1965 Hofner 182 shortscale bass in Tocotronic Redburst (Vintage, Restored)

Höfner 182 – The Modern, Snappy Funk Machine

Offered for sale is a beautiful, fully restored and well-preserved Höfner 182 short-scale bass from 1965 in its classic Redburst finish. Weighing only 2.6 kg (5.7 lbs), it is exceptionally lightweight and extremely comfortable to play, even during long sessions. The bass is equipped with the renowned Franz Pix 511b "Nova Sonic" staple pickups, delivering the lively, punchy and unmistakable 182 tone that has made this model so highly regarded. Despite its distinctive character, the 182 is a true all-rounder and feels equally at home in funk, beat, rock or virtually any other style of music.

As expected from a bass built in 1965, it shows the usual age-related signs of use on the finish, hardware and plastic parts. Following its restoration, the original finish once again displays a beautiful gloss across both the body and neck, while still retaining the typical lacquer checking, small dings and honest wear that are characteristic of a vintage instrument. The original white celluloid pickguard also shines beautifully again, although it has professionally repaired cracks around several of the screw holes, which should be clearly visible in the photographs.

Both pickups have been completely rewound by me. My rewinds are carried out as faithfully as possible to the original specifications, using the same type of magnet wire, identical tape and crepe paper materials, the original winding direction, the correct number of turns and the original assembly techniques. The result is an authentic vintage tone with no audible difference compared to an original factory pickup and you can hear my pickups in some sold out concert shows since years :)

The entire electronics are original and function perfectly. All switches, potentiometers and both pickups operate exactly as they should. The neck is straight, professionally adjusted and still offers plenty of truss rod adjustment in either direction.

The bass has undergone a comprehensive mechanical and cosmetic restoration. The finish was thoroughly cleaned, disinfected and professionally polished to a high gloss. All tuning machines were completely disassembled, cleaned, polished and freshly lubricated. The entire electronic system was cleaned, inspected and checked, including proper grounding. Every individual component was removed, carefully cleaned, inspected and polished. The fingerboard and frets were cleaned, levelled where necessary, conditioned and oiled. Finally, the bass was professionally set up and accurately intonated, making it a joy to play while ensuring it is in outstanding technical condition.

In short: unpack it, plug it in and start playing – this Höfner 182 is ready for many more decades on stage or as part of a high-quality vintage collection.

• 30″ / 76cm Shortscale
• Pot Dates: 250K 325 (CW32 1965)
• 2x famous Höfner Franz Pix 511 „Nova Sonic“ staple pickups (Humbucker)
• Solid double-cutaway body in redburst paint
• black nitro painted maple neck
• rosewood fretboard, 21 frets
• Perloid dot inlays
• Big control panel: 2x Volume , Rhythmn/Solo Switch, Bass On & Treble On Switch
• Height adjustable bridge
• New Pyramid Nickel Roundwound strings 040-100
• Weight: 2,6 kg

Please look closely at the pictures and ask as many questions as possible if something is unclear. Prefer a few more questions than to have the surprise afterwards. The shipment is securely packed. You are welcome to take a look at my website for insights, I will show you how I pack and ship by using pictures. There are also other high-resolution pictures here.