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LaBella Hofner strings, not so Bella

G

gip111

Nov 13, 2012
587
531
#1
A few days ago while tuning my Hofner Club I broke one of the strings (my fault LaBella 039-096) they were only a couple of years old and sounded fine...what to be expected from these strings. Ordered a new set from MF installed them and they are as dead as dead can be! The E which is usually somewhat dead sounding is actually low in volume and totally dead and so is the G. This is not consistent with the previous set on the bass or any other sets I have ordered in the past.
Im wondering if anyone here has come across this?
At this point Im also considering trying something else on this bass that isn't as "thuddy".
Advice appreciated.
 
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#2
That's a bummer. I'm not too schooled in my flats but I know ghs, fender, and Rotosound seem to get praise on their flats. If you are ok spending money there's thomastic infeld and maxima. Labella has been around a long time and I'm surprised you got a lemon. Good luck. If you're looking to try something different I would suggest some pressure wound strings like Rotosound solo bass or maybe even tapewound strings. There's nothing wrong with trying something outside the box. I bet even some Dr pure blues (pure nickel rounds) would sound nice.
 
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#3
Sorry to hear about your problem. La Bella has usually been pretty good about making problems right. I would try contacting them, and see what they can do for you. As for other strings? The combination of your bass's scale and flatwound strings, pretty much guarantees a large amount of "thuddy". However... there's no rule against putting roundwound strings on it. TI JR 324 Jazz Rounds should fit your Hofner. I have them on my short scale Gretsch Broadkaster. It also has a trapeze tailpiece and a floating bridge; the TIJR's fit just fine. Because of the Gretsch's pickups (more suited to a guitar), I was afraid they'd be really bright, but that isn't the case. They definitely are not "thuddy". There's a lot of top end, and a whole lot of mids, but the bottom end is still there. Especially on this hollow body bass. They are definitely not cheap, but word is they last a really long time - for rounds. Other rounds? I think Pyramid makes some that would work, but other than that? I have no idea; the killer might be finding them in the necessary "medium scale" length. Although... GHS's short scale strings are pretty long; they might work. In any case; I'd talk to La Bella first. Good luck, whatever you settle on...:cool:
 
#6
michael_t said:
If I were in your position, I would try the Dunlop Flats. Both 45-105 and 40-100 sets come in "medium scale" with 34" winding length (ball end to silk), which is what your bass needs.
Click to expand...

Hmm, just saw this, never heard of them but I ordered a set of D'addario chromes medium scale, see how that goes. I will definitely consider the Dunlop's. Thanks!
 
#8
GIBrat51 said:
Although... GHS's short scale strings are pretty long; they might work.
Click to expand...

I bought a Hofner Icon B Bass (their import violin bass) to prototype the winding length when I made the switch to 32.75" years ago. That length should just clear the nut before tuning up.


GIBrat51 said:
In any case; I'd talk to La Bella first. Good luck, whatever you settle on...:cool:
Click to expand...

This. The LaBella ppl are awesome, and willing to make things right.
 
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#10
gip111 said:
My next question was going to be how would you compare them to the Chromes? But that pretty much I think answers it?
Click to expand...

The Chromes are definitely stiffer in feel. Also, I've never liked the way the "regular light" set, 45-65-80-100, is unbalanced in tension. I would much prefer either 40-60-80-100 or 45-65-85-105. The Chromes start out bright, or even "clanky", when new; the Dunlop Flats are smoother in mids but with good clarity and definition.
 
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#11
gip111 said:
A few days ago while tuning my Hofner Club I broke one of the strings (my fault LaBella 039-096) they were only a couple of years old and sounded fine...what to be expected from these strings. Ordered a new set from MF installed them and they are as dead as dead can be! The E which is usually somewhat dead sounding is actually low in volume and totally dead and so is the G. This is not consistent with the previous set on the bass or any other sets I have ordered in the past.
Im wondering if anyone here has come across this?
At this point Im also considering trying something else on this bass that isn't as "thuddy".
Advice appreciated.
Click to expand...
I've put La Bellas on several of my basses for years, never had a breakage or a faulty string. The bass can be just as much at fault for breakages and dead strings as the strings themselves.
 
#12
gip111 said:
A few days ago while tuning my Hofner Club I broke one of the strings (my fault LaBella 039-096) they were only a couple of years old and sounded fine...what to be expected from these strings. Ordered a new set from MF installed them and they are as dead as dead can be! The E which is usually somewhat dead sounding is actually low in volume and totally dead and so is the G. This is not consistent with the previous set on the bass or any other sets I have ordered in the past.
Im wondering if anyone here has come across this?
At this point Im also considering trying something else on this bass that isn't as "thuddy".
Advice appreciated.
Click to expand...
I have the heavier set of these on my Kay speed demon and they are very good across the set. Maybe ask LaBella to replace the string?
 
#17
michael_t said:
The Chromes are definitely stiffer in feel. Also, I've never liked the way the "regular light" set, 45-65-80-100, is unbalanced in tension. I would much prefer either 40-60-80-100 or 45-65-85-105. The Chromes start out bright, or even "clanky", when new; the Dunlop Flats are smoother in mids but with good clarity and definition.
Click to expand...

School me on balanced/unbalanced tension, I don't see a lot of difference in thickness between the Chromes and the Dunlops. If it is thickness that determines tension, 45-100 seems like a closer ratio than 40-60-80-100 or 45-65-85-105.
 
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#18
gip111 said:
School me on balanced/unbalanced tension, I don't see a lot of difference in thickness between the Chromes and the Dunlops. If it is thickness that determines tension, 45-100 seems like a closer ratio than 40-60-80-100 or 45-65-85-105.
Click to expand...

Dunlop doesn't publish the tension info on any of their strings, so let me use the D'A XL Nickels as examples for comparison purposes.

(These figures are based on "long scale".)

EXL170, 45-65--80-100:

G 045 - 42.52 lbs.
D 065 - 48.35
A 080 - 40.05
E 100 - 34.72

EXL165, 45-65-85-105:

G 045 - 42.52 lbs.
D 065 - 48.35
A 085 - 45.34
E 105 - 38.08

EXL170BT, 45-60-80-107:

G 045 - 42.52 lbs.
D 060 - 40.86
A 080 - 40.05
E 107 - 39.45
 
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#20
I have heard that the Hofner necks don't like a lot of tension, which is why there are "Hofner" string sets. When I bought my used Club many years ago, the neck was slightly twisted, and I believe it was due to strings that were too heavy. It now wears the LaBella Hofner set and sounds great.

Contact MF or LaBella - they will likely replace the strings. T.I. was really great at replacing a bad B string, and wanted the bad one back to see what went wrong. Strange for your whole set to be bad, but I suppose anything can happen.
 

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