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

[voxkev]

Hi folks- I hope you don't mind the dive into the thread here from a site newbie. (Checks profile, no I don't think I have posted in the 5 years I have had this account.)

I have one of the Ignition basses. I really like it a lot, I know it is not top quality but there is still a lot of charm to it plus it's light as a feather. The problem is my daughter is learning on it, and the tuners are incredibly difficult to turn. I can manage it, but she sometimes has to take the instrument off to get enough leverage. I'd like to do something that would make it easier for her to tune when I'm not around. I've seen product suggestions, Hipshot ultralite, Grover stat-tite, and maybe a couple others, but they seem like they need to alter the tuner holes and/or the screw holes. A good replacement that I knew would fit the Hofner case is ideal if it exists. If there wasn't a "perfect" replacement, how would you go about making it easier to turn to tune?

 

[SteveCS]

Grover stat-tite, and maybe a couple others, but they seem like they need to alter the tuner holes

See my post above...
Post in thread 'Hofner-(not just Beatle Basses)-Group Part 2' Hofner-(not just Beatle Basses)-Group Part 2

 

[markjazzbassist]

you could try a lubricant of sorts, i'm not sure which one but a search in hardware/parts forum of BG might yield some results.

 

[Johnny Alien]

The new Contemporary tuners are really nice. Much better than the HI ones (which I think were also standard on Contemporaries for a long time but I might be wrong on that). They look more correct than the Grovers, should drop right in, and are pretty affordable for now. That would be my suggestion.

 

[voxkev]

Thanks chaps! I think I am gonna try some lubricant first, but also likely place an order for the Grover Sta-Tite 97-18 tuners and a bushing reamer to enlarge the peg hole.

 

[Rockin John]

Hello.

I suppose I should make a contribution, here, as I have six Hofners.

There are two German 500/1 and two Contemporary Series. I’ve also got two Contemporary Series 500/7 Verithins.

The reason I moved over to Hofner is instrument weight. With rubbish health nowadays I can’t use solid body basses because they’re just too heavy: I have a lovely USA Fender Precision Elite that now lives in its case because at 10Lbs it is twice the weight of a Hofner!

The Chinese made Contemporary Series are really well made and finished. The tuners are easy to use, too, unlike those on German models which tend to be really stiff to turn (as pointed out in another, recent thread on this board).

To play the 500/1s I use a fingerless, wool glove with a piece of thick leather stuck down the thumb and into the wrist. This stops the sharp edge of the cut-out from causing pain in my hand. Looks a bit odd, I suppose, but who cares about that!

John (UK).

 

[dlmarquez]

I have a beautiful and amazing almost brand new Hofner Green Line violin bass. I really like almost everything about it….due to a long and complicated series of misadventures, my left shoulder no longer is happy supporting my Ric 4003 fretless. I really want to switch to my Hofner, but for me to do so would require it either be defretted professionally or have a new unlined fingerboard applied and then a full setup.
Can anyone recommend an appropriate luthier who would be able to do this properly?

 

[markjazzbassist]

I have a beautiful and amazing almost brand new Hofner Green Line violin bass. I really like almost everything about it….due to a long and complicated series of misadventures, my left shoulder no longer is happy supporting my Ric 4003 fretless. I really want to switch to my Hofner, but for me to do so would require it either be defretted professionally or have a new unlined fingerboard applied and then a full setup.
Can anyone recommend an appropriate luthier who would be able to do this properly?

Beautiful. I have always wanted a green line. Such a cool concept and look.

 

[dlmarquez]

Beautiful. I have always wanted a green line. Such a cool concept and look.

The level of craftsmanship is higher than on any other bass I have ever seen. When Hofner says the German built basses are done by luthiers they aren’t kidding!

 

[Jeff Scott]

The level of craftsmanship is higher than on any other bass I have ever seen. When Hofner says the German built basses are done by luthiers they aren’t kidding!

In the late '00s I had a 500/1V63; yes, it was superbly made.

 

[Deleted member 268085]

My Green Line showed with some issues due most likely to a heavy bump during handling at Thomann or, more likely, during shipping.

 

[Shawn Luckman]

My Green Line showed with some issues due most likely to a heavy bump during handling at Thomann or, more likely, during shipping.

View attachment 7342354

The Green Line 500/1 is a very nice looking bass all round.

 

[dlmarquez]

if it was available as a fretless it would be the perfect non-solid body bass for me.

 

[dlmarquez]

I just stumbled on this and found an official page on the Hofner website for this bass

Hofner Quality

Hofner seit 1887, Germany, quality products,

www.hofner.com

I am stunned! Never heard of a single pickup Hofner Violin bass before. If this had an unlined fretless fingerboard I’d be contacting shady characters to get one for me!!!!

 

[markjazzbassist]

I’ve often thought about removing the bridge pickup on mine. I only use the neck.

 

[dlmarquez]

I think that if Hofner made a production run of single pickup german made violin basses, say 90% fretted and 10% fretless, as long as the run was relatively small, say 250 instruments they would sell like hotcakes to enthusiasts and collectors…and to curious bassists!

Actually a fretless single pickup green line violin would be absolutely brilliant. I would sell my fretted double pickup greenline in an instant to get a single pickup fretless greenline.
FWIW, I really really love the greenline violin bass, its size and weight (I have serious left shoulder rotator cuff issues), appearance, and craftsmanship. Really a sweet and beautiful instrument. I feel very comfortable setting it right next to my 2 luthier built classical guitars.

 

[Jeff Scott]

...my 2 luthier built classical guitars.

Tell me more!

We saw this fine guitarist last Saturday evening.

 

[dlmarquez]

This is a 650 scale classical built by Robert Webster of GIg Harbor Washington back in 2012. it’s a fantastic instrument. the body is spanish Cypress or Cedar, I cant remember which, and it exudes a wonderful odor when left in the case for a few days, even after more than 12 years.
It’s definitely a keeper!

 

[Jeff Scott]

This is a 650 scale classical built by Robert Webster of GIg Harbor Washington back in 2012. it’s a fantastic instrument. the body is spanish Cypress or Cedar, I cant remember which, and it exudes a wonderful odor when left in the case for a few days, even after more than 12 years.
It’s definitely a keeper!

Beautiful looking woods.

 

[dlmarquez]

Here are a couple of pics of my Burgess/Martinez replica of a guitar Fernado Sor played in the 1820’s. Gary Burgess (the luthier who built this guitar and my former classical guitar teacher) is from Gig Harbor Wa. Mine was about the 4th one he built. It is by far my favorite classical guitar ever…612mm scale, peghead mechanical tuning pegs, super light, and it plays and sounds wonderfully. I don’t know if you can tell in the photos, but it does not have a bridge saddle…the strings wrap around the tieblock. This makes setting the string height a very different process. To the right is the Burgess, the Webster, and a LaBella acoustic Bass Guitar. I sold the LaBella a few years back. It is a very cool instrument, but really not very useful, with no pickup. it’s loud enough to accompany one classical guitarist so long as he does not get to agressive!