis]

I watch all your vids. I'm a finish carpenter and I've employed some of your luthier wizardry in my field. ...so I don't want to come off as a jackass who's just here to tell you that youre doing something wrong, but I would have put the thumb-wheels *on* before removing material from the length of those bridge pins. Remember, gang - cutting a bolt with the nut on (whenever possible) is cheap insurance against cross-threading. Love your channel, friend - maybe someday, someone will send a baritone in for extensive repairs and all my dreams will come true. Be well.

[@liamoneill3037]

3:10 , Peter Griffin turns up and makes a low ball offer 😂 Excellent workmanship as always. 👍

[@tonyt.1596]

Your opening monolog I think is spot on when it comes to thought processes around this type of instrument and it's owner.

[@TylerJohnson-wp2qf]

I love what you just did with the harmony

[@richardweinberger6302]

I was hoping to see some bracing mods on that Harmony, like little add-on braces below the soundhole?.

[@robertshorthill4153]

@@richardweinberger6302 Hey my friend,. My dear old pops got me an arch top Harmony for Christmas one year. I don't know what he paid for it or where. The "music" store in our town when I was a sophomore in highschool in '62 was just a few C&W records, maybe a guitar string or 3. That was about it as I seem to recall. Yeah, there was a C&W band that would play in a place called the Cave, which was underneath a building in my town. Some of my old partners in crime in those days would sneak down the steps, poke our heads into the door to see what sort of denizens would be present inside. The bartender saw us and yelled to get out a stay out ! Holy cow, we knew it was adults only allowed -- we just wanted to get a glimpse. Anyway, I don't think my old man paid more than 20 bucks. One of the fellows in my dad's Dixie Land band showed me some chords and how to tune it to pitch. Gawd forbid I ever break a string tuning it. I'm of the opinion these working musicians, such as they were had to drive to Billings, MT to get strings, etc. The strings were rusty, the windings we're coming off before I ever knew one had to change strings every once or twice in a year or two. But I had Peter, Paul and Mary to listen to and try in vain to figure out how they played those songs....By my senior year we had Dylan and Blowin' In the Wind. What fun learning how to play that, even with decrepit strings. Still nothing broke in those years. Somewhere in '66 and with a bit more knowledge about good guitars, I was stationed in California in the military, so was able to buy a Gibson J-50 new off the wall in a phenomenal music store in Sacramento. Ha, they even had guitar strings. I paid $250 for that J-50. Kept that gem for many decades until I had to sell it during Dubya Bush's tenure due to financial hardships. It broke my heart -- it was like a beloved lady leaving me. Elderly in Michigan gave me $1,880 for it. Vintage, ya know and well cared for. That's my guitar story. Never replaced it -- discovered the mandolin instead. Cheers, brother. Bob in Montana. 😃😁🍺🍅❤️☮️

[@Joecoleman84]

I bought one of these guitars -a very early example from 1952, serial number under 2000 I seem to remember- in Denmark Street in London. It had a loose heel joint- actually flopping around in there- and an action that made it feel like punishment. Now, I bought that guitar for it's sound. It boomed and jangled at the same time. I had a confident luthier reset the neck and remove material from the bridge, both improving the action. I played that guitar in bands around the country. Sometimes hot through fuzz boxes and old amps, sometimes clean, mic'd up with a little treble from the pickup I had installed. I sold that guitar a few years ago for roughly the money I put into it plus the cost of the instrument- break even. Now I have no guitar and money doesn't play the same. Investment in an instrument should be personal and grounded. Nice to hear your relationship with the customer is honest and earnest.

[@micheloderso]

Wow, i have one of these, nearly the same. The over all condition of my instrument is nearly mint, seems like not used, after 60+ years. i got it as a gift and it is very nice playable and rings like a bell. The sustain is about 18 seconds. Ok, it is not a high end guitar, but for the time in which they build it, it is very nice done....

[@MarksUkuleleTips]

Thanks again for the effort that goes into letting us all watch you work. We really appreciate it. I have learned more from your channel than all the other luthiery channels combined.

[@davidmoss8993]

Love your channel, love what you do and the respect and professional way you go about any repairs you do, it's so nice to see someone who cares about their work. And hi from Wales UK.

[@Matt_bechillin]

This is the best KZbin channel that I have dug into in a while. It’s been like 1 week, 30+ hours of watch time , and I feel like I’ve learned more about not just guitar repair, but guitar history and culture, than I have on any other formant .

[@nellayema2455]

Wow! There is some seriously thoughtful and careful craftsmanship on display in this video. Of course, it's what we've come to expect from you, Twoodfrd. It is a pleasure to watch you work, sir. I love seeing these old wall-hangers coming back to life. It probably plays and sounds better now than it ever did. Thanks for making these videos!

[@jackbarlow4104]

These videos are so satisfying and relaxing to watch. Plus, I learn a lot.

[@oletrenner]

It is so enjoyable to watch you work. Thank you so much for sharing! Cheers.

[@maxcohen9639]

One of the most informative repair specialists on youtube. Just the first 4 minutes of this video is filled with great tidbits of knowledge.

[@andylane8815]

Its not just the learning that is good from you, its also the experience you carry to us. Many cannot afford the repairs and don't know how valuable this is. God bless ya!

[@TheFlyingPlectrum]

Just fantastic content. That you give your experience away for free is a wonderful thing. Thank you.

[@graigowens]

Lovely Vintage Mother-of-Toilet-Seat! That is hands down, the single most hilarious one-liner on KZbin. Thank you for your service!

[@stavrospapadimitriou7631]

Everybody calls it 'Mother of Toilet-Seat', ffs....

[@Bargle5]

@@stavrospapadimitriou7631 Yep, I've been hearing that since the 70s.

[@murfbass]

Tom, you give such thoughtful explanations. You are an excellent teacher. Thank you from Saskatchewan.

[@JMnyJohns]

Beautiful tone - had no idea. I'm sure the owner is pleased. Great work and a joy to watch your inventiveness and precision.

[@bradborbridge64]

Thank you so much for these videos! I am not a guitar repair guy...but I think guitars are beautiful...and I play a little. Your obvious passion and skill coupled with your calm demeanour makes for a fantastic companion to my morning coffee.

[@johnulrich5572]

Great video. I like the pace and the way you explain things. For those press in tuner bushings on many older, less expensive guitars I"ve found that small metal grommets that you can buy at fabric or sewing stores are an exact replacement, especially on Harmonys, Kays, Stellas, etc. They are very inexpensive and they come in many small sizes

[@paolomartini4957]

Great list of practical advice, thanks for the excellent video as usual

[@syncro16se]

I'm learning so much from your inspirational videos, thanks 👍🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

[@mikecurtin9831]

Little bits add up. It sounds better than I expected. Thanks much for this.

[@dillonthewindowcleaner]

I love your videos so much man, you’re an artist

[@SBanas]

Once again thank you for a video and using metric system. It is exactly what I was looking for!

[@johnfenner347]

Wonderful work. Super lucid descriptions. Top Hole, all round !. Marvellous !. Greetings From Scotland.

[@nightfly977]

According to the guitar tech who sorted out my Hofner Congress, they were shipped from the Hofner factory without being set up, the retailer was supposed to do that but they rarely did.

[@jacobhennagir7968]

I like your videos a lot. I appreciate the content and how you post often

[@55mga1500]

I know you can't read everything you get - just wanted to say though that I love the channel and your commentary - very droll and witty, lots of eclectic asides and observations! I have binged your videos HARD, and love, love the channel. Thanks so much. I am also learning a tremendous amount - I am a woodworker and hobbyist, and am thinking of doing a kit or finding a guitar to repair/rebuild for fun. Cheers from NH, USA!

[@R3TR0R4V3]

Wow, what a gorgeous guitar. Too cool! Great job, as usual. 👍

[@arlenmargolin1650]

Interesting that he would mention about the changing dimensions of the ball ends of strings over years and it just so happens that the diamond string factory in New Brunswick New Jersey renovated the building and gave me all the lumber they pulled out of the building but in doing so I ended up with tons of ball ends dating back to the 1800s and whatever that's worth I'll just say good night

[@redmanion2193]

Love your work! First time getting in so early as well

[@DavidMFChapman]

Nice to watch you work, and it sounds great!

[@soniah4821]

Another fascinating video. Watching you fix guitars is zen for me.

[@freedomisntfree2089]

Not only am i a fan of your work, im also a fan of your playing demonstrations. Youre completely skilled

[@randybecker7339]

Your steady hands are to be admired!

[@Rialas]

This is the exact video I needed to help lower my 58 senator bridge. Thanks so much.

[@13druber]

Whoever thumbs these vids down are miserable souls

[@ShannonFerguson]

I love listening to your thinking process. To me, I want to play the guitar. I'm not a collector.

[@tomkofd7765]

I picked up a Silvertone and Kay archtop at estate sale for $10 dollar each. They're in for repair right now. 40 and 50 dollars to repair. So appreciate your comments on the worth of repairing theses things. Just trying to get them playable. They are good wall ornaments! Thanks, enjoy watching your channel.

[@staryjanek]

I had to reset the neck and re attach one of the top struts on my old Framus archtop I rescued . You can't really get super slinky action on these old girls, they never had it back in the day. Yep when changing strings, the ball ends get well stuck, suspect that ball ends have changed over time. Love your videos :)

[@stratdude83]

Great sound on that guitar and expertly repaired!

[@OtaconNachos]

Really inventive solution on that pickguard! Love it!

[@TheAdambright]

Fantastic watching for an amateur luthier...enjoying learning in my 50s!

[@jakefine7234]

I’m trying to lower the action on a vintage electric Kay and this video is going to help me so much. Thank you!

[@GangstaGranksta]

Mother-of-toilet-seat is the boutiquest material to craft from.

[@LPCustom3]

Great stuff! I’ve been to the original factory in.Bubenreuth and the new one(they moved in the late 60’s but still call it the new one..) in Haganu. They have a lot of cellulose nitrate from the 50’s & 60’s saved that was used for inlays! Really nice folks!

[@donaldfisher8556]

Awesome work Ted. I really enjoy your channel.

[@mercse]

You also have to take into account the sentimental value to the customer. I have repaired many guitars that customers have been told are not worth repairing because the tech decided that it wasn't worth the effort or cost. I just did one of these Hofner's a few months ago. It was the sentimental value that made it worthwhile doing. Every guitar has a story and some are amazing.

[@TheGhostUK666]

Hi Gang. :-). This should be on a t-shirt.

[@BessieBopOrBach]

This is a really cool guitar. Surprisingly little sag in the top arch considering its age. I play a modern Hofner (Verythin Single Cut) and so I have a soft spot for them. Brilliantly conscientious resuscitation work and words of wisdom as always, sir. I almost dig the Freddie Green action in its original condition!

[@marcusm.8374]

Very informative as always, thanks !

[@paulstaffordcook8799]

Wow. I only started watching because my Dad has the same guitar...... Watched the whole vid, as I found it fascinating. Thank you 👍

[@csnelling4]

Enjoyed watching 👍🇬🇧 Thank you 🙂

[@robertrosenfield405]

Outstanding! It actually sounds great with you playing it. Yeah, its looking original still. Important for vintage class anything.

[@jordangibson695]

"If Stuart stays 'ere with Astrid, Means one of us'll ave to play bass!" (John and George start staring at their shoes...)

[@edreynolds3745]

Great work, and great insight.

[@interact48]

It sounds as sweet as a nut, I’m going to look for one right now on the Bay , Great videos by the way, much love from the UK x

[@humnpwr]

Excellent episode, beautiful sound on that guitar now👍🏻

[@arctichare8185]

Informative and interesting. Much appreciated.

[@BuzzcutGtr]

"Hey, Rocky -- watch Ted pull a rabbit out of his hat!" Amazing save, bruh!

[@BrianKlobyGuitar]

Wow... awesome work and... that guitar sounds great!

[@dalgguitars]

Thank you so much for this video. I really love your videos. I don't know what else to say but Thank you Thank you Thank you!

[@Prellium]

Looks like a 456. Really enjoying your videos, thanks!

[@henryhunter5026]

I had a 1950s Hofner Senator arch top back in the early 1960s so I’ve found this video even more enjoyable than usual. My guitar had a three piece neck but no adjustable truss rod, (I don’t know if it had a bar in the neck). It had a Hofner single coil pickup which attached to the end of the neck and I actually used the guitar to play several gigs with the beat group I was in at the time. I remember that it had a really heavy action despite me sanding down the bridge so it was really hard on the fingers. Although it was a fabulously good looking instrument I very quickly traded in part exchange for a nice red Hofner Colorama solid, although not the finest guitar in the world it didn’t sound completely horrible and got me through a summer holiday season playing 6 gigs a week at holiday parks without shredding my fingers.

[@emiliomurillo20]

had one, her name was lulu. Could only keep 2 strings in tune. a great bass guitar. one day I took off the strings and found that the neck had broken and was kept by the strings.,heavy strings and trying to keep up with the volume. She went to guitar heaven

[@claynovak1251]

I love the intro!!!! Im sure not many people got it, but it really made me laugh, great!!!

[@jackelliott872]

That was amazing. I learned a lot from that, thank you.

[@fishgazoo5851]

Very instructive. Good job!

[@SkyscraperGuitars]

I like the commentary regarding the value vs. the cost of the repairs.

[@waynewilburn3569]

I really enjoy watching your handiwork you have many many skills

[@dickranmarsupial4911]

Really enjoyed this video! Thanks!!

[@ChirpoTunes]

Thanks for this mate, I have a 456 and was trying to fix a couple of these issues myself. Hands down, the best structured and we'll thought out guitar fix video I have found! I'm missing the strap button from the bottom of my hofner and I'm not sure how to fix it / whether the fix is worth the risk of breaking it, it seems like the join where the strap button was is pretty vulnerable. No obligation to respond, but if anyone reads this and has a fix - I'm keen!

[@NoImAMocker]

These old Hofner guitars and basses never used the type strap needing a strap button. Most used a strap that was tied in front of the nut, under the strings. McCartneys strap is actually this same style, only he tied it under the heel area of his bass. Brilliant idea even if it did make the bass a bit neck heavy.

[@goodun2974]

At 13:35, although I often cut screws and bolts shorter with the Dremel tool, some electrical crimpers have a set of built-in threaded cut-offs for #4, 6, 8 and 10 (SAE) screws that gives you a clean, essentially burr-free edge to the shortened screw. You can also buy crimpers with metric-thread cutoffs but those are much harder to find and typically a bit more expensive.

[@RaymondR127]

Excellent video as always!

[@lust4bass]

For the thin bushing, when non available , aluminium coffee capsule sheets are quite thick and offer good stifness. I used that on my '44 Harmony archtop, and the spacing is just perfect. Intonating is so smooth now. It really helped straightening the poles and relief friction on the machine parts, which was really bad prior to that..

[@jeffreymonroe153]

Brother, you are incredible.

[@stainless641]

Really like the explanations for how you are intending on repairing this guitar. The learning factor is excellent and very insightful. Any stories on nightmare projects or unusual repairs? Keep up the good work and thank you for all you have shared. Cheers!

[@jonahguitarguy]

When you started talking which glue to use I immediately thought HHG. Good call I’ve used HHG on several of these kind of jobs.

[@mcfontaine]

I’m catching up on loads of your videos. I have to say thank you for making me laugh at the start of this one … trying to work out if you were John or Paul :)

[@lyndamcardle4123]

Among my many guitars, I have a Hofner Congress (1965). a Senator (1959) and a President (1965) as well as a Framus (1964/5)...they're lovely to play..I really appreciate your attention to detail..... and I knew somehow you were going to suggest fish glue..!

[@whasudr]

I got a 55 456, 58 455 same as in this vid, 59 blond president & a 60 450.

[@bldallas]

I’d call it sentiment vs fetishized. I still have the ‘77 Takamine F-360 (D-28 copy) that I bought new in junior high. It is the first guitar I ever bought and I still love it; it’s in great condition, and plays/sounds great. When I bought it, the MSRP was $300 and I got it at a going out of business sale for $150. Now, if something were to happen it that would required $500 worth of luthier work, I wouldn’t give it a second thought. Yes, that’s likely twice it’s current value, but my “sentimental” connection to that instrument, is deep. I’ve owned/played it for 43 years.

[@jstar1000]

That would be a dream to find. Love the whole vibe of that rig. I do have a super nice 1957 Gibson ES125 that is in really good shape and plays so nice its sick. I snagged it from my brothers father in law for $1000 reciently, it was a super buy in my opinion. Wish one like this would come to me somehow.

[@robertshorthill4153]

Ted, nice to see you are one of only a small handful of luthiers that know the proper way to fill a bridge to an arch top, Jerry Rosa is among then. Thanks and cheers. Bob

[@pedraw]

You've got awesome skills. thanks for the video.

[@rob_in_stowmarket_uk]

I bought (maybe WAS bought) a new dark ‘burst Hofner Congress in 1962, my first guitar. Clearly a later model than your ‘mother of toilet seat’ encrusted version, I have to say I do not recall my example being anywhere close to as glossy as the model you worked on here, and reference to contemporary pictures of me adopting the ‘Rocker Pose of the Day’ bear this out as well. I do recall that the action (although, back in the day, I didn’t know it as such) it had for my initial ‘learning’ process, was virtually as you found on your first examination of this instrument. And I do know, when I traded it in for a lightly used example of the ‘stiletto neck’ Framus Hollywood (solid-looking, hollow ply nod to the single cut Les Paul of the day), the action on that German guitar, compared to it’s distant Hofner ‘cousin’ was, for its time, astoundingly playable!

[@mrfrontranger7911]

Interesting to hear fish glue being used in metals inlay. I like using it when I due frets👍🏻

[@twoodfrd]

It's my favorite for fretting too.

[@RonDylewski]

Damn, that things sounds great! Thank, Ted!

[@johnb5519]

Great job, and it sounds pretty good too.

[@AdamBlight]

A have a 1960 Framus which apart from having a cutaway is almost identical. Action was very high on this, I made a new bridge out of ebony to sort this. Also, gave it a refret, installed electrics and now it plays great.

[@mixxxxer48]

Greetings from the Emerald Isle , love it.

[@staryjanek]

Erin Go Bragh :)

[@dooleyfussle8634]

This one sounds great! Nice ringing tone.

[@guitarsofold100]

Just a tip re gluing binding in this situation I suggest using un thinned lacquer for the re adhesion if any mishaps it can be wet sanded leveled and buffed..

[@whasudr]

U can find the missing bootlace ferrule by looking at old boots which is where these bits originally came from.

[@hitchannel7777]

excellent upload

[@poppacooter]

awesome job sir.

[@christianboddum8783]

Exellent work!