Maude

Ignition is just the 'level' of some of Hofners range of basses. As you've referenced the Beatles I'm assuming you mean the Violin bass, or the 500/1 to give it its rightful name. I have a Club bass (500/2) in black as I wanted the Hofner hollow body sound but didn't want that Beatles association. I have flats on it so it has that classic hollow thumpy sound but it's still pretty versatile, put some rounds back on and even more so. As with any bass, it's great for some stuff, no so great for other stuff, but you can play anything you want on it.

I've just put the original knobs back on as they're shallower, it doesn't bother me to the degree I'll make a new scratchplate and possibly have to re-route the cavity.

Yes they just pull off, I usually use a metal dessert spoon as a lever. Find a sturdy spot on the scratchplate, ie where it's not hollow underneath, and use that spot to slide the bowl end of the spoon under the knob, then gently lever the knob upwards a little bit at a time while rotating the control between each little lever to ensure it lifts evenly. The Talman ones were tight. They were off as I had put chrome ones on because I prefer the look but the chrome type are taller than the originals so, like yourself, I found them in the way a bit. I just hadn't got the originals back on yet.

In all honesty I don't know as I've never tried. The blooming is on the surface but I think would still be visable if lacquered over as it's more of a whitening of the surface rather than a matting, which would become glossy if lacquered over. It's irrelevant though as if you let the paint with the bloom dry and then wanted to lacquer over it, you'd need to key the surface for lacquer so would just sand with something like 1500 wet until the bloom has gone, you shouldn't rub through as it'll only be on the surface layer.

Only just seen this and was going to instantly say blooming but others have already enlightened you. I was also going say if the pain's not totally cured then try putting in the sun and it sometimes rectifies itself, which you've also found out. It occurs from moisture in the air condensing on your fresh paint. Warming the object you're painting can help, as can warming the paint but ultimately you need a dry drying area. I've sprayed outside when it's too cold and brought it back indoors between coats, and to dry, but you could see bloom developing when indoors in the warm and dissappear once back out in the cold. As @Andyjr1515 points to, it's all about moisture content of the air and it condensing with changes in temperature. Warming the object to be painted and warming the paint is a good idea, it will still bloom if the moisture content of the air is too high but it will help, it also aids the application of the paint, giving a more even spray pattern from an aerosol and helping it flow better so you don't get the 'orange peel' effect in your finish. 🙂

@Osiris I've got a Precision and a Jazz with the respective P or JBXN's in and they are great pickups, the Jazz has a series switch and the neos in series are monstrous. I can imagine your Talman sounds great. I'll also add that sometimes the excitement of a new bass can cloud your judgement on how good it actually is. A couple of weeks in to let the waters clear and really is a great bass, not just great for the money, just great. I've got my picollo strings on and with the tiniest smidge of overdrive and chorus added it's a fun new instrument. I know different folks like different tones but if you like that knarly P bass with rounds and a plectrum tone then this review is great. Jump to 1:55 for P.

The actual controls themselves are absolutely fine, I'm just not a fan of that style of plastic knob that's all. I put a set of chrome precision style knobs on but they are taller than the plastic jazz style that it comes with and the one closest to the pickups is easy to knock if you get carried away when playing so I've gone back to the originals.

This is a sensible course of action. @stewblack I assume you'll be looking at a repair which could be visible (but feel smooth) as opposed to a neck refinish to make as close to perfect as possible?

I just thought it was a well priced, very capable bass for maybe a beginner to learn some songs on. Perhaps something like that Fats Domino tune 'Bluebell Hill', or the Stone Roses classic, 'Maid(of)Stone'.

Well well well.......... or shortened to, ahem, Wells

I've just stopped to read these comments while I have a Sandwich. Terrible puns.

Any bass will do, just play some jazz on it and they'll soon be gone.

I wondered how long it would take. 😄

Firstly this is not mine and I don't know the seller. Also if this isn't allowed then please remove and accept my apologies. I just thought it might be a bargain for someone on here. I was browsing Facebook selling pages a lovely Vintage V4 P bass in off white popped up for £60. It's in Deal, Kent so not good to me but someone nearby might want a bargain. https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/265938431445530/

The worrying thing is the only reason a pub pays for a band is to pull the punters in. Why pay a band to attract punters if the pub can't let them in due to social distancing. It's sad but as long as social distancing is a thing, I don't think there'll be a pub band circuit to play. I really hope I'm wrong but I just can't see how it could work.

I've put a picture of HW4005 here before but I've since picked up a '77 Aria, so here they are together. The Aria came with original case which is in good nick really and totally useable. I've made my own treble pickup bezel including thumbrest so I don't lose any finger tips on surround. I used it about three times and then we went into lockdown and it's stuck inside a business premises that I can't access so I haven't seen it for ages now, I really want to play it.

Did your bass then have the London look?

Mark Knopfler has always come across any time I've seen him as a thoroughly decent chap. Massively talented, massively famous and massively rich but still a down to earth Geordie. This on YouTube is an enjoyable way to spend fifteen minutes.

Basschat at its best. Some threads can get heated when folks don't agree but deep down I think we're all here with a common interest and a willingness to help others if we can. Warm hugs all 'round. Now enough of that malarkey and back to manly wood carving. 🙂

Just thinking out loud here, a single action rod must push against the centre of the fretboard and the volute and heel ends of the neck to counter the tension of the strings. This would mean that the cracking in the centre of the neck wouldn't have any direct stress placed on it, making it just a cosmetic issue, to a degree. Wouldn't it?

Oh no! I don't quite understand why that's happening, the substantial fretboard must've been bracing it.

Superb! Love the little maple vaneer between the front and back of the body, adds a real touch of class.

I like a man who will happily mix up imperial and metric in one measurement. I always go to whatever increment is closest on my tape measure or ruler, "That's 18 inches and three mil". Never fails to ensure I cut in the wrong place. 😁

If you have good eye hand coordination you should be able to remove the fretboard from nut to heel with one swing of an axe.

@barlemniscate there's a T40 ending on ebay later today, still only £340 which seems pretty good.