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

[HaphAsSard]

so i ordered my first short scale hofner violin bass.
i usually use la bella flats Medium: .049 .069 .089 .109

are these doable for this bass? i've never had a short scale before. wasn't sure if lighter is a better fit....

The La Bella Deep Talkin' Bass Flat 49-109, medium*-scale set (760FM-M) was discontinued a while ago.

If neither Beatle Bass flatwound set (760FHBB, 50-100; 760FHBB2, 39-96) appeals to you, the only alternatives are the 760FS-M (45-105) and the LTF-4A-M (Low Tension Flat, 42-100).


Regarding whether to go heavier than, same as or lighter than standard scale, there are differents schools of thought, and boils down to which poison to pick: heavier preserves resistance to the plucking hand, but makes the tone of the lowest string darker and more chorusy especially up the neck; lighter restores brightness and delays the onset of audible inharmonicity, but needs a lighter touch. Ideally, you'd need to experiment and hear/feel for yourself.


* (Due to the separate floating bridge / trapeze tailpiece setup, you need nominally "medium-scale" strings, or at least "short-scale" of unusual length, which La Bella standard s-s sets aren't.)

 

[Deleted member 268085]

From the North Coast Music website:

La Bella 760FHB2 "Deep Talkin" Flat Wound, Stainless Steel Strings for Höfner Beatle Basses - This is the exact style of LaBella flat wound strings as used on recent tours by Paul McCartney. This information about La Bella flat wound strings (referencing these specific gauges) was reported in the October 2005 Bass Player Magazine interview with Paul McCartney and his technical manager, Kevin Smith.

G - .039, D - .056, A - .077, E - .096

If you're willing to pay more than twice the price (also from the NCM website):

H1133 Höfner Bass Flat Wound Strings - Custom manufactured for Höfner by a legendary German string manufacturer [edit: Pyramid], these flatwound strings will restore the original tone to your Höfner Beatle Bass. This is the string set that comes installed on all new German made V62, V63, Deluxe, and Club Basses. The gauges of the strings are:

G - .040, D - .055, A - .070, E - .100

The North Coast Music website URL: Hofner Bass Strings

Their Reverb.com web store price for the La Bella's is pretty good. The Höfner set by Pyramid is very expensive, and may be available elsewhere for less.

 

[markjazzbassist]

There are

so i ordered my first short scale hofner violin bass.
i usually use la bella flats Medium: .049 .069 .089 .109

are these doable for this bass? i've never had a short scale before. wasn't sure if lighter is a better fit....

there are sets of 760FM medium scale on juststrings.com .

they might be too tense for the hofners. They recommend no more than a .100 in flat wound due to tension. You can go higher gauge with a tape wound (like rotosound tapes .115) because they are a lot less tension.

if you tune down they might be ok. If you wanna try just put them on and adjust the setup and truss rod and make sure it’s all right; just monitor it.

 

[Peacefrog35]

To clarify, North Coast music has had that on their website for years. Truth is, Macca hasn't used Labella in about 20 years. He's been using Pyramids steadily since.

 

[Deleted member 268085]

To clarify, North Coast music has had that on their website for years. Truth is, Macca hasn't used Labella in about 20 years. He's been using Pyramids steadily since.

So, North Coast has been coasting. And coasting. And coasting. I'd go with the Pyramid-made set anyway, if I ever need to replace the set that shipped on my Green Line.

 

[Averell]

I haven’t it yet, but I was wondering about the maintenance of the wax finish of the Green Line Violin Bass. How can I clean it ? Just microfiber wipe ? Can I use alcohol (I guess not) ? Is there a maintenance routine ? Should I apply wax from time to time ? If yes, which one ?

 

[Michael Eisenman]

I haven’t it yet, but I was wondering about the maintenance of the wax finish of the Green Line Violin Bass. How can I clean it ? Just microfiber wipe ? Can I use alcohol (I guess not) ? Is there a maintenance routine ? Should I apply wax from time to time ? If yes, which one ?

Are there care instructions in the owner’s guide that came with the bass (assuming that a guide exists)? Is it a wax finish or an oil finish?

 

[Averell]

Are there care instructions in the owner’s guide that came with the bass (assuming that a guide exists)? Is it a wax finish or an oil finish?

I don’t know, I haven’t received the bass yet. I guess it came with an owner guide, but I like to read it before receiving a new toy (because after I don’t want to read, I want to play), and I haven’t found the guide on internet.

It’s a wax finish.

 

[Pimpernel Smith]

To clarify, North Coast music has had that on their website for years. Truth is, Macca hasn't used Labella in about 20 years. He's been using Pyramids steadily since.

Photos of Paul's bass show the dark green silks of the Pyramids Gold flats, short scale. They are the same as the Hofner branded short scale flats, made in Germany - not the so called Contemporary flats made in Asia - which are rubbish.
The LaBella short scale flats FOR Hofner basses (760FHB2) are also excellent strings and are properly made to fit the small Hofner tuners and tailpieces. They are very smooth, sound good and intone very well.
In my opinion, North Coast has an interesting relationship with the truth. The LaBellas may be easier to find than the Pyramid Gold flats, depending on where you are located. Many Hofner bass players use both of these . Nether will put too much pressure on a Hofner bass.

 

[Shawn Luckman]

Had I known that the German Hofner strings were exactly the same as the, Pyramid Gold set I would have stuck with the Pyramid set & saved myself some money.

 

[Doctor Intrepid]

Going to an open mic tonight. Going to take my modified HCT!

 

[JohnMalay]

Speaking of original string sets... what comes on the Ignition? It's a bargain bass, does it have bargain string?

 

[WannaBeatle]

Speaking of original string sets... what comes on the Ignition? It's a bargain bass, does it have bargain string?

Yes, both the Contemporary and ignition basses come with Asian made bargain strings. They're marketed as "Contemporary Strings". They're 'meh'.

 

[JohnMalay]

Time for some Höfner strings, then!

 

[Deleted member 394181]

I didn't know you can get HCT' s without neck binding. I have to look for one.

 

[Doctor Intrepid]

I didn't know you can get HCT' s without neck binding. I have to look for one.

The HCTs without neck binding are very rare. I think Hofner made the Cavern basses without binding for only one year. I like the neck binding, so I wish I would have gotten an HCT with binding. When I bought the bass, though, I was indifferent to it.

 

[dlmarquez]

Going to an open mic tonight. Going to take my modified HCT!

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I am not familiar with hofners, whoch model is that? What did you do to the pickups, are they hofners or aftermarkets. If it did not have those funny wires on the fingerboard it woupd be a perfect bass!
Very nice!

 

[Doctor Intrepid]

The pickups are standard diamond pickups for Cavern basses. I just changed the pickup surround, the knobs, the control panel plate and the tail piece.

 

[Shawn Luckman]

I didn't know you can get HCT' s without neck binding. I have to look for one.

My Black HCT came without binding but I wish it had it.

 

[Deleted member 394181]

My HCT has binding. I do want my next Hofner with no binding though.