Best strings/sound from my Hofner VB

[OutToPlayJazz]

Hi guys, I've been railroaded by my rock trio into doing a seperate 60's (*UHG!*) show & am looking for the best sound from my Hofner violin bass.

So far, I've rejected the awful Hofner flats that came with it and have been recycling rotosound rounds from my more "hifi" basses once they're not bright enough for funk playing, etc. That gives a very reasonable sound, but I was wondering if there were any really great sounding flats that aren't too "thuddy" or dull that any of you can recommend?

I'm running the Hofner through my mini rig (Ashdown Mag 300 head & MarkBass traveller 2x10 cab) with the Fender Bassman emulator preset on my Zoom B2.

Any ideas?

[Hamster]

I suppose the LaBella Deep Talking Flats for the Hofner (760FHB) fit the bill.

If they're too dull for your ears, perhaps Elites stainless Groundwounds which may give the best of both worlds?

Hamster

[Alun]

I've got LaBella Beatle Bass flats on my Alden violin bass and they sound great to me. I haven't got an isolated clip if how they sound but if you go to [url="http://www.myspace.com/merlinsgavel"]http://www.myspace.com/merlinsgavel[/url] and give "First Draft" a listen, that's the bass in question.

Cheers,
Alun

[mr pablo]

D'addario half rounds are a good option IMO

[BassBod]

The Thomastik flats (32" medium scale) should fit and should sound musical rather than dead, but you may have to bring up the bridge height to compensate for their floppy feel....

BB

[Guest]

Don't know if they would fit but after an emergency purchase i have become a big fan of Ernie ball flat wounds, quite bright and punchy ,very smooth overall both in feel and sound, good medium tension in .100 gauge. Give them a try on something

Edited January 3, 2008 by steve-norris

[Happy Jack]

Come over to Hofner Hounds and take a look at [url="http://hofner.co.uk/smf/index.php?topic=155.0"]http://hofner.co.uk/smf/index.php?topic=155.0[/url]

[The Burpster]

D'addario Chromes are flats that are quite bright whilst new, and 1/2 rounds sound more like round than flats.

Either are excellent strings.

[Jean-Luc Pickguard]

I love thomastik jazz flats and use them wherever I can. I have JF344 long scale ones on my 34" basses.
The JF324 short scaleset should fit the hofner - I've only tried them on my daughter's 32" daisyrock so far, but I have a set ordered for my Mustang.

[OutToPlayJazz]

Thanks for all the suggestions, guys... I've actually put on a set of Rotosound jazzbass 77's (best I could get at short notice!) and they seem pretty smooth and full sounding, but I'm finding I really do prefer the sound of the Hofner on rounds. I know it's not the historically correct sound for the instrument, but rounds seem to give the Hofner an extra edge. Anyone found the same?

[Alun]

My violin bass copy had rounds in it when I got it and they did give an almost piezo like "zing" to the sound. They sounded pretty nice too. Personally I prefer flats but then I bought it sound thuddy and vintage

Cheers
Alun

[basskit_case]

Any further thoughts on this, currently have rounds on my contemporary, they were there when I bought it.

I am after flats, just dont know which would be best, looking for the deep, thuddy vintage sound.

Cheers

[basskit_case]

[quote name='Johnston' post='1024796' date='Nov 15 2010, 04:19 PM']I got the hofners on my Epi can't get much more thuddyier[/quote]

Sweet, but the only place I have seen them for sale has them at[url="http://www.alangregory.co.uk/music/Hofner_Electric_Bass_Guitar_Strings.html"] £60[/url] , any cheaper opens?