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

[nattiep]

So I'm guessing this might be one of my tuning issues too. That zero fret is toast

 

[duanev3]

So I'm guessing this might be one of my tuning issues too. That zero fret is toast

View attachment 4680253

Interesting..... Looks like grooves were cut on the zero fret... Never seen that one before: All my Hofners have had some sort of tuning / intonation imperfections. I try to mitigate by changing my playing style and making sure the nut grooves are clean and lubed.

 

[SJLee]

So I'm guessing this might be one of my tuning issues too. That zero fret is toast

View attachment 4680253

Looks like you need a new zero fret. Almost looks like someone was trying to widen the nut slots so to put on a larger string gauge and ended up filling down the zero fret.

 

[DavesnothereCA]

So I'm guessing this might be one of my tuning issues too. That zero fret is toast

View attachment 4680253

~
Not necessarily.

Zero frets can begin too high at the factory, just as a grooves in a nut can.

While what you have pictured does not look normal, before you do anything about it, check your action at the first fret.

If it is similar to that at the 2nd fret when holding each string at the first, and if there are no buzzes in that area, then leave it and look further into your original problem.
~

 

[steve_rolfeca]

~
...While what you have pictured does not look normal, before you do anything about it, check your action at the first fret.

If it is similar to that at the 2nd fret when holding each string at the first, and if there are no buzzes in that area, then leave it and look further into your original problem.
~

Amen to that.

Intonation problems at the headstock are usually the result of the nut or the zero fret being too high. If it's too low, you don't get intonation problems- you get rattles on the open strings, because they're slapping against the top of the first fret.

Filing grooves into the zero fret is a grotesque way of fixing the problem, and it's not technician-approved. Still, if it was done correctly, then the nut probably isn't the source of @nattlep's intonation problems.

Strings, bridge and tailpiece were the source of most of the intonation and tuning problems with my Ignition Club.

After checking the nut height again, I would loosen the strings and check to see if the bottom of the bridge is the same colour as the top. The wood is lighter than the dark factory stain, so it's easy to see whether anyone has taken the time to properly fit the bridge feet to the arch of the top.

This is necessary on most modern archtops.

Not only was the bridge on my Ignition too flat, but the foot on the bass side had been cut at a slight slant, so the bridge rocked back and forth a little every time I rested my hand on it. As you can imagine, that will seriously screw with your tuning stability.

Matching the bridge feet to the arch of the top increases the contact area, as well as vibrational transfer to the body. With the protective foam/paper under the bridge gone, the base properly fitted and perfectly perpendicular to the top, there will be no visible gaps between the feet and the top, anywhere along their length.

This made a major difference to the sound and tuning stability on mine.

 

[nattiep]

After hours of messing with it I managed to get the intonation set but somehow the A on the fifth fret of the E is still out of tune. I don't understand it at all. It's always slightly flat. Just that note. The strings are brand new La Bella's. This is the .96 E

 

[LetItGrowTone]

Just that note.

If that's really true - and I don't doubt you - it is possible that a pickup too close to the strings, especially the neck pickup probably, could cause it. And maybe it only affects the E string because it has more steel in it.

I say this because I can't think of anything else. For example, if the other strings at the 5th fret are in tune then that fret is in the right place!

You are using a good quality digital tuner, right? (I use iStroboSoft, for Apple or Android.)

 

[duanev3]

Guys

I've had over five Hofners and still have two left, a vintage (60's) and 1995 era Hofners and not any of them intonate perfectly. The only reason these basses cost a fortune is they are associated with Macca (Beatles). It's the only reason why I bought them in the first place.

Now they do have some redeeming qualities like the weight which is great for playing two hour gigs. And if you're a guitar player and double on bass guitar transferring back and fourth is very seamless. I have to run two different amps because the Hofner requires tons of EQ to get a well rounded tone to play other songs besides Beatles tunes, and these Hofners are hardly stable and don't do well with temperature changes.

Since my recent purchase (Jazz Bass) and the only reason I got one of those because I found out Macca had one. But if my head wasn't so far up Beatles buttholes, I would have purchased a Jazz Bass a long time ago (even though a Squire) it's a much better bass than any of the Hofners I have owned and now the two Hoffy's I have hang on the wall and hardly get played.

 

[mongo2]

Just filing grooves in the zero fret is not the answer. The strings will come off the fret in a place other than the center of the fret messing with intonation. Profiling the zero fret with a fret file to lower it while keeping the crown in the center of the fret is the way to go while being careful not to remove too much.

 

[Doctor Intrepid]

Guys

I've had over five Hofners and still have two left, a vintage (60's) and 1995 era Hofners and not any of them intonate perfectly. The only reason these basses cost a fortune is they are associated with Macca (Beatles). It's the only reason why I bought them in the first place.

Now they do have some redeeming qualities like the weight which is great for playing two hour gigs. And if you're a guitar player and double on bass guitar transferring back and fourth is very seamless. I have to run two different amps because the Hofner requires tons of EQ to get a well rounded tone to play other songs besides Beatles tunes, and these Hofners are hardly stable and don't do well with temperature changes.

Since my recent purchase (Jazz Bass) and the only reason I got one of those because I found out Macca had one. But if my head wasn't so far up Beatles buttholes, I would have purchased a Jazz Bass a long time ago (even though a Squire) it's a much better bass than any of the Hofners I have owned and now the two Hoffy's I have hang on the wall and hardly get played.

I have 6 Hofner myself and my experience is different than your experience. My 68 can handle any style of music I throw at it. The intonation on my various Hofners is fine also, and one is even a fretless.

 

[duanev3]

I have 6 Hofner myself and my experience is different than your experience. My 68 can handle any style of music I throw at it. The intonation on my various Hofners is fine also, and one is even a fretless.

I have a 66 and had a 67 and both of those sucked but they look cool. My 2002 Cavern was pretty good (the best in terms of intonation) but it sounded like poopie. I think it was because of where both pickups were placed.

Now keep in mind my above comparison is based on my recent modified Jazz Squier Bass. That suckers kicks but in all areas compared to any of my current or ex Hofners. The only bass that I have owned that was worse than my Hofners was a Rickenbacker I had for two weeks. That had to be the worst playing and sounding bass guitar I ever put my hands on.... terrible.

 

[Doctor Intrepid]

I have a 66 and had a 67 and both of those sucked but they look cool. My 2002 Cavern was pretty good (the best in terms of intonation) but it sounded like poopie. I think it was because of where both pickups were placed.

Now keep in mind my above comparison is based on my recent modified Jazz Squier Bass. That suckers kicks but in all areas compared to any of my current or ex Hofners. The only bass that I have owned that was worse than my Hofners was a Rickenbacker I had for two weeks. That had to be the worst playing and sounding bass guitar I ever put my hands on.... terrible.

Again, my experience has been different. I too have a Cavern model, although it is a Contemporary model. I'd put my 68 or Contemporary Cavern up against any bass. I've always gotten tons of compliments of the tone of my Hofners. I have also seen a lot of videos where Hofners have exhibited great tones in a variety of music styles. So your experience is a surprise to me.

 

[duanev3]

Again, my experience has been different. I too have a Cavern model, although it is a Contemporary model. I'd put my 68 or Contemporary Cavern up against any bass. I've always gotten tons of compliments of the tone of my Hofners. I have also seen a lot of videos where Hofners have exhibited great tones in a variety of music styles. So your experience is a surprise to me.

Don't get me wrong I thought my Hofners were pretty nice players until I acquired my J-Bass... I'm not sure if I'll ever play my Hofner again.

 

[Doctor Intrepid]

Don't get me wrong I thought my Hofners were pretty nice players until I acquired my J-Bass... I'm not sure if I'll ever play my Hofner again.

I am sure your Jazz bass sounds great. It is an excellent bass model. This is obvious. My point is that based my experience, which includes my own playing time and watching various bass players online and elsewhere, the Hofners are just as good as any Jazz bass. I am not asserting this because I have never played a Jazz bass before. I've played my fair share of Jazz basses and other popular models. It has not been my experience that Hofners are a lesser bass design nor are they limited in their abilities. I have, in fact, dedicated threads on Talkbass to this very issue. Feel free to look for them.

Anyway, enjoy your Jazz bass.

 

[DavesnothereCA]

Just filing grooves in the zero fret is not the answer. The strings will come off the fret in a place other than the center of the fret messing with intonation.

Profiling the zero fret with a fret file, to lower it while keeping the crown in the center of the fret is the way to go, while being careful not to remove too much.

~
Yes, same as a person needs to do when filing any other fret.

And I own such files.

But even if Nattie's bass has that problem, it would mess with the intonation most at fret #1, and progressively less as we go up the neck.

A glaring problem showing itself only at fret #5 [ for example, has to be for another reason.
~

 

[DavesnothereCA]

....Since my recent purchase (Jazz Bass) and the only reason I got one of those because I found out Macca had one. But if my head wasn't so far up Beatles buttholes, I would have purchased a Jazz Bass a long time ago (even though a Squire) it's a much better bass than any of the Hofners I have owned and now the two Hoffy's I have hang on the wall and hardly get played.

~
IMO, it would be completely safe to wager that Sir Paul has a huge room with one or more of every bass known to personkind in it.

I for one would not own a stock Jazz, because the nut width is too narrow for my huge hands, and I have played mainly a 1974 Ric 4001 since new in that year, and as you likely know, they have one of the wider nut widths of common basses.

My Ignition Club was bought as part of a recent quest for a lighter weight bass, and so far, so good, for the most part, once I got some flats onto it.

Now that I sit down to play gigs, the weight is less important than I had made it out to be, and I sometimes still use the Ric.

Last October, I also snagged a MIM Jazz with a Lowe conversion 32" scale neck already on it, and it happens to be one with a wider nut, around 1.65", IIRC, and will be trying it at some gigs this year.
~

 

[DavesnothereCA]

~
Not necessarily.

Zero frets can begin too high at the factory, just as a grooves in a nut can.

While what you have pictured does not look normal, before you do anything about it, check your action at the first fret.

If it is similar to that at the 2nd fret when holding each string at the first, and if there are no buzzes in that area, then leave it and look further into your original problem.
~

~
Let me qualify my earlier remark.

You could get a proper fret file and re-crown that zero fret if it is not too deeply grooved.

But your issue with the E string at fret #5 is because of something else.
~

 

[DavesnothereCA]

If that's really true - and I don't doubt you - it is possible that a pickup too close to the strings, especially the neck pickup probably, could cause it. And maybe it only affects the E string because it has more steel in it.

I say this because I can't think of anything else. For example, if the other strings at the 5th fret are in tune then that fret is in the right place!

You are using a good quality digital tuner, right? (I use iStroboSoft, for Apple or Android.)

~
It would be easy to test.

Lower the E side of the pickup a bunch, and if it helps with the reading, then gradually raise it again, until just before the problem returns.

Trying another tuner or two would also be easy.

I personally am pleased with the TC Electronic clip-on model these days.

A bit pricey, but it works well, and I bought it after trying one owned by one of our other band members.
~

 

[DavesnothereCA]

After hours of messing with it I managed to get the intonation set but somehow the A on the fifth fret of the E is still out of tune. I don't understand it at all. It's always slightly flat. Just that note. The strings are brand new La Bella's. This is the .96 E

~
I forget now - Are those the same strings as when you first posted about this ?

And if yes, have you tried any others at least for the E ?

Some of my/our posts have not received a direct response from you, so it is hard to know what all you have done.
~

 

[duanev3]

So yesterday I took my nomad nut files and regrooved the nut slots (at a slight angle) on my Hofner, and dusted off the electronics. I should had did this when I changed to the LABELLE tape wounds but my laziness got the best of me as I was done with the setup after cleaning the years of crud off the fretboard and off-gassing residue off the pup covers and bridge.

Low and Behold not only does the bass play better but it now intonates perfectly and cleared up a couple of dead spots.

So thanks for making this post, so I now can play my Hofner more often as it was becoming a wall ornament.