Hofner alternative?

[klyph]

I'm a cheerleader for danelectro basses. The short scale 59dc has a bridge with movable saddles, they're light weight, solid construction, and I see them on CL or GC for 350 -400. Lipstick pickups!

I have to 2nd this suggestion. I don’t own a current reissue, but I used one in the 90’s and early 00s and loved it. My current shortscale is a Jerry Jones, which is way out of your price range, but I would have no problem replacing it with another cheap dano if I had to. I see the 90’s ones for sale near your price range, definitely worth checking out. I’m told they’re better than the current reissues, but I can’t say.

 

[nealw]

I know the title says "Hofner Alternative", but have you considered the Hofner Ignition Club? 30" with (IME) better ergonomics than the Violin. The Ignition are fully hollow like the German models (the HCT are semi-hollow, with a solid centre-block), and should come in close to the $400 budget. I bought mine with no expectations of having it as anything but 'wall art'; after a few hours on the bench and a new set of LaBella black tapes it sounds great and plays great so gets a healthy share of genuine play-time.

Regarding intonation, it is worth bearing in mind that a low action with minimal relief, a well-cut nut and properly-set witness points reduces the compensation required at the bridge. It is possible to get very close with the Hofner bridge once all other setup elements are addressed...

This is good advice. I have an Ignition Club and it’s a great bass. Fit and finish are far better than I expected from a budget bass (my other 2 basses are Stingrays). When I got it I threw away the strings it came with, put on flats, lowered the action, and moved the g side of the floating bridge maybe 1/8”. I didn’t need to individually intonate the strings but it’s no harder to move the little fret-pieces in the bridge than to move a normal saddle. Of course you don’t get quite the granular control that you get with a modern bridge but mine intonates well enough to play with a keyboardist and to do double-stops all the way up the neck and have them sound in tune. If you like the Hofner sound there’s nothing else like it.

 

[SteveCS]

Fit and finish are far better than I expected from a budget bass (my other 2 basses are Stingrays).

Same on both counts - my main basses are StingRay and, other than having to totally replace the nut and 'fit' the bridge, my quite low expectations of the Ignition were, and continue to be, exceeded in very large amounts

 

[fenderfan05]

I think it's worth mentioning that Pyramid Gold flatwounds are a HUGE part of the "rubbery", thumpy Höfner tone. You won't really get THAT tone with any other strings. These strings were actually specifically designed for Höfner back in the day.

With other strings a Höfner won't really have "the Höfner tone". It can still sound great though!

Aren't labellas made for that rubber-y dead thump sound?

 

[Deleted member 271037]

Aren't labellas made for that rubber-y dead thump sound?

Definitely, but it's a very different kind of rubbery. LaBella DTFs (when they're broken in) have a very dark, FAT tone. Pyramid Gold have slightly more midrange presence, tighter lows and a kinda "drier" tone. They are definitely thumpy, but not quite as thumpy as LaBellas. I've seen Pyramid Gold described (by someone who didn't like them) as sounding like cardboard, which actually isn't a bad description. They definitely have a rather unique "dry" tonal quality.

I like both. For me it's really a matter of short scale vs long scale.

The Pyramid Gold short scale sets are my favorite short scale strings, regardless of type (flats, rounds, etc.). The tension isn't too floppy (which can often be a problem on short scale basses) and the tension is also very nicely balanced across the strings. LaBella DTFs can get a bit too dark/muddy for me on most short scale basses.

I don't like the Pyramid Gold long scale sets nearly as much. They are poorly balanced both tonally and tension wise. I've never been happy with the rather "dead" sounding E-string, which I've also found difficult to intonate properly. For long scale basses I much prefer LaBellas (or other flats if I want a less dark/thumpy tone).

For the classic Höfner tone, you really need Pyramid Gold though IMO. These strings were actually developed specifically for Höfner basses. I'm not saying Höfner basses won't sound great with LaBellas, or with many other strings (as long as they have the correct scale length and will fit into the guitar-style tuners). But for the CLASSIC Höfner tone, Pyramid Golds are the obvious choice. Apart from that it's really just a matter of personal taste.

 

[OnlyFlats]

Pyramid Gold Short scale flats on an Ibanez Mikro.
Within budget.

Personally I feel the flat wound strings and scale length are more important than hollow body