Flats for a Beatle bass knockoff

[embellisher]

I just bought an Ideal Hofner copy, and need some good flatwounds for it.

I was all set to order some Pyramid Gold flats, and then after doing research here and online, I found a lot of mixed and bad reviews of the Pyramids.

So, what should I get?

LaBella Deep Talkin flats, Pyramid, or...?

Thanks!

 

[Wyrdlow]

I got a Harley Benton Beatbass last year, which came with roundwounds that didn't suit it at all. I got a set of these -

Hofner Contemporary Flatwound Steel 40-100 Bass Guitar Strings, Short Scale

Shop quality guitar strings at Strings Direct. Easy online guitar strings order with fast UK delivery. Find top brands and keep your music sounding great.

www.stringsdirect.co.uk

and they completely transformed it. Along with some foam up against the bridge and a leather plectrum it's just where I was hoping it would be. If I change the strings - and I'm certainly not in any rush - I'll try The Rotosound RS88S nylon tapewounds, a la McCartney on the roof of Apple Music.

There's a selection of strings that fit it here -

Strings to fit the Hofner Violin Bass (Beatle Bass)

Shop quality guitar strings at Strings Direct. Easy online guitar strings order with fast UK delivery. Find top brands and keep your music sounding great.

www.stringsdirect.co.uk

Great looking wee bass you've got. Enjoy!

 

[embellisher]

I got a Harley Benton Beatbass last year, which came with roundwounds that didn't suit it at all. I got a set of these -

Hofner Contemporary Flatwound Steel 40-100 Bass Guitar Strings, Short Scale

Shop quality guitar strings at Strings Direct. Easy online guitar strings order with fast UK delivery. Find top brands and keep your music sounding great.

www.stringsdirect.co.uk

and they completely transformed it. Along with some foam up against the bridge and a leather plectrum it's just where I was hoping it would be. If I change the strings - and I'm certainly not in any rush - I'll try The Rotosound RS88S nylon tapewounds, a la McCartney on the roof of Apple Music.

There's a selection of strings that fit it here -

Strings to fit the Hofner Violin Bass (Beatle Bass)

Shop quality guitar strings at Strings Direct. Easy online guitar strings order with fast UK delivery. Find top brands and keep your music sounding great.

www.stringsdirect.co.uk

Great looking wee bass you've got. Enjoy!

Thanks for the recommendation! I didn't know Hofner had their own brand of strings. And they cost less than LaBellas or Pyramids as well!

 

[iiipopes]

Everyone is getting the cart before the horse. First, since this is a knock-off, what is the scale length and the length of the anchor in the tailpiece to the nut and E-tuner. Let us all repeat the mantra:

1) measure from the anchor to the tuner side of the nut;
2) measure from the anchor to the middle of the tuner post of the lowest string;
3) purchase a set of strings that have a winding or speaking length between these two figures.

It gets better with Hofner: if the knock-off has original style tuners, and has the same scale and trapeze length as the original 500/1, then you must get a set of strings specifically designed for Hofner basses because the holes in the tuner posts are smaller than typical and the leader, silk or otherwise, of other strings probably won't go through the hole in the tuner post.

Yes, Hofner proprietary strings, some Pyramids, and the LaBella Beatle Bass sets all conform.

Again, this depends on the knock-off having the same scale, tailpiece geometry, and tuners as a real Hofner.

 

[Pier_]

Thanks for the recommendation! I didn't know Hofner had their own brand of strings. And they cost less than LaBellas or Pyramids as well!

those are the chinese made sets they use on the Contemporary series, they are cheaper than the Hofner/Pyramid (which are similar, if not the same strings)

I've tired the La Bella, but didn't like them, because they are too "bright" and stiff for that kind of bass. Pyramid are better, and most people have problems with them because they don't mount them properly.
I've had many sets, even long scale, without any kind of issue.

another great option would be the GHS P flat 3120 set, medium scale. I haven't tried them on the Hofner, but I use them on my Mustang JMJ (and used on other basses in the last year, in different gauges), and they are the real idea of flatwound I've heard in records since the 50's/60's, the most similar to the original Fender 850 flats.

they thump a lot, but have a great presence on the mids. La Bella have nothing but bass and highs... Pyramids are mellower on the mids, a bit more subdued.

if I were using my Hofner more, I'd string it with GHS P-flat, but since the Pyramid are still going strong, and I'm not using that bass much, I keep them on.

 

[embellisher]

Everyone is getting the cart before the horse. First, since this is a knock-off, what is the scale length and the length of the anchor in the tailpiece to the nut and E-tuner. Let us all repeat the mantra:

1) measure from the anchor to the tuner side of the nut;

If by anchor you mean tailpiece, it is 33".

2) measure from the anchor to the middle of the tuner post of the lowest string;

35 3/8"

3) purchase a set of strings that have a winding or speaking length between these two figures.

It gets better with Hofner: if the knock-off has original style tuners, and has the same scale and trapeze length as the original 500/1, then you must get a set of strings specifically designed for Hofner basses because the holes in the tuner posts are smaller than typical and the leader, silk or otherwise, of other strings probably won't go through the hole in the tuner post.

Mine appears to have tuners that will accommodate most bass strings.

Yes, Hofner proprietary strings, some Pyramids, and the LaBella Beatle Bass sets all conform.

Again, this depends on the knock-off having the same scale, tailpiece geometry, and tuners as a real Hofner.

Thanks for the tips!

Does all of this mean that most short scale bass strings will work with this bass?

 

[iiipopes]

Does all of this mean that most short scale bass strings will work with this bass?

No, quite the contrary. Most short scale strings have between 32 and 32.75 inches of speaking or winding length, and are made to use on something like a Fender plate bridge. That and the other reasons I posted are why you have to have strings specifically made for Hofner 500/1 basses, again, assuming the tailpiece anchor and the rest of the geometry of the strings are the same. The bass headstock in the pictures does not have real Hofner tuners, so other strings of the proper speaking length may fit.

 

[embellisher]

OK, so even though it's a short scale, it's either going to need Hofner type strings or medium scale strings, right?

 

[bassboysam]

OK, so even though it's a short scale, it's either going to need Hofner type strings or medium scale strings, right?

usually, yes

 

[GIBrat51]

Well...
@iiipopes is right (as usual), and so is @bassboysam. 30-31" scale basses with (usually) floating bridges and "trapeze" tailpieces, need strings that are usually sold as "Medium scale" strings, because of the extra distance back to the tailpiece from the bridge. There are a few - like my Gretsch Broadkaster - that are very happy wearing "Long scale" strings (it's a big bass). Thomastik-Infeld, Pyramid, and factory Hofner strings are sold as "Short scale" strings because, for decades, they were intended for short scale basses with trapeze tailpieces and floating bridges. They are actually "Medium scale" length strings for that reason...
As for the tuner hole thing? Yes, the guitar-style tuners on German Hofners - and probably some other basses, as well - have particularly small holes in the tuner posts. There are strings with leaders that will not fit thru those holes. Although, I have a couple of non-Hofner basses with guitar-style tuners, that I've not had a problem with. Danelectros, in particular... I could probably find some strings that would not work- but I'd have to look pretty hard, and they would most likely be strings I would never put on the bass, anyway. There's another thing about Hofners - German ones, anyway; The ball seats in the tailpiece don't work particularly well with the usual large ball ends on bass strings. They like guitar string-sized ones. The factory strings - and the Pyramids - have them; so do the La Bella "Beatle Bass" strings. I think Thomastik-Infelds do, too; but I wouldn't swear to it. "Normal" bass string ball ends might work on your bass - or they might not. Looking at the pictures, though? I think they probably will...

 

[SteveCS]

I just bought an Ideal Hofner copy, and need some good flatwounds for it.

In terms of good strings, I'm going to go against the grain of the thread so far and make a case for Labella DT black tapewounds (760NHBB). On paper they are the polar opposite of everything I normally look for in a string, but on the Hofner (mine is an Ignition Club, which some argue is no less a knock-off then yours!) they sounds superb. I expected dull thud with poor pitch definition and lifeless sustain but they are articulate, clear and true. Obviously they don't have the zing or transparency of a roundwound, but that isn't really the Hofner palette, no matter what strings you use. It certainly isn't what I got the Hofner for

They aren't the cheapest strings, so be sure to follow @iiipopes advice to check the speaking length for your bass before shelling out.

EDIT:

35 3/8"

Mine is just under 35" from post to tailpiece anchor, with 2" of 'speaking' string beyond the nut, so you should be fine with these.

 

[iiipopes]

OK, so even though it's a short scale, it's either going to need Hofner type strings or medium scale strings, right?

Again, repeat the mantra:
1) measure from the string anchor to the tuner side of the nut;
2) measure from the string anchor to the middle of the lowest string tuner post;
3) purchase a set of strings that the winding or speaking length is between these two measurements.

And if they are real Hofner tuners, purchase a set of strings that the leader or silk are made to fit through the holes in the tuner posts.

 

[embellisher]

Again, repeat the mantra:
1) measure from the string anchor to the tuner side of the nut;
2) measure from the string anchor to the middle of the lowest string tuner post;
3) purchase a set of strings that the winding or speaking length is between these two measurements.

And if they are real Hofner tuners, purchase a set of strings that the leader or silk are made to fit through the holes in the tuner posts.

Mine does not have the tuners with the ridiculously small hole like Hofner tuners.

Hofner tuner

Ideal tuner

Looks as if most bass strings will fit my bass's tuners.

 

[embellisher]

I'm thinking I'll go with the Hofner strings.

Does anybody know who sells them in the USA?

 

[embellisher]

Well, scratch that. I'm going with the LaBella Beatle Bass strings. After reading a lot of reviews, it appears that a lot of people were disappointed in the Hofner strings, and the LaBellas very very good reviews here and on Amazon.

 

[Wyrdlow]

I'm thinking I'll go with the Hofner strings.

I'm going with the LaBella Beatle Bass strings

I've been very happy with the Hofners, but.... I've never tried the LaBellas - so what do I know?! Good luck!

 

[embellisher]

I've been very happy with the Hofners, but.... I've never tried the LaBellas - so what do I know?! Good luck!

The Hofners appear to be easier to find on your side of the pond. I've found several places that can order them, but nobody with them in stock.

 

[2strings2frets]

I just bought an Ideal Hofner copy, and need some good flatwounds for it.

I was all set to order some Pyramid Gold flats, and then after doing research here and online, I found a lot of mixed and bad reviews of the Pyramids.

So, what should I get?

LaBella Deep Talkin flats, Pyramid, or...?

Thanks! LaBella’s Beatle Bass flats worked for me on my Rogue VB. No install problem’s ,right length good sound. I had them on for five or six years then sold the instrument

 

[bobsax]

those are the chinese made sets they use on the Contemporary series, they are cheaper than the Hofner/Pyramid (which are similar, if not the same strings)

I've tired the La Bella, but didn't like them, because they are too "bright" and stiff for that kind of bass. Pyramid are better, and most people have problems with them because they don't mount them properly.
I've had many sets, even long scale, without any kind of issue.

another great option would be the GHS P flat 3120 set, medium scale. I haven't tried them on the Hofner, but I use them on my Mustang JMJ (and used on other basses in the last year, in different gauges), and they are the real idea of flatwound I've heard in records since the 50's/60's, the most similar to the original Fender 850 flats.

they thump a lot, but have a great presence on the mids. La Bella have nothing but bass and highs... Pyramids are mellower on the mids, a bit more subdued.

if I were using my Hofner more, I'd string it with GHS P-flat, but since the Pyramid are still going strong, and I'm not using that bass much, I keep them on.

These don’t sound too bright to me. The strings that came with my Rogue are super bright, you hear a lot of high harmonics
These have a pretty nice bass sound .

 

[tindrum]

These don’t sound too bright to me. The strings that came with my Rogue are super bright, you hear a lot of high harmonics
These have a pretty nice bass sound .

Those sound incredible on that bass! I can’t imagine finding a better sounding set.