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

[Doctor Intrepid]

I have a 68. It is my number one. I love those blade pups.

 

[Doctor Intrepid]

Hi. A few weeks ago, I acquired a 1967 500/1 violin bass. It wasn’t planned at all but it happened, and I am happy because it’s a nice instrument.

I just received new strings yesterday that I installed right away. Judging by the state of previous strings, they must have been on for 30 years if not more! Anyway, I got the La Bella Beatle Bass Flat Wound, and I believe the tension will be less than before. The neck is quite straight, but I was thinking of adjusting the truss rod to have just a tiny bit of relief. That’s when I noticed that the mechanism is different and does not require a hex key (or a screwdriver — or a paint can opener) as it is a nut and bolt system instead.

I usually set up my instruments myself, but I have not worked with this type of truss rod before. Anything I should be aware of before I start? Also, there really isn’t much space around that nut. Thankfully, the bass is entirely playable the way it is, if I have to leave the neck like that.

View attachment 4290319 View attachment 4290320

I forgot to mention that their are shops where you can buy the wrench to adjust the truss rod. The Violin Shop in North America and Thomann in Europe.

 

[RichardPjazz]

I forgot to mention that their are shops where you can buy the wrench to adjust the truss rod. The Violin Shop in North America and Thomann in Europe.

Great to know! Thank you! I will check them out.

P.S. Do you know where the Violin Shop is? It happens to be a common name, apparently.

 

[Doctor Intrepid]

Great to know! Thank you! I will check them out.

P.S. Do you know where the Violin Shop is? It happens to be a common name, apparently.

Sorry! They are called the Violin bass Store.

 

[Michael Eisenman]

Great to know! Thank you! I will check them out.

P.S. Do you know where the Violin Shop is? It happens to be a common name, apparently.

A thin-walled deep socket from the hardware store should do the trick, as well. Probably cheaper, too.

 

[RichardPjazz]

Sorry! They are called the Violin bass Store.

Found it!

Link Removed

A thin-walled deep socket from the hardware store should do the trick, as well. Probably cheaper, too.

Good idea. I’ll check that out too… after going through my own tools, in case I have something that works.

 

[WannaBeatle]

Thanks.

the truss rod wrench that you'll want is 7mm. any nut driver will suffice.

but, I suppose this type will be the easiest to deal with

 

[RichardPjazz]

the truss rod wrench that you'll want is 7mm. any nut driver will suffice.

but, I suppose this type will be the easiest to deal with View attachment 4290688

7mm Good to know. Thanks!

 

[DavesnothereCA]

the truss rod wrench that you'll want is 7mm. any nut driver will suffice.

but, I suppose this type will be the easiest to deal with View attachment 4290688

~
Reminds me of the traditional Gibson tool, just a different socket size.
~

 

[DavesnothereCA]

Hi. A few weeks ago, I acquired a 1967 500/1 violin bass. It wasn’t planned at all but it happened, and I am happy because it’s a nice instrument.

I just received new strings yesterday that I installed right away. Judging by the state of previous strings, they must have been on for 30 years if not more! Anyway, I got the La Bella Beatle Bass Flat Wound, and I believe the tension will be less than before. The neck is quite straight, but I was thinking of adjusting the truss rod to have just a tiny bit of relief. That’s when I noticed that the mechanism is different and does not require a hex key (or a screwdriver — or a paint can opener) as it is a nut and bolt system instead.

I usually set up my instruments myself, but I have not worked with this type of truss rod before. Anything I should be aware of before I start? Also, there really isn’t much space around that nut. Thankfully, the bass is entirely playable the way it is, if I have to leave the neck like that.

View attachment 4290319 View attachment 4290320

~
Purty !

Not only that bass, but also what I can see of some of your others in the rack.

The truss rod pic reminds me of that in a Ric, except that the Ric has TWO of them, side by side, and even smaller size each.

The thin wall of the truss rod nut will make it somewhat delicate [ask me how I know].

Would you do something for us please, before proceeding to adjust ?

I'd like you to measure the distance from the 'zero fret' to the bridge saddle of the E string, and post the number here.

What I'm looking to establish is what other strings may fit, in case you would rather go down the path of choosing strings which match the current truss rod setting, rather than adjusting it.

There ARE other strings which do fit MY Hofner, some of which are not specifically advertised as such.
~

 

[RichardPjazz]

~
Purty !

Not only that bass, but also what I can see of some of your others in the rack.

The truss rod pic reminds me of that in a Ric, except that the Ric has TWO of them, side by side, and even smaller size each.

The thin wall of the truss rod nut will make it somewhat delicate [ask me how I know].

Would you do something for us please, before proceeding to adjust ?

I'd like you to measure the distance from the 'zero fret' to the bridge saddle of the E string, and post the number here.

What I'm looking to establish is what other strings may fit, in case you would rather go down the path of choosing strings which match the current truss rod setting, rather than adjusting it.

There ARE other strings which do fit MY Hofner, some of which are not specifically advertised as such.
~

@DavesnothereCA

Distance from zero-fret to bridge saddle of

• E string: 763 mm
• G string: 758 mm

Intonation is spot on (using a couple Peterson strobe tuners - VS-1 and StroboClip).

 

[DavesnothereCA]

~
....Would you do something for us please, before proceeding to adjust ?

I'd like you to measure the distance from the 'zero fret' to the bridge saddle of the E string, and post the number here.

What I'm looking to establish is what other strings may fit, in case you would rather go down the path of choosing strings which match the current truss rod setting, rather than adjusting it.

There ARE other strings which do fit MY Hofner, some of which are not specifically advertised as such.
~

@DavesnothereCA

Distance from zero-fret to bridge saddle of

• E string: 763 mm
• G string: 758 mm

Intonation is spot on (using a couple Peterson strobe tuners - VS-1 and StroboClip).

~
Thanks for doing that.

But now I'm embarrassed.

I asked the wrong question [ must've been before my morning coffee ].

What's more, I even posted similarly errant info about my own Hofner in post #1489 back on May 13th, and wish that I could change it.

What I was looking to learn was the distance from the zero fret to the string balls, not to the the bridge saddles, planning to compare it to the wrapped length of various short scale bass strings.

If you would once again be so kind.

Thanks.
~

 

[DavesnothereCA]

~
Strings [FYI] :

I too own an Ignition Club [silver sparkle - pics are on my TB media gallery page], and it had DR short scale rounds on it from the previous owner....
....I measured the distance from the bridge saddles to the nut, and though I cannot say whether ALL Hofners will be the same, MINE was about 32".

LaBella publishes that their regular short scale bass strings have 32.25" of wrapped length, and offer 4 or 5 choices of gauges in sets of flats alone.

I ordered some.

They fit....
~

~
NOTICE :

I posted incorrect info about my own Hofner bass, back in post #1489 on May 13th, and wish that I could edit the post.

The 32" measurement which I mentioned in that post [partially quoted above] was in reality the distance from the string balls to the nut of the bass [NOT from the the bridge saddles to the nut], which I then compared to the published wrapped length of various short scale bass strings, to determine which of them should fit that bass before ordering any.

Sorry for any confusion caused !
~

 

[WannaBeatle]

a few nights ago during rehearsal, one of the black nylon tapes began to come unwound (near the saddle, actually). but, I think I got my use out of the set. I think I bought them in 2012...my math might be off, but, that's at least 100 years, right???

but, what's kinda cool is that you see the actual string underneath that sexy nylon!!! I feel so dirty now

 

[WannaBeatle]

oops, I didn't mean to post the same shot twice!

 

[RichardPjazz]

~
What I was looking to learn was the distance from the zero fret to the string balls, not to the the bridge saddles, planning to compare it to the wrapped length of various short scale bass strings.~

@DavesnothereCA
My apologies for the delay. I measured it at once but then forgot to post it!

Zero fret to end of ball end: 845mm
—> So from zero fret to the beginning of the ball end would be 840mm (approximately because the ball end fits into the tailpiece).

 

[RichardPjazz]

@DavesnothereCA
BTW, when I first got the bass, it had very old strings. The gauge of the E string was .100 but because of the silk, it didn’t fit all the way in.

 

[Doctor Intrepid]

@DavesnothereCA
BTW, when I first got the bass, it had very old strings. The gauge of the E string was .100 but because of the silk, it didn’t fit all the way in.

View attachment 4305369

Love that finish!

 

[Doctor Intrepid]

Thought folks might enjoy these fine notes played on a Hofner 500/1.

 

[Doctor Intrepid]

Some more cool Hofner content. I am guessing he used the 500/1 on recordings?