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'57 - '59 Hofner President Restoration
http://www.luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10101&t=31830		 Page 1 of 1
Author:  eight [ Tue Apr 12, 2011 4:57 pm ]
Post subject:  '57 - '59 Hofner President Restoration
There is a crack in the neck/headstock, it's not that bad and I know I just need to slip some glue in there but I cant open it more than what's pictured so is there a good way to get glue as deep as possible in there?

There is no truss rod but the neck looks pretty straight, is this likely to cause any problems?

Thanks for any help guys

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Author:  Mike Dotson [ Tue Apr 12, 2011 7:54 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: '57 - '59 Hofner President Restoration
If nothing works I will just sand it off and refinish, I'm pretty sure she's been refinished at least once.

I'd say judging by that sand-thru on the back it certainly was..... :cry:
Structural problems and playability aside, the finish on a vintage guitar can almost never be so bad as to need stripped. What a shame.
Author:  eight [ Tue Apr 12, 2011 8:16 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: '57 - '59 Hofner President Restoration
oh that's sand-thru? I thought it was playing wear, I guess that makes sense though...

I'm also starting to think that stuff that I thought was a spill might actually be varnish that dripped over when someone tried to refinish
Author:  charliewood [ Wed Apr 13, 2011 11:24 am ]
Post subject:  Re: '57 - '59 Hofner President Restoration
Try a syringe for getting glue nice and deep, I used a syringe to get CA under frets in order to reseat them on the last repair I did, just a bit of paste wax on the fb and slip it in there - bobs your uncle. Im pretty sure wood glue will work nicely in a syringe as well - the pharmacy had several different lengths of needle ends on the syringes I looked at - PS bring the guitar and explain whats for so they dont think your a junkie LOL
Cheers
CW
Author:  Howard Klepper [ Wed Apr 13, 2011 12:15 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: '57 - '59 Hofner President Restoration
That is not a trivial crack, and if it has not been previously glue, I'm sure it can be opened a little for getting glue in.

Somone stripped and sanded the guitar and apparently applied an oil finish. It cannot be made original again.
Author:  Cal Maier [ Wed Apr 13, 2011 2:34 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: '57 - '59 Hofner President Restoration
Howard's right. The guitar is not a candidate for restoration, but you may be able to still make an OK player out of it. It looks like that break in the neck probably was glued at one time and that's why it will not open more than what you show in the picture. Also whoever refretted it didn't bother to nip the tangs on the frets and installed them right through the fingerboard binding, but I gueass that goes along with the sand throughs and oil finish. Unless the solid top is cracked, and in need of repair (and it doesn't appear so in your photo) I would not humidify the guitar. I'm sure that the neck has a truss rod installed but it is a non-adjustable type of rod. If the neck relief looks to be reasonable this shouldn't be an issue.

Cal
Author:  Chris Pile [ Wed Apr 13, 2011 3:51 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: '57 - '59 Hofner President Restoration
Quote:
the pharmacy had several different lengths of needle ends on the syringes I looked at


Veterinarian supply house is cheaper for syringes - better selection, too.
No explanations needed.
Author:  eight [ Wed Apr 13, 2011 4:42 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: '57 - '59 Hofner President Restoration
Sorry I guess I was a little loosely using the term restore, what I mean is get playable.

All of the other Hofner Presidents I have seen of the same years also have the frets going through the binding like that so I think they were done like that at the factory.

I will try a syringe thanks guys.
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