LaBella Short Scale Bass Strings won't fit a Hofner?

[Jeff Zak]

To my dismay I purchased a set of short scale LeBella Deep Talking Bass and they are too short for a hofner. Anyone else find this out the hard way? They are about 1/8" too short, are the LaBella Beatle Bass strings longer than standard "short scale" strings? Guess I'll put the GHS strings back on, those were "short scale" and were fine.

 

[Pier_]

because LaBella makes the short scale with a winding lenght that fits the basses with normal bridge, like Musicmaster, Bronco or Danelectro Longhorn. for a hollow body with a stop-tail you need a bit more lenght, and they make the "beatles bass" sets with the exact lenght for hollowbodies with stoptail.

for other manufacturers you need to buy the medium-scale set (for example with Rotosound or D'Addario).

buy after getting informed

 

[SLaPiNFuNK]

No short scale strings will fit any Hofner. The Hofner is a "Short Scale" instrument but requires "Medium Scale" strings.

The La Bella Hofner sets if you measure them are 34" Ball to Silk which is the length of Medium Scale strings. If you do not want to use the La Bella Hofner Beatle Bass strings then you must use Medium Scale strings from La Bella and any other manufacturer...

(Except for DR, Thomastik-Infeld and Pyramid, their "Short Scale" strings are actually made 34", 35", and 35.5" lengths)

 

[Jeff Zak]

Anyone want a good deal on a set of LaBella Short scale strings (.039 ,056 .077 .096)?
The set on there now are GHS short scale flats, there is no silk and they fit fine. You live and learn I guess. Thanks guys.

 

[SLaPiNFuNK]

?

GHS flats should have silk on them... They now make Medium Scale flats that are suitable for a hofner... Interesting...

 

[FerruleCat]

Sorry about the trouble. I just bought a Rogue violin bass, so I can sympathize. I can recommend the LaBella Hofner flats in .039-.096. Bass Strings Online is backordered at the moment, but Just Strings has them.

 

[GIBrat51]

Yeah, as others have said, the Hofner needs longer strings than "standard" short scale basses do. In my experience, any bass with a trapeze tailpiece needs longer strings than the "scale" would indicate. Both my Rogue VB-100 and Starfire violin basses need mediums, as does my Epiphone EA-260. My Gretsch Broadkaster is actually pretty happy with long scale strings despite being a 30.5" scale bass. With the big acoustic body and a large headstock, it's a very long way from the tailpiece to the top tuners on that thing!