Colour of silk on Labella Hofner strings

Root 5 · #1 10-11-2012, 05:37 PM

I was playing a 'Beatle bass' the other day and it had some nice flats on it. The string silks had a dark teal/blue-ish tinge to them.

Anyone know what they are?? I've suspected Labella.

Thank you!

gary m · #2 10-11-2012, 06:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Root 5

I was playing a 'Beatle bass' the other day and it had some nice flats on it. The string silks had a dark teal/blue-ish tinge to them.

Anyone know what they are?? I've suspected Labella.

Thank you!

Sounds almost like Roto 77s...LaBellas are usually black.

Silver Blues · #3 10-11-2012, 06:26 PM

Blue silk? Flats? I smell Chromes.

Roto 77s have red silk.

Were they silked both ends?

--Silvie

Pilgrim · #4 10-11-2012, 07:06 PM

The Labella Hofner flats on my violin bass are about 2 years old and have black silks.

The Labella Deep Talkin flats on my other bases have bright red silks.

SLaPiNFuNK · #5 10-11-2012, 09:51 PM

Every gauge la Bella are different color.

Medium la Bella are dark blue

No light blue from la Bella

Root 5 · #6 10-12-2012, 08:47 AM

Thanks for the responses!

I knew that one set, or gauge of Labella Hofner strings have black silk.

These strings were an unusual colour that's hard to describe. They were a deep purple-green-blue-ish shade.

The pic attached does not have the strings I was enquiring about. But I am curious to know what they are, too.

I don't know Hofner specific strings very well.

Thanks!

jasper383 · #7 10-12-2012, 11:18 AM

Maybe they were the original Hofner strings?

I think Hofner strings are made by Pyramid.

Lots of Hofners floating around out there with European brand strings we N Americans don't see often.

boynamedsuse · #8 10-12-2012, 12:05 PM

The original Hofner strings on a contemporary have a dark green silk--and they are rounds.

gary m · #9 10-12-2012, 12:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by boynamedsuse

The original Hofner strings on a contemporary have a dark green silk--and they are rounds.

The stock Hofner flats on my MIG Club have lime green silks and are manufactured to Hofner's specs by Pyramid. A set of Pyramid Gold flats for a Hofner bass will have different color silks, but similar construction, tension, and sound.

I don't think Contemporary Series basses ship with Hofner/Pyramid strings...but I'd be curious to know exactly which strings are installed at the factory. The Ignition Series Hofners I've seen firsthand have nondescript rounds installed.

boynamedsuse · #10 10-12-2012, 01:42 PM

Hofner makes / contracts for at least three types or quality levels of strings. One type ships on the German Hofners, a different one on the Contemporary series, and a third one on the Icon / Ignition models.

odysseios · #11 10-12-2012, 10:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Root 5

I don't know Hofner specific strings very well.

This is the Labella lighter gauge for Hofner basses: light blue silk.
Heavy gauge, as someone already wrote, is black.
Silk on Hofner/Pyramid strings (the same thing) is dark green (something light green).
On my Fender Precision i have the Labella "Jamerson set" (heavier gauge on the market) which has dark blue silk.

SLaPiNFuNK · #12 10-12-2012, 11:15 PM

Oh duh... Why don't I look at the strings on the shelf... (Slaps head)

Yes odysseios is correct... Light Blue silk on the Version Two La Bella Hofner Beatle Bass Deep Talkin Flats.

The original La Bella Hofner Beatle Bass they are Black silks...

La Bella color schemes are different for the standard bass sets.

Root 5 · #13 10-13-2012, 03:17 PM

Thanks for the responses!

I do agree the light blue ones are Labella. To be clear, does Labella also still make the black silk version, or are they all light blue?

I think the dark purple-ey greenish ones are Hofner. But I could be wrong!

SLaPiNFuNK · #14 10-13-2012, 03:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Root 5

Thanks for the responses!

I do agree the light blue ones are Labella. To be clear, does Labella also still make the black silk version, or are they all light blue?

I think the dark purple-ey greenish ones are Hofner. But I could be wrong!

La Bella makes two different versions...

760FHBB (original (black silk))
760FHB2 (new version (with blue silks))

odysseios · #15 10-14-2012, 02:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Root 5

I think the dark purple-ey greenish ones are Hofner. But I could be wrong!

Hofner strings are the same as Pyramid. Their silk is always dark green, even if some sets can come in light green.

Graze1960 · #16 11-14-2012, 09:32 AM

I've got Pyramids on mine and they're a dark green (with a hint of teal.......:-).
Graze

SLaPiNFuNK · #17 11-14-2012, 09:56 AM

Just an FYI Hoftner Beatle Bass lovers... La Bella has released tapes with new lighter gauges for the Hofner Beatle Bass... .050 .065 .080 .100!

jasper383 · #18 11-15-2012, 02:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SLaPiNFuNK

Just an FYI Hoftner Beatle Bass lovers... La Bella has released tapes with new lighter gauges for the Hofner Beatle Bass... .050 .065 .080 .100!

Roto has needed to do this for a looong time. Their tapes are really fat gauges.

Because of McCartney, Roto could be THE tapewound, but I think that .060 G and the .115 E scares people off.