60s Hofner archtop restoration - Part 2

Here's a fun project! Got this really old and broken Hofner 450s from the 60s.
It's probably a low end model which was made to export from Germany. The company that imported this guitar in Singapore was "REX TMA LTD". A look inside the body revealed a date stamp of "19 DEZ 1960", but the neck was pre 1960 because it lacked a truss rod. It was common for Hofner parts to be matched from different manufacture dates.
Many things wrong with it and it's unplayable. Let's see if I can restore it to at least a playable state.
In this part, I remove the neck from the body and remove the frets.

[@profile2047]

I was watching for the heel removal. But your explanation on not showing it was funny and I totally understand haha.

[@limey4892]

'Barbaric' is exactly the right word! I have just had to remove the neck from a 1959 Hofner President and it took three days of sweat and frustration (using a heat stick, steam and some fancy tools) and in the end it came down to a wrestling match that left a chunk of neckbrace torn off from the body. A compltete nightmare but a huge relief when it came free. Luckily, no screws or dowels to deal with so I admire your persistence and skill in dealing with the extra hassle, I would probably have given up! Thanks for the fine video.

[@GuitarNTabs]

Seems like an interesting project - good luck! If I may... You shouldn't have to yank out the frets, or pull up on them.. Frets should always be "walked" out, by getting under the fret crown. Your fret removing plier isn't sharp of flat enough, to really get under the frets... This causes more damage to the fretboard than necessary... Cheers.

[@simpleone1989]

Thanks for the tip! I was trying to walk them out. There wasn't much damage to the fretboard. I also sanded the radius on it because it was pretty worn.

[@GuitarNTabs]

@@simpleone1989 - Sure, no problem! I know that some old frets can be hard to handle, but if the fret puller is flat and sharp, then it shouldn't be a big problem. Yeah, good call to re-radius the board - just make sure the neck is stable, and won't suddenly twist or move.. It looks like the guitar hasn't been storaged that well..

[@petersapsard3463]

Think you will find this is a 1950s guitar as there is no truss rod. Hofner only started to fit truss rods from 1959. Best of luck with rebuild.

[@helliermason5910]

I've been gifted one do this was a great inspiration. Mine has a split un the heel exactly the same and been badly glued. I've used heat on a thin blade and got the glue out but theres a shiny bolt holding the neck to the heel. So im thinking of hacksawing the bolt and sanding as youve done. Then glueing and doweling or screwing the neck back on again. Thoughts ?

[@WW-1995]

4:52 piano guy was on fire

[@helliermason5910]

Can you tell me how to get the heel block out if I have to please ?