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

[ICM]

I let the 4th coat sit over night, and applied a 5th coat as soon as I woke up this morning. After that dried, I polished the board up and removed the ink from the frets. With a vigorous polishing I figured I'd remove all the excess that hadn't soaked into the wood.
I had expected (and hoped!) the F-one oil would remove the ink from the fret dots but not dilute it and soak it up from the board. I was right! All part of the process, this is super fun and very exciting. I also cleaned off the nut with a moist towel, I'm going to do a really precise clean once all the oil is applied. I'll probably be putting on 3 coats, one is done, I'll do two in a bit, then I'll let three sit over night to soak in and harden a little, buff the board with my Hofner microfiber cloth, string it up and enjoy!

Ink all on:

Oiled:

Yes, this is a kitchen counter workstation...

 

[ICM]

Almost done, the oil soaked in for the most part but I had to head 2 hours north. So I tensioned the strings and now they're tuned while the oil is still setting. I really didn't want to leave tension off the neck in that winter for more than 48 hours. It's looking really good though, i touched up 90% of the stray ink spots (just washes out with water). Tomorrow or the next day, I'll buff the fretboard, clean up the dots to be perfect and buff up the board.
The corgis couldn't help but investigate the new pitch black board:

 

[ICM]

All done! What a fun project, the board looks much nicer now since it matches the ebony bridge. Check it out:

 

[Thornton Davis]

Recently I've been chatting with a couple of TB members about Hofner's Contemporary 500/1 and 500/1 CV models as well as my own 2007 HCT500/1 and it occurred to me that I haven't had mine out of its case in quite a few months, so this afternoon I grabbed its case and took it out to check and make sure that all is well with it. After spending a a couple of minutes of checking it over extensively everything is perfect.

So while I had it out I took the photos below and I thought that I'd share them on Fran's FB page. For those of you not on FB these are for you. Happy Hofnering!

Cheers,

TD

 

[ICM]

Recently I've been chatting with a couple of TB members about Hofner's Contemporary 500/1 and 500/1 CV models as well as my own 2007 HCT500/1 and it occurred to me that I haven't had mine out of its case in quite a few months, so this afternoon I grabbed its case and took it out to check and make sure that all is well with it. After spending a a couple of minutes of checking it over extensively everything is perfect.

So while I had it out I took the photos below and I thought that I'd share them on Fran's FB page. For those of you not on FB these are for you. Happy Hofnering!

View attachment 2860848
View attachment 2860850

Cheers,

TD

They're solid basses, that's for sure! Those mods look great too.

 

[V63]

Hello,
I'm struggling to find the perfect string for my Vintage '63 and I'm hoping some one can help. I've used Pyramid strings for years but their E string issues finally made me give up on them and try other sets. So far here are my thoughts. All of them, so far, have had something to give me pause.

I've tried Thomas-Infeld's JF324H Hofner set
Thomastik-Infeld JF324H Flat Wound Short Scale HOFNER Bass Guitar Strings
The silk length is off, so your E and G have no silk showing while the A and D do. An improper scale length on an advertised 'Hofner' set is unforgivable to me. Everyone else gets this right. I forget how the tension was but everyone says they're quite loose. Plus they're very expensive.
I've tried Chromes Medium .45-.100
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I liked the sound of these because they did have some top end and the E string was nice and strong but found the tension quite high and I'm worried about the strain on the headstock. The periwinkle blue silk was not my favourite.
and La Bella's Tapewound Hofner set
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Playing by myself I loved these. Very surprisingly they had the most highs of anything I tried. I liked the rubbery sound and the bit of growl you get from them. However, in a band situation I really couldn't hear my self. I found the tension way too loose: I'd pull my G off the fretboard easily and the E flapped and had little presence. This has put tapes out of the running for me.

I've Just ordered a set of La Bella 760FHBB .50-.100.
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My questions are: Do I have to worry about stain on my headstock or am just paranoid? I'm worried that the higher tension of stainless steel strings vs. nickel strings like Pyramids may damage my bass. Does the La Bella .50-.100 set have less tension than the D'Addario Chromes? How do they compare to La Bella's lighter Hofner set?
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How is the E on the lighter set? Is the tension notably lighter? Is it floppy?

Thank you.

P.S. I'm posting this in "Strings" as well

 

[fermata]

I've Just ordered a set of La Bella 760FHBB .50-.100.
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My questions are: Do I have to worry about stain on my headstock or am just paranoid? I'm worried that the higher tension of stainless steel strings vs. nickel strings like Pyramids may damage my bass. Does the La Bella .50-.100 set have less tension than the D'Addario Chromes? How do they compare to La Bella's lighter Hofner set?
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How is the E on the lighter set? Is the tension notably lighter? Is it floppy?

I don't know how the tension compares, but I'm very happy with the .039-.096 La Bella set I've been using on my CT for the past two years. I tried La Bella tapes, too, and my experience was the same as yours--overall, a nice tone, but lacking the low end authority of the La Bella flats, and, most critically, just too floppy. (I don't understand why the Beatle Bass tapes are lighter than their other offerings.)

 

[V63]

I don't know how the tension compares, but I'm very happy with the .039-.096 La Bella set I've been using on my CT for the past two years. I tried La Bella tapes, too, and my experience was the same as yours--overall, a nice tone, but lacking the low end authority of the La Bella flats, and, most critically, just too floppy. (I don't understand why the Beatle Bass tapes are lighter than their other offerings.)

Thanks fermata,
You may know this already, but Tapewounds use light gauge Roundwound strings and then cover them so the .100 in the La Bella Nylon set is really a .95-ish Roundwound; making it, as we agree, "just too floppy". It can't be any bigger because of the size of the tailpiece holes and nut slots. This is what gave me pause about the .039-.096 set. You find your E to be fine with enough heft?

Has anyone used both La Bella sets?

 

[shoulderpet]

Thanks fermata,
You may know this already, but Tapewounds use light gauge Roundwound strings and then cover them so the .100 in the La Bella Nylon set is really a .95-ish Roundwound; making it, as we agree, "just too floppy". It can't be any bigger because of the size of the tailpiece holes and nut slots. This is what gave me pause about the .039-.096 set. You find your E to be fine with enough heft?

Has anyone used both La Bella sets?

I have used this set and the E is fine, is low tension (which is a good thing with the slim Hofner neck profile) but sound wise has plenty of thump ymmv

 

[fermata]

Yeah, La Bella tapes are normally .105 or .115; that's why the .100 doesn't make sense to me, especially for a short scale set (maybe the tailpieces are a tighter fit on old Hofners; .105 is fine on the CT). But the .096 flat wound E is just fine. I'd call that set supple, but I'm able to set fairly low action without any ill effects. The .039 G is the only string that feels on the light side, but not like the tapes! I haven't tried them on my Hofner, but .045-.095 GHS Precision flats are really nice, and the G feels a bit more balanced. (Don't forget you'd need a medium scale set.) I don't know where you ordered them, but @SLaPiNFuNK at Bass Strings Online might have insight into the .50-.100 set of flats you ordered vs. the lighter set. I'm guessing it's not a big deal.

 

[V63]

Yeah, La Bella tapes are normally .105 or .115; that's why the .100 doesn't make sense to me, especially for a short scale set (maybe the tailpieces are a tighter fit on old Hofners; .105 is fine on the CT). But the .096 flat wound E is just fine. I'd call that set supple, but I'm able to set fairly low action without any ill effects. The .039 G is the only string that feels on the light side, but not like the tapes! I haven't tried them on my Hofner, but .045-.095 GHS Precision flats are really nice, and the G feels a bit more balanced. (Don't forget you'd need a medium scale set.) I don't know where you ordered them, but @SLaPiNFuNK at Bass Strings Online might have insight into the .50-.100 set of flats you ordered vs. the lighter set. I'm guessing it's not a big deal.

Thanks again,
The heaviest E I've had is a .100 so .105 may fit on German-made models too. I know D'Addario makes tapes that are a bit heavier but not "I have to file my nut TruBass 88" big.
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I asked, but @SLaPiNFuNK at Bass Strings Online didn't seem to know if they'd fit German-made nuts
It's a shame Tapewounds didn't have any 'cut-through-edness' for me because I do really like them tone-wise.

(As a side note: I've been listening to all the 'Let It Be' sessions bootlegs and noticed the same thing. Paul playing away with his TruBass 88 tapewound sounds great, even with drums and lead, but as soon a rhythm guitar comes in you can't really hear the bass-line anymore. Chord-y guitars seem to cover them.)

I'm looking for a set that is tonally consistent with a E that has note as well as thump without too much tension so I guess I'll have to try both.
Has anyone used both the D'Addario Chromes and the La Bellas on a Hofner. I've played the Chromes. How do the La Bellas compare?

 

[SJLee]

Have you tried LaBella Low Tension Flats. They make a short scale string which I have on my Danelectro Longhorn. Great sounding string IMO, with brown silks.

 

[V63]

Have you tried La Bella Low Tension Flats. They make a short scale string which I have on my Danelectro Longhorn. Great sounding string IMO, with brown silks.

Thanks for the suggestion,

I have seen these and was curious but they didn't have medium scale. Do you know the length ball-to-silk? Hofners often take "medium scale" because of the length needed for the tailpiece. I learned that the hard way with a different 'short scale' set.

EDIT: oops! I checked and they do list a Medium
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but it also says to call or email for availability mmmm

 

[SJLee]

Thanks for the suggestion,

I have seen these and was curious but they didn't have medium scale. Do you know the length ball-to-silk? Hofners often take "medium scale" because of the length needed for the tailpiece. I learned that the hard way with a different 'short scale' set.

EDIT: oops! I checked and they do list a Medium
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but it also says to call or email for availability mmmm

Actually, after closer inspection the silks look Maroon. I don't know the length off hand but that info should floating around somewhere as I found it in order to purchase them for my Dano. The Dano is approximately 30" from nut to bridge depending on the intonation adjustment.

 

[V63]

Thank you so much sneha1965!

Super of you to check. Really, really awesome. The 30" from nut to bridge is the same as a Hofner but I'd definitely need the extra length of a 'medium' to go from the bridge to the tailpiece. So good to know!
Love your Danelectro Longhorn and your Walkabout. I have the same amp in 'fawn'.

Glad you found strings you can bond with. I PM'd Jason @SLaPiNFuNK at Bass Strings Online to see if they are available.

Thank you so much again.

 

[SJLee]

Thank you so much sneha1965!

Super of you to check. Really, really awesome. The 30" from nut to bridge is the same as a Hofner but I'd definitely need the extra length of a 'medium' to go from the bridge to the tailpiece. So good to know!
Love your Danelectro Longhorn and your Walkabout. I have the same amp in 'fawn'.

Glad you found strings you can bond with. I PM'd Jason @SLaPiNFuNK at Bass Strings Online to see if they are available.

Thank you so much again.

Glad to help. Hope you find something that works for you.

EDIT: I was measuring my Hofner Club and it looks like about 31.75" from the nut to where the string ball would stop at the tail piece. That would put you pretty close to silk on the nut. Sorry I don't have a picture but I don't have three hands.

 

[SJLee]

Here's the Hofner. Shameless plug.

 

[V63]

Here's the Hofner. Shameless plug.

View attachment 2871148

That's a thing of beauty! So cool, if I didn't have a 500/1 I need to have a 500/2! Sometimes I think It's the model I should have got. I like the colour. It looks like the vintage ones or a 'Euro Burst'.
I see you have a Walkabout extension cab. Lucky! I want one so bad but they're out of production and I can't justify the expense. Those TI's you've strung it with?

 

[SJLee]

That's a thing of beauty! So cool, if I didn't have a 500/1 I need to have a 500/2! Sometimes I think It's the model I should have got. I like the colour. It looks like the vintage ones or a 'Euro Burst'.
I see you have a Walkabout extension cab. Lucky! I want one so bad but they're out of production and I can't justify the expense. Those TI's you've strung it with?

Thanks! It's called Violin Burst and I was informed it was from the Custom Shop. It has a few bumps and dings from playing out but overall it's in great shape. I went for the Club as I spend a bit of time playing my basses on my lap and the Club felt more comfortable for me both both standing and sitting, but I do dig the violin body.

The WA is great and I made sure to get an extension cab right after getting the amp. It's been a great setup for me. I remember the moment I broke it in. It was about the 3rd or 4th hour of a gig during the summer at a vineyard here in Northern Virginia. Glorious. It was like my ear popping and then I could hear glorious tone. Puts a smile on my face thinking about it.

Those are TI's. You are correct about the silks getting used up on the pole pieces. They are lovely sounding though.

 

[Thornton Davis]

I prefer LaBella's 760FHB-2 (39-96) on my HCT pictured in post 664 above. Had my current set on for the past 6-7 years with no neck or tension issues.

IMO they're probably the best bang for the buck.

TD