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

[mongo2]

Thinking of going heavier than the 95-40 currently on my Hofner, 100-40 or maybe 105-45, i know Hofner necks are thin but am i right in thinking that the neck should be fine as long as the truss rod is in good shape?

I've used the Labella 100-50 stainless flats with no neck/trussrod issues.

 

[fermata]

Thinking of going heavier than the 95-40 currently on my Hofner, 100-40 or maybe 105-45, i know Hofner necks are thin but am i right in thinking that the neck should be fine as long as the truss rod is in good shape?

Assuming you're still talking XL Nickels, I had a look at the D'Addario tension chart. Even though you're using medium scale strings to properly fit the instrument, the short scale tension is what they'll pull. For instance, with a 45-105 set, you're looking at tensions between 29 and 37 lbs, which is perfectly reasonable.

 

[shoulderpet]

Thanks, I'm thinking of using Roto 66 100-40 and cutting them down to fit as almost everyone who has tried the short scale rotos has said that the intonation is bad on them, i know using long scale is not ideal but have done it on my other semi hollow violin bass without issues

 

[shoulderpet]

Ok, got the Rotos swing bass 66 on and just my initial impressions at the moment as only been on for 24hrs or so, they sound great, Rotos are known for having strong mids but the midrange seems to add growl rather than honk so this works very nicely on the Hofner.
I will add that I was very very careful fitting the E string as I didn't want to strip the tuners or break the string, the other 3 strings went on easily

 

[fermata]

Speaking of strings, I just learned that GHS' short scale strings are cleverly engineered to fit Hofners (the silk just clears the nut with a 32.75" winding length). This opens up a world of possibilities, like the yummy-sounding Balanced Nickels and Pressurewounds.

This afternoon, I took off my 2+ year-old La Bella Beatle Bass flats and put on a short scale set of GHS Precision Flats, and they're a nice fit (physically and sonically). The La Bellas had become a bit too thumpy--or maybe 'thunky' is the word--over time, and I was ready for a change. The GHS are perhaps not quite as creamy sounding (they still need to break in), but they do have a major advantage (in addition to not sounding thunky): I've always found the La Bellas to have some problematic honky qualities when blending the neck and bridge pickups, but the GHS Precisions allow for smoother-sounding blending. Dialing in the intonation, as always, was a bit of a pain (even though the La Bella and GHS gauges are similar); it's a real deterrent for changing strings on a Hofner, but it's all set now, with the bonus of the bridge being further from the bridge pickup, which improves the sound, too.

In the past, I've found that nickel-plated rounds and La Bella White Tapes eliminate the honk, too, but I don't like the feel of either of those as much as these GHS flats.

Although it seems like Pyramids and La Bellas rule the roost on Hofners, it's good to remember there are other options worth exploring, too.

 

[shoulderpet]

Speaking of strings, I just learned that GHS' short scale strings are cleverly engineered to fit Hofners (the silk just clears the nut with a 32.75" winding length). This opens up a world of possibilities, like the yummy-sounding Balanced Nickels and Pressurewounds.

This afternoon, I took off my 2+ year-old La Bella Beatle Bass flats and put on a short scale set of GHS Precision Flats, and they're a nice fit (physically and sonically). The La Bellas had become a bit too thumpy--or maybe 'thunky' is the word--over time, and I was ready for a change. The GHS are perhaps not quite as creamy sounding (they still need to break in), but they do have a major advantage (in addition to not sounding thunky): I've always found the La Bellas to have some problematic honky qualities when blending the neck and bridge pickups, but the GHS Precisions allow for smoother-sounding blending. Dialing in the intonation, as always, was a bit of a pain (even though the La Bella and GHS gauges are similar); it's a real deterrent for changing strings on a Hofner, but it's all set now, with the bonus of the bridge being further from the bridge pickup, which improves the sound, too.

In the past, I've found that nickel-plated rounds and La Bella White Tapes eliminate the honk, too, but I don't like the feel of either of those as much as these GHS flats.

Although it seems like Pyramids and La Bellas rule the roost on Hofners, it's good to remember there are other options worth exploring, too.

I was just about to post my follow up post on the Rotos , i think the string search is still on. The Rotos sounded great..... For all of a week , by the time i got to use them in a live situation they were so dead they practically sounded like flatwounds , real shame as they had a nice growl initially

 

[DavesnothereCA]

Speaking of strings, I just learned that GHS' short scale strings are cleverly engineered to fit Hofners (the silk just clears the nut with a 32.75" winding length). This opens up a world of possibilities, like the yummy-sounding Balanced Nickels and Pressurewounds...

~
Hmmmm, I did not know that GHS shorts would fit.

So that observation suggests that GHS Brite Flats (ground round wound, and which I prefer for my other basses) should also be long enough in short scale for a Hofner, though some folks say that getting the heavier 'E' string of those thru the tailpiece anchor hole might be an issue for some editions of those basses (while fitting my short scale Gibson SG bass absolutely fine).

In comparison, LaBella mikes a whole separate dedicated length for any Hofner basses which have the long tailpiece, and in some string other brands, we are advised to choose medium scale for them.
~

 

[fermata]

~
Hmmmm, I did not know that GHS shorts would fit.

So that observation suggests that GHS Brite Flats (ground round wound, and which I prefer for my other basses) should also be long enough in short scale for a Hofner, though some folks say that getting the heavier 'E' string of those thru the tailpiece anchor hole might be an issue.

In comparison, LaBella mikes a whole separate dedicated length for any Hofner basses which have the long tailpiece, and in some string other brands, we are advised to choose medium scale for them.
~

Yeah, not sure about the max gauge the tailpiece can handle, but @Jon Moody from GHS has a Hofner, so he might have a sense of whether the Brite Flats' .108 E would fit. (He's the one who clued me in about GHS short scale strings fitting Hofners.) Also, worth noting, GHS' medium scale winds are 35.5", which is too long for a Hofner. (Most other companies do a 34" medium scale winding length, which fits nicely.)

 

[DavesnothereCA]

Yeah, not sure about the max gauge the tailpiece can handle, but @Jon Moody from GHS has a Hofner, so he might have a sense of whether the Brite Flats' .108 E would fit. (He's the one who clued me in about GHS short scale strings fitting Hofners.) Also, worth noting, GHS' medium scale winds are 35.5", which is too long for a Hofner. (Most other companies do a 34" medium scale winding length, which fits nicely.)

~
And if a company's medium scale strings fit such a Hofner, then the same company's shorts most likely do not.

Many string SELLERS do not know such details - Some even publish erroneous info about all of this.
~

 

[Jon Moody]

Yeah, not sure about the max gauge the tailpiece can handle, but @Jon Moody from GHS has a Hofner, so he might have a sense of whether the Brite Flats' .108 E would fit. (He's the one who clued me in about GHS short scale strings fitting Hofners.) Also, worth noting, GHS' medium scale winds are 35.5", which is too long for a Hofner. (Most other companies do a 34" medium scale winding length, which fits nicely.)

The Hofner tailpiece is a finicky thing, but I’ve gotten a set of Brite Flats on mine, by crimping the winding end (by the ball) a bit with a pair of pliers to fit better onto the tailpiece.

 

[DavesnothereCA]

The Hofner tailpiece is a finicky thing, but I’ve gotten a set of Brite Flats on mine, by crimping the winding end (by the ball) a bit with a pair of pliers to fit better onto the tailpiece.

~
If I get a Hofner bass which has this issue (and it would be a club bass, which AFAIK uses the same tailpiece as the violin model), I am considering using a small round file to enlarge the E-string's hole in the tailpiece slightly, if the hole is accessible.
~

 

[petrus61]

Very happy with my new Ignition Club!

 

[shoulderpet]

I was just about to post my follow up post on the Rotos , i think the string search is still on. The Rotos sounded great..... For all of a week , by the time i got to use them in a live situation they were so dead they practically sounded like flatwounds , real shame as they had a nice growl initially

And I have done almost a full 360° and after trying Hofner rounds, Roto steels, Roto nickels,Daddario nickels, Daddario tapes, Labella tapes, Labella flats, I have settled on TI Jazz flats , expensive trying all these strings but sometimes you just have to do it to see if there is anything that may suit your needs better.
The TI's are just really, really good strings, warm but articulate with some nice growl to them as well, higher register bass playing in particular sounds particularly sweet with these strings and cuts through were a lot of strings would be lost in the mix, Labella flats come a close 2nd.

 

[SJLee]

Hey Everybody,

I asked this over in the Pickups & Electronics section with no takers, so I thought I might try over here.

I have an opportunity to pick up a Hofner with toaster pickups and I was wondering if anyone has experience with them? I currently have a club bass with the staple pickups which I like, and I'm curious to know how different (if at all) the toaster pickups sound in comparison?

The strings of the bass I am interested in look as though they are almost resting on the pickups. Does anyone know if the toasters have a lower output than the staples? I have this question in with the seller but I am looking for an unbiased opinion - preferably someone with actual experience with the toaster pickup.

Thanks in advance!

View attachment 3123864

 

[shoulderpet]

Hey Everybody,

I asked this over in the Pickups & Electronics section with no takers, so I thought I might try over here.

I have an opportunity to pick up a Hofner with toaster pickups and I was wondering if anyone has experience with them? I currently have a club bass with the staple pickups which I like, and I'm curious to know how different (if at all) the toaster pickups sound in comparison?

The strings of the bass I am interested in look as though they are almost resting on the pickups. Does anyone know if the toasters have a lower output than the staples? I have this question in with the seller but I am looking for an unbiased opinion - preferably someone with actual experience with the toaster pickup.

Thanks in advance!

View attachment 3123864

Not much too add re the pickups as haven't used the toasters but that is a sweet looking bass.
Re the strings resting on the pickups, may just be the angle the picture was taken, maybe ask for a side shot of the bass to show the action

 

[DrSteve]

Don’t know for sure, if I heard from a reliable source that the toaster pickups were hotter and brighter.
Maybe my next Hofner...

 

[fermata]

Look at the shadows the strings cast on the end of the neck vs. the pickups. I think everything's as it should be.

 

[Stempelloos]

The pickup configuration is like a Cavern. The strings of my Cavern 'are almost resting on the pickups', so I guess that's how they should be. I have no experience with the Höfner toasters, but do have a Crucianelli toaster in combination with a Höfner 512b pickup. The 512b definitely has a higher output than the staples.
I don't know about the output of the toasters, just read they're 'vintage' sounding.
The Crucianelli toaster (as used on older Vox basses) has a real old school humbucker sound.

 

[SJLee]

Okay, these are the thoughts from an acquaintance who owns both a diamond pickup and cavern spaced toaster pickup Höfners.

I have a 500/1 with staples in normal position and a 500/1 with toasters in cavern position. My 2 cents:

The toasters are singles and have an output which is quite a lot lower than the staples. So you need to crank up your amp a bit more. I prefer them and I prefer the Cavern spacing. The last thing has to do with the second pickup, so I'll tell about the neck pickup first.

The neck staple make my 500/1 sound very big, wide, boomy. A very big sound and imho, as a finger style player sometimes too boomy. Yes I know: I should play with a pick more. The neck toaster is different sounding. It's more mid-heavy, warm and woody. More focused, more definition. So warm, woody instead of big and boomy oomphy. As said I'm mainly a finger style player and those pickups suit my style much more.

Now the Cavern thing. I also have a Cavern spaced Club with the Diamond or cavern pickups - I think - which are similar to the staples. I use the neck staple for the warm ballads and with bith the pickups on it sounds enormous!! Big! The 'middle' one only is a bit more focussed. With the cavern spaced toaster 500/1 I get a warmer sound with both pickups on (so Off, haha) which is warm enough for me. The 'middle' pickup only is very focused. It wil never be a P, but in a band I can change quickly to middle only, which is a great rocksound and it works good with effects.

So my opinion - mind you, it is an opinion:

Neck:
Staple: very big, wide, and oomph.
Toaster: warm, woody, focused

Middle:
Staple: combined with neck it can make your bass even bigger. Solo more focus so very usable for more rock-ish songs.

Toaster: combined with neck it gives a wide warm sound, solo it's even more usable for rocking, effects. ....

 

[Lefty McGee]

I just switched from LaBella Flats to LaBella White Nylon Tapewound's on my Hofner Beatle Bass. What a difference! My band tunes down to Eb and the flats were just too thumpy for me. The tapewounds have beautiful tone and work great in that tuning.