best Pyramid Gold flats choice for German Hofner.

[Varlam]

Hello gang, I have my 2002 German made Hofner Cavern that have had a few string changes over the years and I'm not sure what mix of Pyramid and/or Hofner flats may currently be on it now (all have green silk ends). The E and A are warm and thuddy, but the G and D have some twang to them. Sometimes single strings were replaced when one would break hence the possible mix up. Only recently did I realize that the Gold flats come in three different formulas 1: Pure Nickel. 2: Chrome-Nickel. 3: Chrome-Steel.
Which of these three types will be closest to what came as factory stock on this bass? I remember the original Hofner strings having that real, authentic, rich growl to them.

 

[HaphAsSard]

Only recently did I realize that the Gold flats come in three different formulas 1: Pure Nickel. 2: Chrome-Nickel. 3: Chrome-Steel.

Do they though? Have you got a source for that?

 

[Varlam]

I have two of the types' packagings/labels in front of me...
* No.640 Pure Nickel Wire Wound (short scale, green silk).
* No. 640/1 Chrome-steel Flat Wire Wound (these are long scale, pinkish lavender silk).
Looking online many packages read :
* Chrome-Nickel Flat Wire Wound, Polished.

 

[HaphAsSard]

I have two of the types' packagings/labels in front of me...
* No.640 Pure Nickel Wire Wound (short scale, green silk).
* No. 640/1 Chrome-steel Flat Wire Wound (these are long scale, pinkish lavender silk).
Looking online many packages read :
* Chrome-Nickel Flat Wire Wound, Polished.

My feeling is it's just one type of string, but inconsistent verbiage to describe it on their part. On their website it's "chrome-nickel" for bass guitar, just "nickel" for violin, viola, cello and bass, and either "pure nickel", "nickel" and "chrome-nickel" for guitar Golds. That one of your sets says "chrome-steel" is interesting, though not unheard of:

 

[Varlam]

Yes, it's had me confused. Both sets below were purchased maybe 15 or so years ago, although I can't recall which dealer I got them from.
The first photo "Chrome-steel" are long scale.
Second photo "Pure Nickel" are Hofner short scale, although it doesn't state the scale on the packaging.
Perhaps I've got a mix of "Pure Nickel" and "Chrome Nickel on the bass now explaining the unbalanced string tones, or maybe it's Pyramids inconsistency resulting in the round/wooly E and A, and the notably sharper/brighter twang of the D and G (?).
I need A matched set but don't want to buy another set if the end result is the same.

 

[Varlam]

Correction : second photo is Pyramid branded, not Hofner branded.
So is there an actual difference between their Gold "Pure Nickel" flats and their more commonly labelled "Chrome Nickel" flats?
If they are indeed the same then it's Pyramid's manufacturing inconsistencies that is causing the actual string balance dilemma.

 

[Happy Face]

TI does make a Hofner-friendly set of Jazz Flats with a slightly thinner E string. If you care to wander....

 

[GIBrat51]

Or, you could just get a set of Hofner strings, and have done with it. Personally, I'd take those strings at face value; so, yeah, that would be mixing two kinds of strings. Which, some people do, and they like the results. You, obviously, don't... And, trying to make 15 year old strings work at all, strikes me as wishful thinking - at best. Trying it with two sets at once? I know that we sometimes have to do what we have to do, but.. damn, dude... Just get a set of Hofner strings. They're made by Pyramid, anyway, if that's important to you...

 

[Varlam]

"but,... damn, dude...".
You don't get it. If Hofner and Pyramid strings are the same I could easily be faced with same issue of much brighter higher strings. I'm not out to spend more money just for redundancy. Other threads have mentioned unbalanced new sets from Pyramid as well. Despite the different labels it seems likely they are all of the same formula, but their windings are inconsistent regardless. I've also received faulty E strings from their long scale roundwound sets as well, but I'm not here to bash Pyramid. As far as 15 year old strings go,... I want that low, dark thud from the Hofner. I would gladly still have that original set on it but two weeks after I got the bass (in 2004) I tuned the A string a bit too sharp and it broke.
At this point I'm just playing the heck out of the G and D strings to eventually (hopefully) get them to lose the twang and be a better match the dark thud of the E and A.

 

[JimmyM]

The Pyramids I've seen most people use on Hofners have green silks.