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Re: Building a Höfner 500/1
Posted: Wed Mar 07, 2012 2:05 pm
by Soulsaman
This was a great video. Thanks for posting!
I thought in this day and age, there would be more computers involved in making this bass.
They're probably using the same techniques they did since way back. Its pretty much all hand made from what I can see.
I sooo want one!
Re: Building a Höfner 500/1
Posted: Wed Mar 07, 2012 3:11 pm
by jps
From my perspective, it looks a little too much "all hands on". Things like the drilling of the fingerboard dot holes seem contrived, to me.
Re: Building a Höfner 500/1
Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2012 8:43 pm
by FabGearHead
I build guitars for a living using good old-fashioned hand work mostly, but I was amazed at the hand work involved in the video, ESPECIALLY the fret slots and dot inlays.
Fingerboards are usually slotted with a gang-saw ( small circular saw blades spaced the same as the frets ) all at once, or at least with CNC. The craftsman gluing on the neck used hot hide glue!!
Re: Building a Höfner 500/1
Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2012 9:01 pm
by onebadjazzman
Absolutely fantastic video. I was amazed and want one even more now. Those are serious craftsmen! Very hard to find any more. It's nice to see pride in one's work. Beautiful!
Re: Building a Höfner 500/1
Posted: Thu Mar 22, 2012 6:20 pm
by nukebass
So how did the guy working on the fretboard know where to cut the slots?
Re: Building a Höfner 500/1
Posted: Thu Mar 22, 2012 8:18 pm
by jps
nukebass wrote:So how did the guy working on the fretboard know where to cut the slots?
It's all in his head!
Re: Building a Höfner 500/1
Posted: Fri Mar 23, 2012 8:29 am
by FabGearHead
"So how did the guy working on the fretboard know where to cut the slots?"
Notice that he quickly placed a marking jig on the neck, pressed it down, removed it and started sawing. It appears that the jig marks fret AND fret marker positions simultaneously. I still have a hard time believing that each bass is fretted this way. How the heck does does the guy sawing keep the slots parallel to each other??
Re: Building a Höfner 500/1
Posted: Fri Mar 23, 2012 11:35 am
by nukebass
I know people really like the basses, but the bodies look pretty flimsy. I guess they hold up okay, though.
Re: Building a Höfner 500/1
Posted: Fri Mar 23, 2012 5:35 pm
by daveman
FabGearHead wrote:"So how did the guy working on the fretboard know where to cut the slots?"
Notice that he quickly placed a marking jig on the neck, pressed it down, removed it and started sawing. It appears that the jig marks fret AND fret marker positions simultaneously. I still have a hard time believing that each bass is fretted this way. How the heck does does the guy sawing keep the slots parallel to each other??
It's Germany. Precision work is mandatory; mistakes are verboten.
The poor guy has probably fretted a few thousand basses. After a while you get the hang of it.
Re: Building a Höfner 500/1
Posted: Fri Mar 23, 2012 8:22 pm
by johnallg
Yeah, now I want one.
Cool video and I too was surprised by the order of the construction in places. Also evident was the highly skilled workers.
Re: Building a Höfner 500/1
Posted: Mon Mar 26, 2012 3:18 pm
by mgauction
That was great!
Re: Building a Höfner 500/1
Posted: Mon Mar 26, 2012 8:15 pm
by antipodean
nukebass wrote:I know people really like the basses, but the bodies look pretty flimsy. I guess they hold up okay, though.
Yep, Macca's is still hanging in there, and it's not like it has led a pampered life!
Re: Building a Höfner 500/1
Posted: Mon Mar 26, 2012 8:33 pm
by TomLovesRics
Every time is see a video of a guitar being built it makes me want one. Now I have to go buy a Hofner Violin Beatles Bass.
Re: Building a Höfner 500/1
Posted: Fri Mar 30, 2012 5:00 pm
by rickfan63
I have a red Hofner HCT 500/1 and I love it! It's a super little bass, and so easy to play and sing with.