New Option in Labella Hofner Beatle Bass strings...

[Pilgrim]

I was just checking my favorite place to buy Labellas, Imperial Guitars online.

I learned that the Hofner set now comes in two gauges...and their price is $28.55, which is nearly $20 less than most places on the web.

760FHBB LaBella Deep Talkin' Beatle Bass Flatwound

Here's the copy: "Now available in 2nd lighter gauge to fit violin basses that have smaller holes in their tailpieces."

760FHBB 1st/.050 2nd/.065 3rd/.080 4th/.100
760FHB2 1st/.039 2nd/.056 3rd/.077 4th/.100

If you have a "Beatle Bass" of any brand, you need medium scale (32") strings to fit it because of the floating bridge and tailpiece on these basses. The scale length of these instruments is 30" but the string length required is 32".

[rickfan63]

Thanks for the heads up! I just ordered a set of the 50-100HBB flats for my new red Hofner Contemporary 500/1. Those are the best prices I've seen on these strings. Probably need to get a few more at these prices! I paid almost twice that for the set for my Brice copy

[ScottTunes]

Hofner/Pyramid have less tension than LaBella, smoother feel and richer tone, and more harmonic content than LaBella. I had a LTD Edition Club strung with LaBella for over 3 years, and my Beatle bass has always had Hofner/Pyramid strings. LaBella isn't really even close, regardless what others say. After hundreds of hours on LaBella, both live and in the studio, it is my firm belief that Hofner/Pyramid flats are THE string for hofner basses. The two drawbacks for Hofner/Pyramid are consistency and price. TI flats will have even less tension, but a more modern, mid/hi-mid dominant sound. Great feel though. All followed by the usual disclaimer - IME/IMO, YMMV

[Pilgrim]

YMMV, you bet. I like the Labellas!

[gary m]

FYI: Hofner string are now available through North Coast Music for $69.95 USD.

[JimmyM]

My package of Labella Hofner HB2's lists .096 for the E string.

[RockBobby]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

My package of Labella Hofner HB2's lists .096 for the E string.

+1

[Pilgrim]

Originally Posted by gary m

FYI: Hofner string are now available through North Coast Music for $69.95 USD.

I have had a great experience with Imperial Guitar online ordering Labella strings for me that aren't in their normal inventory. Called them and they ordered for me.

[loopee]

Kind of curious.....If Labella why would they be selling 50-100 strings if they have too much tension for the neck? Some people are saying that the FHBB strings have twisted the Hofner necks.....so why would Labella be sellings strings purposefully for these basses if they're not good for them?

[Pilgrim]

There are lots of basses in lots of conditions. The claim about warping a neck is a new one for me. Take what you read with a grain of salt. A lot of Labellas have been used on Hofners with no problems.

[Rob Martinez]

I don't buy that a Hofner bass can handle a .100 from TI or Pyramid, but not be able to handle the same gauge strings from LaBella. Sounds crazy to me. IMO.

[music fun]

Let's hope so, Rob. My 50 - 100 set arrives tomorrow.

I want a bit more tension in my strings. It keeps unwanted deflection low and, I think, improves control of tone consistency.

[loopee]

I hope so too cause I ordered a set last weekend

[Rob Martinez]

All I can say is I have had LaBella Beatle flats on six different Hofner Icon basses for three years and nothing, I mean NOTHING bad has happened to the necks. They stay in tune and sound and feel great.

[gary m]

I believe you when you say that, because the Icon bodies are made of plywood... basically just laminated spruce. Those bodies and necks will stand up to more string tension than their German cousins will.

[Pilgrim]

I remember seeing some YouTube videos from Hofner showing how their violin basses are built - pretty interesting, and might be worth looking up.

Yeah - here it is! Shows the form they use and is really interesting...you can exactly what's inside.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qCOycca1ezo

[vin*tone]

Would these be good on other semi acoustics? Or is there something particular about the violin design?

Mine is 30.5 with a tailpiece. 32" would be perfect.

[jasper383]

Originally Posted by vin*tone

Would these be good on other semi acoustics? Or is there something particular about the violin design?

Mine is 30.5 with a tailpiece. 32" would be perfect.

The La Bella strings made for the Hofners have an unusual taper at the tuners.

The string tapers down to just the core so that it fits well into the guitar tuners these basses have.

If you have more robust tuners, I might suggest medium scale flats like Rotos or Chromes.

[mr sprocket]

Originally Posted by Pilgrim

I remember seeing some YouTube videos from Hofner showing how their violin basses are built - pretty interesting, and might be worth looking up.

Yeah - here it is! Shows the form they use and is really interesting...you can exactly what's inside.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qCOycca1ezo

Great find. I doubt the Chinese and Indonesian are built with the same detail or method.

[4-string]

Originally Posted by Pilgrim

I remember seeing some YouTube videos from Hofner showing how their violin basses are built - pretty interesting, and might be worth looking up.

Yeah - here it is! Shows the form they use and is really interesting...you can exactly what's inside.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qCOycca1ezo

Very cool, thanks for sharing.