Hofner string ID

[kurt]

Can anyone identify these flats that came with my Hofner?

The yarn is reddish orange with the E string yarn slightly more orange less red. They look a little too short as the yarn is coming over the 0 fret slightly. I put Pyramids on right after I got the bass but thought I might like a bit more brightness so I thought I'd try these again. They are way brighter/twangier than the pyramids but uneven. The G is deader than the rest and the D is twangier than the rest. Makes for an awkward transition. Plus there is a horrible rattle at the tailpiece. The yarn looks similar to the Labellas I have on my P bass but these strings sound brighter in comparison. Unless they sound better when settled in I'd like to know what they are so I won't order them again!

Thanks!

 

[michael_t]

Unless they sound better when settled in I'd like to know what they are so I won't order them again!

Instead of trying to find out what these are that you don't like just so you can avoid them in the future, wouldn't it be better to find out what you DO like and stick with them?

 

[kurt]

That is what I'm trying to do actually. The labellas are the other most common choice for hofners. I was considering ordering a set but if these are what I already have why not save the cash and get something else?

 

[GIBrat51]

2 things:
1. I can't say for sure, but those don't look like La Bellas to me - unless the bass was left out in the bright sun a loooong time. The silks on my La Bella flats are a very bright crimson, and look nothing like that...
2. Those strings are too short, whatever brand they are. That bass is a short scale bass - but it needs medium scale strings, because of the distance back to the tailpiece (which is common with trapeze tailpieces and short scale basses). The Pyramid strings that come on German Hofners are labeled "Short scale", but are actually medium scale length. IIRC, so are the TIs... Other brands call them what they are - medium scale. They will sit in the nut like they're supposed to.
So, get what you want; lots of folks do like the La Bellas. Personally, I have Roto 88 tapes (medium scale) on my violin bass; but honestly, any strings that are the right length would be an improvement over those...

Oh... what's up with the foam under the tailpiece? Did you put it there because of the rattle? The only bass/guitar I ever had with a trapeze tailpiece and a rattle is my Gretsch Broadkaster. I cured it by putting a thin piece of foam tape under the piece that bends around the bottom of the body, and is held on by the strap button screw. Worked like a charm...

 

[gary m]

Quite possibly LaBellas, but not the set that's made for the Hofner -- those silks are gray-blue with very thin ends. You might consider those, or a set of Pyramids. I've tried both and liked both.

 

[kurt]

Thanks for the replies!

Yeah, I figured they were the wrong size. that also probably has something to do with why I don't like them that much. They do sound better after being on the bass for a week though. Not bad at all! The rattle is still pretty annoying.

Yeah, the foam is to help the rattle but I had it on there before. A thing I carried over from playing upright. Mostly a way to prevent the after lengths/tailpiece from feeding back or producing unmusical sounds at high volume. I do that on my epiphone casino guitar too. Not sure how much it actually helps but seems to make sense.

I'll probably put the pyramids back on.

I was wondering about tapes though. GIBrat51, what don't you like about the rotosounds? I kind of liked em on my P bass. Have you tried the labella black tapes?