Hofner-(not just Beatle Basses)-Group Part 2

[Deleted member 394181]

According to a number of owners I’ve talked to, the Club fits the regular Violin bass bag.

Won’t fit the hard-shell Violin case, though.

Try to find a case for the HCT 500/5. Dont know why GC didn't have it when i bought the bass.

 

[Bassamatic]

I have a question regarding upgrading tuning machines on an ignition.

HCT tuners? Or go straight to Grover?

When I bought my first Hofner Club many years ago, the first thing I changed was the tuners. Those (terrible) little ones seemed made for guitars not basses. So, I changed the tuners to Schallers - there were not many choices in the 60's. Then, when I finally found a hard case for it, found that they were too wide to go in a hard case!

The case sat empty for many years, until I stopped to talk to the fine folks at Hipshot at the NAMM show. They agreed to make a custom set of tuners expressly for the Hofners. I have changed them on 2 Hofners so far. Pearl handles (as before) and short shafts so the bass will still fit in a hard case.

Here's the Schallers and the Hipshots on my German Club. A HUGE improvement!! Just contact Hipshot - they have made many of these sets now because of my interest. Many thanks to the great folks at Hipshot.

 

[WannaBeatle]

I've never had any issue with the tuners on the German basses at all! In fact, they're the most reliable tuners I've ever had on all of my guitars and basses.

 

[Bassamatic]

I never felt confident wrapping bass strings, especially flats, around those little posts. And the Hipshots are so much better.

 

[Lesfunk]

When I bought my first Hofner Club many years ago, the first thing I changed was the tuners. Those (terrible) little ones seemed made for guitars not basses. So, I changed the tuners to Schallers - there were not many choices in the 60's. Then, when I finally found a hard case for it, found that they were too wide to go in a hard case!

The case sat empty for many years, until I stopped to talk to the fine folks at Hipshot at the NAMM show. They agreed to make a custom set of tuners expressly for the Hofners. I have changed them on 2 Hofners so far. Pearl handles (as before) and short shafts so the bass will still fit in a hard case.

Here's the Schallers and the Hipshots on my German Club. A HUGE improvement!! Just contact Hipshot - they have made many of these sets now because of my interest. Many thanks to the great folks at Hipshot. View attachment 5142205 View attachment 5142206 View attachment 5142207 View attachment 5142208

That is quite excellent . I’m sure that they’re amazing
Although I don’t know the cost, I must admit that they look like they’re pretty expensive for my Chinese ignition bass. I suppose I’d have to ask them, but the USA bass machines are pretty expensive
I probably don’t want to spend that kind of money. The Grovers are $52.00 for a set and since they’re guitar tuners, you get an extra one of each side.
The HCTs are a little more $$ but supposedly drop right in.

 

[Bassamatic]

I don't recall the cost for the Hipshots - in the $100 range I think. Well worth it if you are going to keep the bass. The larger posts that make it easier on the strings require opening up the holes, so there's no going back!

 

[Doctor Intrepid]

That is quite excellent . I’m sure that they’re amazing
Although I don’t know the cost, I must admit that they look like they’re pretty expensive for my Chinese ignition bass. I suppose I’d have to ask them, but the USA bass machines are pretty expensive
I probably don’t want to spend that kind of money. The Grovers are $52.00 for a set and since they’re guitar tuners, you get an extra one of each side.
The HCTs are a little more $$ but supposedly drop right in.

I have never had any issues with the HCT tuners either. I did have to tighten up the buttons on one set once, and after that they function well.

 

[markjazzbassist]

I never felt confident wrapping bass strings, especially flats, around those little posts. And the Hipshots are so much better.

it’s a non issue. Danelectro has tiny shafts too and never had issues with those or Hofners. I believe the American adage “bigger is better” is being conflated here.

 

[steve_rolfeca]

I have a question regarding upgrading tuning machines on an ignition.

HCT tuners? Or go straight to Grover?

If you’re talking Grover sealed tuners, you have to ream out the peg holes. It’s an irreversible mod, and they’ll make your bass head-heavy.

Wilkinson 18:1 vintage tuners are smoother than the HCT tuners, less expensive, and they’re a drop-in replacement. The part number is in this thread if you do a search.

The only downside is chrome buttons instead of plastic.

If you want interchangeable plastic buttons, you have to get the Gotoh equivalent, which is expensive, and hard to find these days.

 

[Lesfunk]

If you’re talking Grover sealed tuners, you have to ream out the peg holes. It’s an irreversible mod, and they’ll make your bass head-heavy.

Wilkinson 18:1 vintage tuners are smoother than the HCT tuners, less expensive, and they’re a drop-in replacement. The part number is in this thread if you do a search.

The only downside is chrome buttons instead of plastic.

If you want interchangeable plastic buttons, you have to get the Gotoh equivalent, which is expensive, and hard to find these days.

Appreciate the input Steve.
This is what I wound up ordering.
They are an upgraded tuning machine for the HCT. I was assured by Barry Clark music that these will be a big improvement.
Pics show the std. HCT tuner vs the new “upgrade “ tuners.
I’ll find out soon enough I guess.

 

[Shawn Luckman]

My Black HCT 500/1 hasn't really grown on me since I bought it a few months ago. So I bought 2 Tea Cup knobs from Project Guitars here in the UK and it does, make a difference to the overall look of the bass I do think the bass looks better for it. Hofner (China) really should put these on as standard for the HCT models, a definite improvement.

 

[Bassamatic]

Yes - the Teacups are unusual and really attractive and ONLY Hofner! This is my C-series Club. They made a huge difference over the standard-looking knobs it came with. They even fee; better to use.

I re-wired it for Volume, Balance, Tone - a lot easier and more functional to use. The Rhythm/Solo switch is now a Mute, and the other switches 2 different tone caps.

 

[dwellers]

My Black HCT 500/1 hasn't really grown on me since I bought it a few months ago. So I bought 2 Tea Cup knobs from Project Guitars here in the UK and it does, make a difference to the overall look of the bass I do think the bass looks better for it. Hofner (China) really should put these on as standard for the HCT models, a definite improvement.
View attachment 5145136 View attachment 5145137

Yeah, it’s like the way a car runs better after getting a carwash! My Contemp Club played so much better with the teacups!

It does look much nicer and it is actually easier to dial in volume with them. Playability and looks matter!

Hope you develop a bond with yours. I did! Now I want a German one. Maybe double cutaway?

 

[Bassamatic]

They definitely make it sound better, for sure!

 

[Shawn Luckman]

Yeah, it’s like the way a car runs better after getting a carwash! My Contemp Club played so much better with the teacups!

It does look much nicer and it is actually easier to dial in volume with them. Playability and looks matter!

Hope you develop a bond with yours. I did! Now I want a German one. Maybe double cutaway?

You never know I'm going to do a little more tinkering with it nothing major, just a couple of little mods one being the machine heads.
It will always be a HCT and something that if it got knocked wouldn't worry me, the same could not be said for my original '64 500/1 I really love that bass.

 

[Shawn Luckman]

In carrying on tinkering with the HCT 500/1 I don;t think the fretboard had ever been oiled, so gave it a few coats of linseed oil and it's come out really nice. Another little job ticked off.

 

[shoulderpet]

Sadly I had to move my Hofner CT club bass on, lovely bass but tonally it doesn't fit what I am playing at the moment and I have way too limited space where I live to keep things that I dont use.

Even more sadly I found that despite using Labella low tension flats the truss rod was at its tightest with no room to tighten any more severely limiting string choice with flats to either Labella ltf or TI's, this did mean that someone was able to get an absolutely screaming deal on a Hofner club bass, maybe one day karma will repay me.

 

[KLINCOLNS]

Sadly I had to move my Hofner CT club bass on, lovely bass but tonally it doesn't fit what I am playing at the moment and I have way too limited space where I live to keep things that I dont use.

Even more sadly I found that despite using Labella low tension flats the truss rod was at its tightest with no room to tighten any more severely limiting string choice with flats to either Labella ltf or TI's, this did mean that someone was able to get an absolutely screaming deal on a Hofner club bass, maybe one day karma will repay me.

 

[KLINCOLNS]

I had a bass that had no more room to tighten the truss rod.
I took it to my favourite luthier. He made a shim to place before the truss nut. 10 minutes later, I had a fully adjustable truss.

 

[Bassamatic]

I had a bass that had no more room to tighten the truss rod.
I took it to my favourite luthier. He made a shim to place before the truss nut. 10 minutes later, I had a fully adjustable truss.

That's great! A couple of small washers are all that is needed! I have done this a couple of times.