I have had this German made Hofner since 1963 (when I turned 18). We bought it in Tacna,Peru. It had a amp and case for a few years but they are long gone. I played it more without the amp. For some reason I pulled the output jack and the pick-up and the switch for the rhythm-solo and volume knob are gone. I've been thinking about doing some repair work on it but I don't know the model number. It looks like a 455 but it has the sickle sound holes. The volume-pod has 250k 371 on it. It has a blue stamped date on the inside thats hard to read but the year does look like 1961. Any help on it will be greatly appreciated. Its had a hard life for the last 57 years.
The guitar appears to be a custom version of a Model 455/S/E1 from @'61 or '62. As usual, the date is marked on the underside of the top, and '61 is a match to the features of the instrument. It has the soundholes that were used on the Model 459 and the Model 464. It was either special-ordered that way (doubtful), was an experiment at Hofner that went nowhere, or was simply a mistake (Hofner served beer at lunch).
Reproduction "teacup" knobs are quite easy to find these days. Correct-looking switches are harder to find, but switches with black covers are around, and the covers can be painted. Complete new 2-pickup control panels are available, with pots and switches - one could be cannibalized for parts, or modified and replace what is currently on the guitar. Less expensive to find a switch and paint the cover (Testor's makes a colour that is a good match, and I can dig up that info if needed)
If you want to restore the guitar with a correct style pickup, I have plenty of them and would be happy to supply you with one. I also have complete new 2-pickup control panels available. I'll send you a message.
Last edited by Hammertone; 09-28-2020 at 01:32 AM.
Thanks hammertone for the info. I like beer for lunch also so I can see where it could be a mistake. I have looked all over the web and couldn't find one that I could say looked like mine so you have been a big help.
I'll get back with you on it.
It's always a little bit tricky to write the transcription properly, for many reasons but principal rhythm and ornamentations...!
I feel always more comfortable learning by ear the solos than...
The headstock that Gibson put on the later Epis is what looks wrong to me. The original Epi headstock was known as the moustache, not open book, because it's subtly different, a little more of a...
After years of messing around with picks of all materials and prices I have come to the conclusion that the 1.5mm - 2mm tortex is best for most things. 0.75 for (American style) rhythm.
Birelli...
Hey Allan,
You're welcome! Transcribing is a great exercise, I think that sometimes is great to transcribe a full solo to understand the style of a musicians or to understand the melodic mouvements...
I agree, I think I would love a FM3 where I could get all the amps, and effects with great sounding default settings, fast and simple to do common simple tweaks, but also the option to more advanced...
It's funny, when I hung with the local "gypsy jazz" crowd I found the better players often (not always, but surprisingly often) used simple cheap picks (1.5 and 2mm Dunlops were a hit)...and yes,...
McCoy Tyner style asymetrical pentatonic sequence over Bb7 Alt, with 4ths and forward motion
This is the 3rd installment of asymetrical pentatonics. This time over Bb7Alt using B Melodic
minor,...
Maybe? I don't know if I could give you a single concrete reason, but I know that as soon as I stopped reading them in position and started learning them by ear it suddenly got much easier from a...
Check with @thatrhythmman he sold me a 60s 1100 and had two at the time of sale. The other had some more patina may have been a 70s but may still be avail. Should have bought both, original...
McCoy Tyner style asymetrical pentatonic sequence...
Today, 08:42 AM in Improvisation