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

[Bottom 4]

Hi there! Is anyone out there using Thomastik Infeld flats on their German made Hofner? I recently purchased a set of TI JF324H short scale beatle bass from Strings and Beyond. I went to put them on yesterday afternoon prior to a session and the E string which was listed as JF36096 (.096) was super long. Too long for my German made Hofner. See pics. It could have easily fit my Rick or Pbass. All other strings seem fine. Strange! Needless to say I didn’t change strings. Has anyone else experienced this? I’ve reached out to Strings and Beyond but haven’t heard back yet…

 

[markjazzbassist]

Hi there! Is anyone out there using Thomastik Infeld flats on their German made Hofner? I recently purchased a set of TI JF324H short scale beatle bass from Strings and Beyond. I went to put them on yesterday afternoon prior to a session and the E string which was listed as JF36096 (.096) was super long. Too long for my German made Hofner. See pics. It could have easily fit my Rick or Pbass. All other strings seem fine. Strange! Needless to say I didn’t change strings. Has anyone else experienced this? I’ve reached out to Strings and Beyond but haven’t heard back yet…View attachment 7241137View attachment 7241138

Contact the seller and/or manufacturer. That is likely a wrong string. I have had the hofner version of TI and they fit great. Seems someone put the wrong string in that pack.

 

[Bottom 4]

Contact the seller and/or manufacturer. That is likely a wrong string. I have had the hofner version of TI and they fit great. Seems someone put the wrong string in that pack.

Yep, that’s exactly what I thought.

 

[HaphAsSard]

Hi there! Is anyone out there using Thomastik Infeld flats on their German made Hofner? I recently purchased a set of TI JF324H short scale beatle bass from Strings and Beyond. I went to put them on yesterday afternoon prior to a session and the E string which was listed as JF36096 (.096) was super long.

That's literally what it is: the '36' in the part no. clarifies it's the low E from the super-long Jazz Flat set (JF364), made for 36" scale basses, and wound to almost 40" from ball-end to silk.
They (meaning: someone at the Thomastik-Infeld factory) must have gotten mixed up, and put the super-long 096 instead of the Hoefner 096 (JF32096), this guy:
Thomastik-Infeld Jazz Flatwound JF32096 Short Scale Bass Single - .096
JF32096 - Jazz Flat Wound Bass E

I hope Strings & Beyond comes through.

 

[Bottom 4]

That's literally what it is: the '36' in the part no. clarifies it's the low E from the super-long Jazz Flat set (JF364), made for 36" scale basses, and wound to almost 40" from ball-end to silk.
They (meaning: someone at the Thomastik-Infeld factory) must have gotten mixed up, and put the super-long 096 instead of the Hoefner 096 (JF32096), this guy:
Thomastik-Infeld Jazz Flatwound JF32096 Short Scale Bass Single - .096
JF32096 - Jazz Flat Wound Bass E

I hope Strings & Beyond comes through.

Let’s see! This was my first purchase from them. I didn’t change strings contact them later afternoon on Saturday. I’m hoping they come through tomorrow…

 

[Deleted member 268085]

Let’s see! This was my first purchase from them. I didn’t change strings contact them later afternoon on Saturday. I’m hoping they come through tomorrow…

When I lived in the States, Strings and Beyond was my go-to supplier for strings. I always got great service from them, so I expect that you will, too.

 

[dlmarquez]

Let’s see! This was my first purchase from them. I didn’t change strings contact them later afternoon on Saturday. I’m hoping they come through tomorrow…

Did Strings & Beyond solve your problem? I am very curious because I just purchased a Hofner 500/1 series bass, and I am quite curious about mounting TI Jazz flats on it.
There are 3 string sets I am very interested in trying on my new Hofner. TI Jazz Flats, Labella white nylon tapes for the Beatle bass, and Dogal Hellborg roundwound strings. I believe that the Hellborg 32” scale set should work on a Hofner.
Has anyone tried the Hellborgs on a Hofner?

 

[Bottom 4]

Did Strings & Beyond solve your problem? I am very curious because I just purchased a Hofner 500/1 series bass, and I am quite curious about mounting TI Jazz flats on it.
There are 3 string sets I am very interested in trying on my new Hofner. TI Jazz Flats, Labella white nylon tapes for the Beatle bass, and Dogal Hellborg roundwound strings. I believe that the Hellborg 32” scale set should work on a Hofner.
Has anyone tried the Hellborgs on a Hofner?

Yes they did. Relatively quickly and the strings sound great on the bass.

 

[bassboysam]

Here is my modified Verythin. Swapped the pickups for TV Jones Thundertrons and added a push/push pot to switch between series and parallel. Also added a pickup selector switch. Going to add two mini toggles to be able to run either pickup as a humbucker or single coil.

the thundertrons are nice pickups, well balanced and they have a nice clarity to them. the low end is solid and they can snarl if you dig in.

 

[SouthPaul71]

Here is my modified Verythin. Swapped the pickups for TV Jones Thundertrons and added a push/push pot to switch between series and parallel. Also added a pickup selector switch. Going to add two mini toggles to be able to run either pickup as a humbucker or single coil.

View attachment 7261711

View attachment 7261712

View attachment 7261713


the thundertrons are nice pickups, well balanced and they have a nice clarity to them. the low end is solid and they can snarl if you dig in.

Looks great, too!

 

[RomanS]

Cavern bass owners, can I ask for your help? Can someone give me measurements for the position of the middle pickup? Ideally the distance from the 12th fret to the middle of the pickup...

I have an old MIC Club bass, love playing it, love the classic Höfner neck pickup thump, but find the bridge pickup completely useless - so I want to move it to Cavern/middle position...

 

[dlmarquez]

I have very recently purchased a Hofner Green line Violin bass, brand new. I have never had a hofner before, and I won’t actually have the bass for about another month…complicated, has to do with the fact that I live in South America. Anyway, I am wondering if anyone has tried the Dogal Hellborg strings on their Hofner bass.

 

[RomanS]

Behold the Höfner ThunderClub Bass!

Will do a thread about it when I find the time, but basically it's an Indonesian-made Club Bass sporting two Chinese Thunderbird pickups, roughly in "Cavern" position.

 

[bnnttlttljhn]

Here's my basketcase late 60's Hofner. Scooped from Real Guitars in SF while on tour. Flame on the back still takes my breath away.

 

[NoSlapForYou]

So I just got this 500/1 from Chicago Music Exchange. According to their website, the pots date it between 1968 and 1971. That jibes with all the appointments too (according to the chart I found here: models).

One thing that confuses me though. It says Hofner on the upper left side of the body. As far as I can tell from the chart, that's only supposed to be on '50s models? Don't get me wrong. I like the look of the logo there. Just wasn't sure what the explanation for that was.

 

[Jeff Scott]

So I just got this 500/1 from Chicago Music Exchange. According to their website, the pots date it between 1968 and 1971. That jibes with all the appointments too (according to the chart I found here: models).

One thing that confuses me though. It says Hofner on the upper left side of the body. As far as I can tell from the chart, that's only supposed to be on '50s models? Don't get me wrong. I like the look of the logo there. Just wasn't sure what the explanation for that was.

View attachment 7283565

They did that deliberately knowing it would create a conundrum in 2025.

 

[NoSlapForYou]

It's a beautiful, fantastic instrument either way. My only complaint right now is that the low E string is deader than the other strings. They're flats, so in theory there shouldn't be any difference. I can't find anything wrong with the setup either. Wondering if I should just try changing the E string to a different brand and see if that helps? I'm pretty sure it has the "official" Hofner-brand strings on it. I was reading another thread where someone had the same issue and swapped out the E string for a LaBella and had good luck. Worth a shot, I guess? Hoping it's not some larger issue I haven't spotted. It doesn't sound terrible or anything, but it's making me want to play the low E less, which is a bummer. It almost sounds like I'm palm muting even when I'm not.

All that said, this instrument is doing its job. Every time I walk by it and take in its beauty, I have to start playing it. I've played more in the last few days than the previous several weeks combined.

 

[SouthPaul71]

It's a beautiful, fantastic instrument either way. My only complaint right now is that the low E string is deader than the other strings. They're flats, so in theory there shouldn't be any difference. I can't find anything wrong with the setup either. Wondering if I should just try changing the E string to a different brand and see if that helps? I'm pretty sure it has the "official" Hofner-brand strings on it. I was reading another thread where someone had the same issue and swapped out the E string for a LaBella and had good luck. Worth a shot, I guess? Hoping it's not some larger issue I haven't spotted. It doesn't sound terrible or anything, but it's making me want to play the low E less, which is a bummer. It almost sounds like I'm palm muting even when I'm not.

All that said, this instrument is doing its job. Every time I walk by it and take in its beauty, I have to start playing it. I've played more in the last few days than the previous several weeks combined.

From what I’ve read the E ‘issue’ is common on the Höfner / Pyramid flats, and I have had the same experience. Have not been able to find out if the E is supposed to sound like that, have read both sides. Like you I found myself starting to subtly avoid the low E. After a while of that I caved and tried the LaBella Beatle strings (the whole set). E rang out like the others. I was relieved and pleased. Haven’t changed back.
Of course this is just my experience.

 

[NoSlapForYou]

From what I’ve read the E ‘issue’ is common on the Höfner / Pyramid flats, and I have had the same experience. Have not been able to find out if the E is supposed to sound like that, have read both sides. Like you I found myself starting to subtly avoid the low E. After a while of that I caved and tried the LaBella Beatle strings (the whole set). E rang out like the others. I was relieved and pleased. Haven’t changed back.
Of course this is just my experience.

Thanks! Worth a shot. Worst case, I wasted $50 after already spending a ton of money.

 

[SouthPaul71]

Thanks! Worth a shot. Worst case, I wasted $50 after already spending a ton of money.

True. Or do just the E string, your original idea. Good luck!