Hofner Congress - attic find

**Rob MacKillop** · 08-30-2018, 08:10 AM

One of my students found a Hofner Congress in his aunt's attic. Seems to be from the '56-'58 era. It is in a bit of a mess, but I said I'd have a look at it for him. One of the tuners is broken, and they are in a group of three. Is it worth sourcing a replica, or, given that the Congress was the cheapest of the Hofner archtops, just go for singles instead?

It looks nice, and should work when strung up properly. Could do with a refret, or at least a dressing. The bridge seems in good condition. I imagine a guitar tech would charge as much as the guitar is worth on eBay.

Hofner Congress - attic find-img_20180830_113028-736x1306-jpg

Hofner Congress - attic find-img_20180830_113028-736x1306-jpg

Hofner Congress - attic find-img_20180830_113050-1305x736-jpg

Hofner Congress - attic find-img_20180830_113037-736x1306-jpg

Hofner Congress - attic find-img_20180830_111841-736x1306-jpg

Hofner Congress - attic find-img_20180830_113017-736x1306-jpg

**Hammertone** · 08-30-2018, 08:46 AM

I'd recommend vintage-style European tuners, which are still being made by Van Gent.
I'd specifically recommend against modern, cast tuners from Schaller, Gotoh, Sperzel, Kluson, Ping, Wilkinson, etc. as these require drilling out the headstock. Simply not necessary, and they are typically heavy.
I'd specifically recommend against vintage American style tuners. Keystone and Butterbean buttons do not belong on old Hofners. Stylistically offensive and simply not necessary.

The Chermans knew how to shave a pfenning and made many guitars without tuner bushings. Go to this guy, in the UK, for excellent quality, stylistically appropriate tuners. And get matching tuner bushings, which will make tuning smoother and more stable:
Project Guitar Parts - For Hofner guitar parts, Hofner bass guitar
parts, Vintage replacement scratch plates, Eko, Watkins, Colorama

These three items as shown on his website fit the vibe of the guitar - lightweight, open-back tuners:
- Rugby Ball Button 3 a Side Machine Heads
- Machine heads with rugby ball buttons 3 left & 3 right
- Replacement machineheads for Hofner guitar/folk/acoustic guitar

**Rob MacKillop** · 08-30-2018, 09:09 AM

Thank you, Hammer. I knew I could rely on you!

**voxss** · 08-30-2018, 09:22 AM

dixieland band...wasnt dixieland all the rage then..very few british guitarists could play bebop...few exceptions..maybe tommy steele owned it...

**GNAPPI** · 08-30-2018, 01:24 PM

Originally Posted by Hammertone

I'd recommend vintage-style European tuners, which are still being made by Van Gent.
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Why change them? I've heard Rob play, he doesn't need that E string and If he's 1/2 the teacher I think he is his student will not either :-)

**Rob MacKillop** · 08-30-2018, 04:54 PM

Haha. But, Gary, it's the D string tuned that is missing...

**Max405** · 08-30-2018, 05:22 PM

Something tells me that at some point I am going to be blown away by chuwn that you record with that guitar.
How long do you think it was stashed away in the attic?
Joe D

**plasticpigeon** · 08-30-2018, 05:27 PM

It's a bit of an effort to repair these things but not impossible. Would you be able to show a picture of the beack of the headstock please?

**Rob MacKillop** · 08-30-2018, 06:35 PM

Joe, is chuwn an American spelling for tune??

I think it has been in that attic for many decades. Since Hard Days Night!

**joe2758** · 08-30-2018, 06:36 PM

that's funny my wife and i say chewn

**Rob MacKillop** · 08-30-2018, 06:37 PM

Originally Posted by plasticpigeon

It's a bit of an effort to repair these things but not impossible. Would you be able to show a picture of the beack of the headstock please?

Your wish is my command...it would be nice to get three-in-a-row replicas like these:

Hofner Congress - attic find-img_20180830_113059-1305x736-jpg

**Rob MacKillop** · 08-30-2018, 06:45 PM

I have since found the button and stem (I don't know the technical term) but can't attach it. Advice welcome.

Hofner Congress - attic find-img_20180830_234152-736x1306-jpg

Hofner Congress - attic find-img_20180830_234152-736x1306-jpg

**Rob MacKillop** · 08-30-2018, 06:47 PM

I can see that the two small protrudences should fit into the two small holes in the plate, but is a special tool required?

**deacon Mark** · 08-30-2018, 06:55 PM

The Hammer knows...........just keep his instructions in order.

**srs** · 08-30-2018, 07:12 PM

Originally Posted by Rob MacKillop

I can see that the two small protrudences should fit into the two small holes in the plate, but is a special tool required?

I believe that if you were to unscrew one of the 3 in a row tuner strips, remove it from the headstock and turn it over you would see that the end of those protrusions had been mushroomed over. Your broken tuner probably fatigued and broke the cap off of the mushroom. Length of protrusion is now too short to mushroom over again. Or I could be completely wrong.

**john_a** · 08-30-2018, 07:44 PM

yer werm gear cage needs a new swage !

Could be the cage tabs are broken apart from fatigue as srs suggests, or it could have just deformed enough to separate with no loss of material.
If the later was true, it could possibly be reworked to fit again, but the odds are that effort would exceed the value.

I'd take some measurements to see if those rugby ball 3 on a strip Colorama parts can fit, they look appropriate and their price is reasonable.

John

**GNAPPI** · 08-30-2018, 09:23 PM

Originally Posted by Rob MacKillop

Haha. But, Gary, it's the D string tuned that is missing...

So THATS why my chords sound like crap? Damn little keyboards.

**neatomic** · 08-30-2018, 09:46 PM

they call that a 3 on a plate bell end tuner

stewmac has got repros stateside

(hope you can see this link rob)

Golden Age Restoration Tuners for Solid Peghead Guitar with Bell-end | stewmac.com

you will not get that peg back on!...in any stable fashion...

cheers

**Rob MacKillop** · 08-31-2018, 01:44 AM

Okay, they look nice, but the guy might not want to shell out. We shall see. If it was mine I would try to get it back into playing condition. thanks for all the comments!

**LtKojak** · 08-31-2018, 04:03 AM

Originally Posted by Rob MacKillop

Could do with a refret, or at least a dressing

In this case, judging by the pictures posted, a refret's absolutely NOT necessary.

OTOH, although not mandatory, as the frets don't look that consumated anyway, a fret leveling and crowning would be nice; it doesn't seem an instrument that was played to death, so to speak.

Does the truss-rod work as it should? If it does, then it'll be possible to do the much-needed setup to bring her into playing status again.

**plasticpigeon** · 08-31-2018, 05:00 AM

The tangs on the worm gear housings should be peened over on the back of the metal strip. I'm not sure how easy that would be to do, but they could be straightened out, and perhaps a centre punch could be used to peen the metal tangs over, or maybe they could be soldered. Please don't junk them as it is quite an easy repair!

**Rob MacKillop** · 08-31-2018, 05:12 AM

Okay, but beyond me. Simple if you have the tools. I'll tell him to take it to a proper tech. The question remains whether he will want to spend as much money as he would get for selling it.

**gitman** · 08-31-2018, 06:34 AM

This looks just like the guitar that Johnny Cash got when he was stationed in Germany - he learned his first chords while he was here....
there should be some collectors/dealers over here that might have these parts, look on the german ebay etc.