Low tension flats for a Beatle bass

[Fretless55]

On my Jazz and Precision I love my TI s.
I know they make a set for Beatle basses (the trapeze tailpiece make it a different sting length than a regular short scale).

I’m wondering if they’re any other choices.

I’m not afraid of floppy.

 

[michael_t]

La Bella Low Tension Flats "medium scale" (34.25" ball end to taper).

Dunlop Flats 40-100 "medium scale" (34" ball end to taper).

 

[FFTT]

La Bella Black Nylon Wraps for Hofner.

Preserving original frets in good condition.

 

[rogerbmiller]

La Bella Low Tension flats or DR legends would be my suggestions. The latter are not quite as low tension but very comfortable and have a great mellow tone out of the box.

 

[Iristone]

La Bella 760FHBB is also light gauge.

 

[iiipopes]

La Bella Low Tension flats or DR legends would be my suggestions. The latter are not quite as low tension but very comfortable and have a great mellow tone out of the box.

Yes, but they don't fit a Hofner bass. You need a scale length that fits both from the anchor point in the trapeze tailpiece to the tuners, and a leader that is smaller in diameter due to the construction of the Hofner tuners. That's why La Bella makes a specific Hofner set.

 

[rogerbmiller]

Yes, but they don't fit a Hofner bass. You need a scale length that fits both from the anchor point in the trapeze tailpiece to the tuners, and a leader that is smaller in diameter due to the construction of the Hofner tuners. That's why La Bella makes a specific Hofner set.

Didn't know that, good to know. Thanks.

 

[HaphAsSard]

DR Legend short-scale flats (SFL-45) *might* fit, depending on the length of the tailpiece. If you have the curved-line. "wrought-iron" style one found in Epiphone Violas, probably not; if the straight-element one, possibly yes. The length of the low E in the DR set is 33" ball to silk, after which the string may or may not have tapered adequately by the post. In other words, no guarantees, of course: one would have to take the risk.

 

[bassboysam]

The Pyramid hofner sets are great and not stiff like their long scale sets.

 

[Barton Lee]

DR Legend short-scale flats (SFL-45) *might* fit, depending on the length of the tailpiece. If you have the curved-line. "wrought-iron" style one found in Epiphone Violas, probably not; if the straight-element one, possibly yes. The length of the low E in the DR set is 33" ball to silk, after which the string may or may not have tapered adequately by the post. In other words, no guarantees, of course: one would have to take the risk.

I was able to make DR Legend short scale flats fit on my Hofner HCT 500/7 Verythin bass. The E string, though, was a real challenge to fit through the tiny hole on the E string tuner. I also stripped most of the silk from the ball end of the E string in order to get it fully seated, which it still wouldn't do immediately though eventually did. I thought the Legends worked well with the Hofner and preferred them to the medium scale D'Addario Chromes that I'd tried before.

I wasn't completely sold on the Legends however and decided to give the La Bella black nylon tapes (760NHBB) a try. I'd never used tapewound strings before and didn't know what to expect. I really like what I discovered using the tapes, which seem to me to bring the best of rounds and flats in one package. I hated the factory rounds that came with the Verythin but wanted more than flats were giving. I used the Hofner for a gig last week at a high-end jazz venue that had an Aguilar DB751 and matching 15" cabinet for the back line, and thought the Hofner sounded massive and clear with the La Bella tapes. I'm sold - for now, at least.