Hofner Restoration

[Jay Wood]

G'day gents,

I am looking to bring an early 50s Hofner back to playing condition. I have built a couple of archtops, but have fairly limited restoration experience.

My first question is regarding the rather warped pickguard, which I would like to straighten.


My initial thought is:
- place pickguard in flat bottomed pan
- cover with boiling water
- put something heavy and flat on top
- pray that the crack gods (why doesn't that sound right) are looking the other way
- wait to cool
Does that sound reasonable?

My second question concerns some lifting pearloid fingerboard inlays.


I realize that protocol may be to replace these, but I would like to keep this guitar original if possible. So my thought is to clean the slot as best I can with a razor and meths, and then glue down. Options:
- 2 part epoxy - this is my initial inclination
- CA - my worry is that this would react with the inlay material
- Acrylic cement (Weld-on 16) - I think this would cause too much distorting of the inlay
- Titebond - not sure about how it would bind with the plastic

Any advice would be appreciated!

[Chris Reed]

My only experience is with new celluloid, for which boiling water is far too hot. I'd start by clamping the pick guard between two metal plates, or even thin boards, and then slowly warming with a heat gun. I'd start at hand warm, then if no effect up to hand hot. But there must be a risk that it shrivels up completely.

No idea about the inlays, they look very far gone.

[Barry Daniels]

I have used a protocol that I found somewhere to flatten new celluloid pickguard by placing between two 1/8" aluminum plates and heating in an oven to 200 degrees F. It worked well. Make sure the plate on top is very smooth so it doesn't imprint.

I agree that the fingerboard inlays are toast and should be replaced with new material.

[Brian Evans]

I also have a 1950's Hofner, a Senator, I'd appreciate seeing some overall pictures of the guitar, the headstock, etc. Mine needed a neck reset and I had the fingerboard planed and refretted, after that it has been perfect for close to 25 years.

[Jay Wood]

Thanks for the advice, folks. I'll take a shot at that pickguard, and take your advice on the inlays. I think I'll hold off for the inevitable refret though, and glue 'em down in the meantime (maybe with CA rather than epoxy to make my life easier when I do replace them).

Brian, here are a couple of pics (it's a 459 from 1952ish, I think); let me know if you'd like something more specific. It's in great structural shape for its age, and not in need of a neck reset quite yet.