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

#2,301
I just picked up a new Hofner 600/1 ‘64 Reissue (on right) and am loving it but I’m still getting used to the factory strings (flatwounds with green tapes on each end.) Are these Pyramids or Hofner strings? They feel a bit scratchy to me and not as smooth as the LaBellas that I have on my Icon (and my Ric and Fenders) that I’m super fond of. Should I buy LaBellas?

Thanks
IMG_2197.jpeg
 
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#2,302
centralbeatbass said:
I just picked up a new Hofner 600/1 ‘64 Reissue (on right) and am loving it but I’m still getting used to the factory strings (flatwounds with green tapes on each end.) Are these Pyramids or Hofner strings? They feel a bit scratchy to me and not as smooth as the LaBellas that I have on my Icon (and my Ric and Fenders) that I’m super fond of. Should I buy LaBellas?

Thanks
View attachment 5167840
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Pyramid makes the Hofner branded strings for the German basses.
 
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#2,303
centralbeatbass said:
I just picked up a new Hofner 600/1 ‘64 Reissue (on right) and am loving it but I’m still getting used to the factory strings (flatwounds with green tapes on each end.) Are these Pyramids or Hofner strings? They feel a bit scratchy to me and not as smooth as the LaBellas that I have on my Icon (and my Ric and Fenders) that I’m super fond of. Should I buy LaBellas?

Thanks
View attachment 5167840
Click to expand...
You have a lovely looking '64 Reissue I hope it brings you many happy years of ownership & playing :thumbsup::cool::drool:.
I have a strong bias for the '64 Hofner 500/1 here's mine with my black HCT 500/1/ I am going to be putting some Pyramid Gold flats with the green silk ends on my '64, just to bring it back to how it may have left the factory all those years ago.
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#2,304
Hello Hofner people,

just joined the thread, hope I'm posting this in the right place!

I've accumulated several Hofner guitars over the years (Club 50, 175 white vinyl, 50s archtop, 174 SG) and I recently bought my first Hofner bass, a 185 artist bass. It came without a bridge though. It was only $100 so I thought I'd give the hunt for a bridge a go. I have scoured the web for a bridge but nothing.

I could get one machined pretty cheaply but I need the dimensions. I would be very grateful if someone could send me the measurements, or point me in the right direction to where I could find them?

I don't want to use a wooden bridge as the ground wire makes contact with the base of the bridge (I'm using a block of wood at the moment and the noise is terrible). I could also extend the ground wire to the tailpiece and use wood, but I'd rather get a metal one made.

Or if anyone has a spare bridge they are willing to part with?

Many thanks
IMG_6723M.jpg
 
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#2,307
MAJOR METAL said:
Perhaps some of the long time Hofner players will remember this, when did the German violin bass become a Thousand $ USD plus instrument? 80s? 90s?
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At the latest it was the 90s. I bought my first Hofner (used) in 1991 and I think a new one was around 1500ish (maybe little less, or a little more)
 
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#2,308
In 1987. I stupidity sold the Violin Bass i had. I found it in a little music store in Germany. It was hanging behind the counter, first one i ever saw in person, i was excited. My guitarist/singer in my first band at that time, was with me who told me to calm down or they would jack up the price. There was no tag on it,no price.. I asked the guy behind the counter how much.? He told me it was 350 marks, ithink. I talked him down to where the mark was added up to essentially $100.00. W/case. My friend/singer/guitarist loaned me half the money. It was an early seventies i believe, Blade pickups. It was caked with dust. When i got it home i cleaned it and it was in mint condition. Again, im an idiot for trading it for a PA in 1991. ??
 
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#2,309
Just before McCartney released his Flowers In The Dirt Album back in 1989, you could find many bargains buying Hofner Violin Basses & Senator basses. In 1988 my '64 500/1 was £175 & my '64 Hofner Senator bass was £150, swapped/exchanged the Senator bass 1n 1999 (IIRC) for a new MIM Fender Jazz :banghead::banghead::banghead:. And yes instant regret to this day & yes the Fender Jazz is long gone as well.
 
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#2,312
The prices are getting crazy so much so that I have my 500/1, on a separate insurance because of how much it would cost to replace.
Before Flowers in the Dirt came out the only time I saw McCartney with his Violin Bass was, briefly on the Take it Away video a few years previously.
I was given a Vox AC50 Cab by a friend in the early 90's because, he thought it looked so uncool & I think it was a 1x18" speaker. Looked good with my Violin Bass though :D.
 
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