Hofner 500/1 Bass Truss Rod Issue. Upgraded Modifications.

Hofner violin bass repair. A look at a Hofner 500/1 bass stuck truss rod plus updated modifications. (Reposted) Beatle bass. #hofnerviolinbassrepair #backbeatvintage #hofner #beatles #paulmccartney #thebeatlesgetback

[@48musicfan]

Great to see you. Hope you are doing well.

[@MrLouo]

So good to see you again EJ Really miss your videos.

[@peterdavenport5882]

Hey EJ, another great and informative video. Good to have back. You are The Hofner Man! 👍

[@silentgd]

welcome back EJ...missed you highly informative videos!

[@glennselwitz1377]

Its been a minute nice to see you back....

[@pallecla]

Really appreciate that you share your experience 👍

[@gregjarvis3288]

Forgot to mention that in total it cost me $770 to put together using mostly genuine Hofner items including the control panel and wiring, flat wound strings, bridge, tuners, pickguard, zero fret nut, logo, tailpiece. The body and neck are Hofner ignition that I refinished and added all the other bits to. Your videos were of great assistance and inspired me to do it. Thanks😊

[@rustytable]

I was just wondering where you’ve been. Great to see you again! It’s Hofner time! Thanks!

[@BackbeatVintage]

Vacation, gig’s, nashville. Thanks!

[@fanbladeinstruments]

Great video, very informative. I'm really looking forward to seeing the process of how you take the neck off, I've got an acoustic that's in need of the same adjustment. Thanks.

[@judih.8754]

Another great video. Welcome back!

[@gregjarvis3288]

Great video. Just finished assembling my bass using all the mods you have shown in various video's and it looks and sounds great. I got the last finishing touch the other day from a guy in Germany....the raised head stock logo in cream and gold. Needed three small holes drilling for the fixing pins but it looks great. I am in the UK by the way. Keep the vids coming.

[@kiwibass]

Hi EJ, just stumbled across your channel... and sure enough hit the subscribe button. I never would've guessed that there's still so much interesting Hofner related stuff left for me to discover. The fact that all this is being presented in a very relaxed way doesn't hurt either. ;-) Keep on with the good work! (Btw: I did the exact same control plate mod to my 81-ish 500/1, which now sports original '67 circuitry instead of this PCB thing with its ridulously tiny switches and cheap black knobs...)

[@BackbeatVintage]

Thanks! Welcome to the channel. EJ

[@tomluther1]

Very helpful video, Thanks

[@dragongoff]

Glad you set up a blade pickup bass. I'm partial to those and although I only have the one Hofner bass, I like the sound. Thought it was advanced of Hofner to make a "hot rail" way back in the 60's. Would be cool EJ if you'd do a sound performance with the '67 blade bass just for comparison. Thanks!

[@dragongoff]

The shorter tailpiece IMO allows more string to go over the bridge adding more string vibration energy to go down into the body.

[@nigollllll]

Hi EJ. Love your videos.Was wondering. Im having the same problem with the hole being too big to cover when changing out the control panel. So i have to switch plates.Did you use any special tool to enlarge the square holes for the switches. Dont want to ruin the larger plate. Thanks

[@BackbeatVintage]

Hi, I used my micro flat file and took my time. Use the new existing panel as a template. File them for rough fit and once pots and switches fit then do the final clean and square filing. Thx?

[@nigollllll]

@@BackbeatVintage Thanks EJ. Great Videos

[@dragongoff]

E.J. question about the typical head-stock overlay on these vintage basses. When there's a white edge on the overlay is that a multiply or paint?

[@BackbeatVintage]

Multiply. At least on the germans. You can check by taking the truss rod cover off and seeing where they routed it.

[@paularcherfiddle0351]

Firstly let me say that I find your videos very interesting. I have 2 questions if you don't mind me asking? I am quite keen on making a 500/1 replica. I have made over 80 instruments in the last 25 yrs. I have made all types including violins, carved-top instruments and many flat tops both acoustic and electric. Is there a 500/1 original bass with a carved spruce top and a solid, flat, maple back? I can carve maple but would rather not. Which year did Hofner make these? I would favour using a two-way modern truss rod, is this ok? Did this bass have a dovetail or mortice neck joint? Are there any plans available? The second question is this: Do you think swapping or upgrading parts on original early basses affect their value? It seems, to me, that this practice takes away their originality. Are the basses you work on, your own or do they belong to customers? Thanks again for a great channel. I too am in the UK.

[@BackbeatVintage]

Hi, interesting questions. All original pre 61 500/1 basses had carved spruce tops and flat backs and bracing. They actually started the change on the 500/1 bass in 61 and randomly converted over to the laminated curved front and backs until 63 according to the violin bass story book by Nick Wass page 86. The reissues I’ve seen or own have the molded curved laminate tops and flat backs with bracing. I dont know of any plans for that. A two way truss rod is fine but I’ve never seen a hofner that needed help pulling the neck forward that wasn’t in need of a neck reset. This is usually due to the fact that hofners are maple necks glued to a spruce body block. If a perminant glue is used that spruce body block will splinter as it pulls forward instead of letting the hyde glue release it. Also the neck joint isnt really a dove tail joint. It is more like a violin body neck joint. It does nothing to help it from pulling forward. The hyde glue is a blessing so we can easily release and rest these necks due to these set of combinations we are dealling with. In late 67 but mostly appearring in 68 the mortise and tennon neck joint was introduced. It is a much stonger neck joint and did a lot to help the hyde glue hold. Only issue that introduced, is the neck angle and inset is lower into the body requiring a lower bridge and forcing the pickups to be lowered into the body. This slightly affected the hofner tone by cutting large holes in the body top. Regarding changing out original parts and affecting its value. Yes….but also no. If the bass was not taken care of and the tone is suffering or playability is compromised then it helps its value to selectively give it what it needs. If the bass still has its tone and playability and shows equal consistant wear then I wouldnt touch it other than careful cleaning and adjusting etc and should not be compromised. All the basses I work on are or were mine. I no longer take in work since covid hit and am focusing on my channel. My goal is to provide videos on how to work on hofners. A lot of, or at least half of the damage done to these basses in my opinion was done at the music stores by those working on them like they are everyday electric guitars, basses etc. These basses should be worked on by string luthiers that also work on violins, cellos and standup basses. Totally different mind set. Thanks! EJ

[@koravable]

do you have an online shop where you sell hofners?

[@BackbeatVintage]

Hi, I dont but when I do sell a bass I list it on reverb.com

[@beatlemania_df7297]

Hi! Configure and make the subtitles available in Portuguese, please.

[@MattCaffell]

are those strings no D'Addario Half wounds?

[@BackbeatVintage]

No I believe I used pyramids on that project.

[@MattCaffell]

@@BackbeatVintage Ah, ok no worries. I've been working on a CB Copy, and your tips on the intonation have proved invaluable, thank you.

[@bbsoni4814]

is it possible to get in touch with you by phone?

[@BackbeatVintage]

Hi, I’m actually traveling right now for a month and would prefer to work through email. Right now Im not taking in work and am concentrating on the channel but I am happy to give you advise or help diagnose and issue. Whats up? [e-mail]