{"id":4504,"date":"2021-11-14T20:56:42","date_gmt":"2021-11-14T20:56:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/?p=4504"},"modified":"2022-12-18T12:07:28","modified_gmt":"2022-12-18T12:07:28","slug":"music-1958-hofner-congressnew-guitar","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/?p=4504","title":{"rendered":"MUSiC: 1958 Hofner Congress\u2026New Guitar!"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

I travelled \u2018darn sarf\u2019 today. Two hours each way. And for what? A new guitar!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019ve wanted a nice old vintage arch-top guitar for years. I was lucky enough to borrow a Hofner President from my pal Patrick, for a period of several years. That was a gorgeous instrument. But rather beyond my budget.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Phwoar\u2026 get a load of those curves!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The President was also fully \u2018lectric. Whereas this, a Hofner Congress, is fully \u2018coustic!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Congress was at the low end of Hofner\u2019s offerings, way back when it was launched. And remained at the budget end of their catalogue during its heyday. And it had a heyday, being a very popular \u2018decent yet affordable\u2019 axe, those many moons ago. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I read online somewhere that this was Hank Marvin\u2019s first guitar! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Dang nab it, she\u2019s lovely to look at. (Despite missing string and frets!)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Anyway, this has been on the list of potential guitars for me, in this line – hollow bodied, arch topped – for several years. I know it\u2019s hardly a top of the line legend. But they look lovely, and plenty of folk online testify to them being decent enough, even possessed of a degree of charm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
A sexy back, eh!?<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

But even these budget axes of yesteryear have become quite expensive. They typically sell anywhere between \u00a3200-800! So when I found this one pretty cheap – they were asking \u00a385 – I thought it worth taking a look at. I drove the 70 odd miles to Thundersley, Essex, and decided I\u2019d get it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
The concave bend of the neck is clear.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

It has a fairly major issue; the neck. This was a pre-truss-rod guitar. And the tension of the strings on the neck has bowed it. It looks as if it\u2019s possibly even been broken, and repaired. The frets are appalling, and two are missing, suggestive of further fiddlage!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Odd doings on the heel of the neck.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The body is in good order, and looks lovely. All the other fittings, bridge, tail-piece, scratch-plate and tuning keys are original. The guitar is numbered 7735, which, according to a website that supplies such info\u2019, means it\u2019s of 1958 vintage!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
The weathered old label, inside.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Only five strings on her, and they\u2019re coming off.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Here are a few more pictures. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
The floating bridge, floating off\u2026<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
And in situ. Note locating pin!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
The bass side of the body. A few dings.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
The treble side.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
The rather utilitarian headstock.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Reverse side of the headstock. Oddly asymmetrical!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Hofner\u2019s patent \u2018compensator\u2019 tail piece.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
The on-body decal. Good nick for a 64 year old!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

My plan is to take the neck off, repair it, and put it back on. Keeping it as original as I can. Ideally with the addition of a truss-rod. I have no idea if this is feasible, using the neck as it is. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Can I retro-fit a truss-rod into a neck of this sort?<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Another idea is to fit a different neck. One with a truss-rod. There\u2019s one pictured below. But I\u2019m not so keen on that idea, for two reasons. Silk purses and sow\u2019s ears, for one, and originality and integrity for another. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
I love this type of Hofner neck; mother o\u2019 pearl a-go-go!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Seriously sexy headstock!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Well, for now I\u2019ll leave the strings off, and see if the neck bends back into shape. In the mean time, I\u2019ll gaze on her adoringly, and dream of the fun I\u2019m going to have tickling her strings some day soon, when she\u2019s restored to a more playable state. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I travelled \u2018darn sarf\u2019 today. Two hours each way. And for what? A new guitar! I\u2019ve wanted a nice old vintage arch-top guitar for years. I was lucky enough to borrow a Hofner President from my pal Patrick, for a period of several years. That was a gorgeous instrument. But rather beyond my budget. The … <\/p>\n

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