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WezV · October 2014

I made an offer on an ebay auction asking the seller to end early. never done taht before, but its all worked out great.

I paid £100 for these 2 old hofners

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e31/WezV/temporary_zps3df049eb.jpg

Its a 1956 Hofner Congress Archtop and 1965 Hofner Vienna Classical. both have a couple of issues but nothing major

the Archtops neck has obviosuly come off at some point, but I really see this as a plus point as i would be looking to reset anyway and the hard bit is already done. It also has a bit of a gouge in the top i will look to minimise (or hide) and one of the tuner posts is missing - but once you look past all that its it great condition

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e31/WezV/temporary_zpsc3d0f88e.jpg

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e31/WezV/temporary_zpsf7a3eb4a.jpg

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e31/WezV/temporary_zpscd721129.jpg

The classical is really nice. Solid top with laminated back and sides. There is a small section of the back to reglue and other than that it just needs restringing. the one old string that is on there is giving off a promising tone

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e31/WezV/temporary_zps48947422.jpg

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e31/WezV/temporary_zpsa941a671.jpg

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e31/WezV/temporary_zpsd019af21.jpg

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e31/WezV/temporary_zps26e3254a.jpg

pretty happy with both of these

Dave_Mc · October 2014

nice

Jalapeno · October 2014

Have a Wow !

B-)

WezV · October 2014

I have created a bit of an archtop dilema for myself.

Once i have fixed this up I will have 2 simialar ones from the same year (+ or - 1), and i probably can't justify keeping both

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e31/WezV/temporary_zpse82dd49f.jpg

The other one is possibly a framus tango but i have never been able to identify it for sure. Its pretty similar to the tango but has rounded ends to the f-holes, had less frets and was missing a position marker. Mine has already had a neck reset, new fretboard and additional neck reinforecement and a new pickup. just need to give it a guard and heel cap and its pretty much done

this is how the framus looked when i got it

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e31/WezV/new/XL803964.jpg

and another one:

http://musicschool24.de/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/ElvisFramus.jpg

The hofner is smaller which will suit me, and when restored it should be a better guitar.

VimFuego · October 2014

sweet. A teech I went to had a hofner archtop, not the loudest ever, but had that really nice plunky sound.

WezV · October 2014

just given the Vienna a good clean. I have glued up the separated section of the back and taken the tuners off to give them a good clean and oil. The gears are in really good condition so I am confident they will work great for years to come

I will pick up some strings tomorrow and that one will be all done - hopefully

WezV · October 2014

and for any fans of the Congress, there is a good condition one finishing on ebay today that is close to how mine should look, although i thinkt he guard is wrong (but looks good)- serial numbers are very close

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Hofner-Congress-acoustic-archtop-guitar-circa-1956-with-hardcase-Excellent-/161432978823?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item259627c587

WezV · October 2014

some better pics of the classical

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e31/WezV/hof1_zps9f7f29b4.jpg

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e31/WezV/hof2_zps37f42325.jpg

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e31/WezV/hof3_zps1bf8616c.jpg

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e31/WezV/hof6_zps5aac2e8e.jpg

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e31/WezV/hof4_zpse06e20cd.jpg

and an inside shot

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e31/WezV/hof5_zps988d63fb.jpg

other than the dirt is looks really cleanly made. although its ladder braced but thats fine by me

WezV · October 2014

new strings are on.. gonna take a few days to settle down but it really does sound quite pleasing. The action is on the high side, 4.5mm, across the 12th fret. not that unusual for an old classical but i think it can do better

I want to lower the action down to about 3.5-4mm and as the saddle is already cut pretty low i only really have the option of shaving the bridge or resetting the neck.

I am not looking to reset the neck on this as its a lot of work. normally i am against shaving bridges, but this one is relatively chunky and it has quite a sharp break angle over the saddle - so i think it can easily loose the 1-1.5mm without causing any long term damage. if it doesn't work i will replace the bridge with a thinner one to achieve the same outcome

sinbaadi · October 2014

The archtop is going to be a beautiful guitar, they're both great though, and seems to me like you got them at a good price.

WezV · October 2014

yeah, I am veiwing it as £70 for the archtop and £30 for the classical, although £50 each still doesn't work out badly at all

the resoration of the archtop will cost me less than £100 which still brings it in at about half the cost of an original that still works, and a lot less than a mint example of an original

The classical won't be worth much at all but is a nice guitar to own for a pocket money price

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