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Hofner violin tone in a 5 string?

#2
There's someone in China that makes a 5-string viola shaped bass. I've seen them on ebay and Aliexpress. Of course, I'm assuming the quality is commensurate to the price.
If you're talking about an existing 5-er, that may be tricky, as they are either 34 or 35 inch scale and the Hofners are 30". This has significant influence on the tone.
 
#6
I've checked out an Ibanez Artcore like the one above, with 1 Musicman like humbucker.
Thought it was an o.k. bass, but it didn't have the sound or the character of a Höfner violin bass.
It's probably the semi-hollow body constructiion, combined with a longer scale that cause these differences.

Anyway, I bought a real Höfner a while later.
 
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#7
I agree that the Ibanez doesn't quite do it. Missing some of that thump that you get from the hofner.

I don't think I'd take a chance on aliexpress. Maybe I just have to make a 4 string work. Not the biggest issue, but would certainly prefer a 5 if possible.
 
#8
Stempelloos said:
I've checked out an Ibanez Artcore like the one above, with 1 Musicman like humbucker.
Thought it was an o.k. bass, but it didn't have the sound or the character of a Höfner violin bass.
It's probably the semi-hollow body constructiion, combined with a longer scale that cause these differences.

Anyway, I bought a real Höfner a while later.
Click to expand...
Beg to differ: the short scale makes a significant difference.
 
#9
You're not going to get the true hofner sound unless you've got a short scale that is fully hollow. You might get away with a sound block under the bridge, but IMHO, part of the magic that makes hofners and other thin-bodied hollow bodies sound unique is the fully floating top that vibrates wildly.

My theory is that at least part of the unique tone is due to the fact that as the top vibrates the pickups themselves are shaking and the distance between the pickups and strings is fluctuating. With a solid or semi-hollow instrument you just don't get that or the same hollow tone.

All this to say, maybe an Ali, maybe find someone to make you one, maybe restring to BEAD, but there's not much to be had in terms of a readily available fully hollow 5 string.
 
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#10
I saw this one on aliexpress :

Semi Corps Creux 5 cordes Jazz BASS guitare Guitarra toutes les couleurs Accepter dans Guitare de Sports et loisirs sur AliExpress.com | Alibaba Group

but it doesn't say if it's a short scale or medium ... by the looks if the pics, I don't think it's a long scale. Any thoughts ????

BTW, I don't think this one is a short scale :

Bass Guitars Honey 5 Strings Violin Electric Bass New Arrival Wholesale Guitars Free Shipping dans Guitare de Sports et loisirs sur AliExpress.com | Alibaba Group

but I'm not sure ...

In any case, the orange/yellow one looks like a better build than the beatbass copy 5 string.

Thoughts ???
 
#11
AliExpress basses are too much risk for me. Could be nice, could be a POS.

The Eastwood Classic 5 ($650) looks like a possible option. TBer @B-Mac has one. Would love to hear a clip of this thing. Ed Friedland does a nice review of the Classic 4, but haven't seen much about the 5. If the 5 is anything like it should be close enough in tone to a Hofner for me.
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
EGClassic5_1090x.jpg


 
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#15
Ibanez make a two pickup Artcore bass in a 4 and 5 configuration. The guitarist in my band has the 4 string version, and it gets a good approximation of the tubby Violin bass tone. He played me some recordings and I figured he'd used a Hofner until he showed me the bass in question.
 
#17
zac2944 said:
Any ideas how I can get this tone on a five string? I love the percussive thud you get from basses like the violin. I hear it in other short scale hollow bodies too.
Click to expand...
I was looking for the same a few years ago. In the end I gave up trying to find one... then a 4 string Harley Benton Beatbass VS came up for sale just a couple of miles from me and it was so cheap, I thought it would be worth a go at converting it to 5 string.

So I did. Here it is... and yes it does have that Hofner tone and I love it. It's a proper hollow body, just a wood block which the neck is glued into, one underneath the bridge position like a large sound post and one at the end of the body where the string anchor plate screws in. I've also fitted an extra pick up, fitted a flexi piezo pickup under the bridge and ripped the frets out. I rearranged string anchoring to accommodate long scale strings so I have a wide choice available. It's currently fitted with a D'addario Chrome CB132 flatwound B string and a 4 string set of super cheapo ebay special 45-100 Adagio flatwounds which were surprisingly good and really suit this bass. It sounds awesome and plays amazingly, a 1mm action on the G string, much better than I expected. I still have some cosmetic bits to finish but it's giggable and attracting a lot of interest. More detail on my Facebook page

Fiveolin and rig.jpg
 
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#18
Great job 👍👍I have two Rogue’s and I’d like to make one of them into a fretless. Any clues on the best way to do that? By the way I picked up the next level Hoffner ignition 400 and did not like the sound at all acoustically. It may sound great plugged in, but I can’t tell the difference and when you’re practicing without an amp, the Rogue’s are great. The Hoffner didn’t seem truly hollow. The Rogues sound kind of like a ukulele when you practice them unplugged.… The only down thing that I found with them is when I take a solo they peter out in the high notes. Btw they’re incredibly cheap now I don’t know what’s going on but you can get them new for 120 bucks..
 
#19
mateybass said:
I was looking for the same a few years ago. In the end I gave up trying to find one... then a 4 string Harley Benton Beatbass VS came up for sale just a couple of miles from me and it was so cheap, I thought it would be worth a go at converting it to 5 string.

So I did. Here it is... and yes it does have that Hofner tone and I love it. It's a proper hollow body, just a wood block which the neck is glued into, one underneath the bridge position like a large sound post and one at the end of the body where the string anchor plate screws in. I've also fitted an extra pick up, fitted a flexi piezo pickup under the bridge and ripped the frets out. I rearranged string anchoring to accommodate long scale strings so I have a wide choice available. It's currently fitted with a D'addario Chrome CB132 flatwound B string and a 4 string set of super cheapo ebay special 45-100 Adagio flatwounds which were surprisingly good and really suit this bass. It sounds awesome and plays amazingly, a 1mm action on the G string, much better than I expected. I still have some cosmetic bits to finish but it's giggable and attracting a lot of interest. More detail on my Facebook page

View attachment 7090190
Click to expand...
Well done!
 
#20
I recommend Eastwood, too. Ibanez could work, too. Worst case scenario, you could tune a Höfner into BEAD.
The Aliexpress version should be called Grote. They look like slightly off knockoffs of Höfners, but their build quality doesn't inspire confidence.
I also don't recommend converting an existing Höfner - the polepieces won't align, and the string spacing would be VERY narrow!
 

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