Chromes not fitting through tailpiece on Hofner

[soulfool]

Just started to put D'Addario Chromes (flatwound short-scale) on my Hofner Ignition but am having a problem fitting the string through the tailpiece slot due to the thickness of the blue silk wrap at the base of the E string. It appears that the tailpiece slot is wide enough for the string to slide through but stops once it hits the wrap, leaving the string sticking out about an inch from where it should rest (see photo). If I could shave the silk wrap down a little so that it's not as fat, I think it would fit through. Is this ok to do? Or will it ruin the strings? I recall seeing a couple posts from Hofner with Chromes owners a while back, so they must somehow fit. Thanks.

[soulfool]

Issue resolved, I shaved a bit from the end to get it to fit. But now have an issue where the silk on the G String is ending up on the nut.

[HailCorduroy]

I just ran into this same problem putting Chromes on a 5 string SX. Both the B and E won't fit (didn't try anymore cause I got so mad). I removed all the wrap from the B and it still won't go through there. The wound part under the wrap is uneven and sticks out just enough that it won't fit through the bridge. Any ideas?

[julio.gamiz]

^Had the same problem on the B of my Vantage 5-string. I drilled the bridge hole to make it a bit wider. Don't know if it's possible with your bass.

[bassdaddyfive]

La Bella makes a flat wound to fit that style of bridge and they are of the proper sizes to work for that bass. I have a Hofner and a Epi. Viola. I use these strings with mine. Long scale strings don't work on these basses.

[stflbn]

Happens a lot with chromes and other higher gauge strings.

A dremel tool and about 2 seconds work on the bridge hole takes care of the problem well. Just make sure you round off your new grinded area afterward to avoid sharp edges.