Hofner Violin bass and Thomastik 324h flats

[W1_Pro]

Morning all,

I have recently procured (at eyewatering expense) a set of these flats to go on my Hofner. As we all know the Hofner has very specific machine heads with tiny little string holes in them, rather than slits. I was happily stringing up the bass until I got to the .96 low E. It does not fit through the hole in the machine head shaft. I'm struggling here. These strings I thought, were meant to be for Hofner basses.  Can anyone shed any light on this? Am I doing something stupid? have I missed something? Help!

 

[Jean-Luc Pickguard]

The Thomastik 324h set are the hofner-specific set, so this will be a manufacturing defect. I'd suggest contacting Thomastik-Infeld: https://www.thomastik-infeld.com/en/contact

[W1_Pro]

Apparently they are Hofner specific, but not if you have the wrong sort of Hofner. I just got this mail from a very nice gentleman called Adrian at Barnes & Mullins, Thomastiks UK distibutor:

 

"Hi Stuart

 

You are indeed correct – the Thomastik Hofner strings are specific to the German produced Hofner basses and will only fit the German instruments.

 

The modern series/ignition etc – are made in China and have smaller diameter machine head (holes) and will require Hofner branded CT strings for this reason.

 

I hope this helps"

 

To be fair, Thomastik do point this out on their website on the 324H page, but like most people I suspect, I never got beyond the 'Hofner specific'' strapline at the top of the page...

[W1_Pro]

I might price up a set of German machine heads. I shudder to think how much they'll be, but it seems to me that having a bass that will accept only one specific (and frequently unavailable) type of string-even if they are flats which don't need replacing often- is a real pain.

[W1_Pro]

I should have mentioned at the top of the thread that I have the Chinese built modern series bass with the centre block, and very nice it is too.

 

[Len_derby]

That’s a pain. Is there any chance of reaming through the hole on the machine head to increase its diameter? A maker or repairer of jewellery may have a drill bit of the correct size.

[miles'tone]

23 minutes ago, Len_derby said:

That’s a pain. Is there any chance of reaming through the hole on the machine head to increase its diameter? A maker or repairer of jewellery may have a drill bit of the correct size.

Or just use an appropriate size metal drill bit.

[W1_Pro]

That, in theory is not a bad idea. Its only the one machine head (the E) and it doesn't even need to be that much bigger. The worst thing that can happen is I ruin a single (chinese) Hofner machine head....I'll have a look at the shaft of the thing and see how viable it is to do.

[RichT]

It's misleading of them to suggest that the bass will only accept Hofner CT strings, there are several LaBella Hofner sets you can buy which will fit it fine, such as these flats, these rounds, and these tapewounds, all of which I'd recommend over the Hofner CT sets. 

 

I've currently got light gauge Ernie Ball Cobalt flats on my HCT Hofner (also Chinese) which are long scale strings but crucially fit through the tuners ok, and I've seen other people report putting Pyramid flats on them with no issue. The thing with Thomastiks not fitting the Chinese made models seems to be a deliberate choice, other companies can manage it fine. 

 

Edit:  Remembered that I've also successfully fitted Rotosound RS77S flats and GHS 7700 Pressurewounds to my Chinese HCT in the past as well. Both these sets are listed as short scale, but I can confirm the winding lengths do fit Hofners correctly if you want a few more options. 

Edited Saturday at 15:48 by RichT
Extra info, and clarity

[luckman67]

On 17/01/2025 at 15:14, W1_Pro said:

That, in theory is not a bad idea. Its only the one machine head (the E) and it doesn't even need to be that much bigger. The worst thing that can happen is I ruin a single (chinese) Hofner machine head....I'll have a look at the shaft of the thing and see how viable it is to do.

When I had my HCT 500/1 one of the machine heads broke, & I bought a replacement set and changed all four at the same time. I still have the original 3 machine heads which you are welcome too. that way you could experiment without ruining yours straight off.

[W1_Pro]

That is very kind of you. I would be happy to take you up on the offer. I shall PM you.

 

[W1_Pro]

On 17/01/2025 at 21:55, RichT said:

It's misleading of them to suggest that the bass will only accept Hofner CT strings, there are several LaBella Hofner sets you can buy which will fit it fine, such as these flats, these rounds, and these tapewounds, all of which I'd recommend over the Hofner CT sets. 

 

I've currently got light gauge Ernie Ball Cobalt flats on my HCT Hofner (also Chinese) which are long scale strings but crucially fit through the tuners ok, and I've seen other people report putting Pyramid flats on them with no issue. The thing with Thomastiks not fitting the Chinese made models seems to be a deliberate choice, other companies can manage it fine. 

 

Edit:  Remembered that I've also successfully fitted Rotosound RS77S flats and GHS 7700 Pressurewounds to my Chinese HCT in the past as well. Both these sets are listed as short scale, but I can confirm the winding lengths do fit Hofners correctly if you want a few more options. 

So thats interesting. I've tried a set of harley Benton shortscale flats, and they didnt fit. With the cobalts....did you get the silk onto the tuning head? 

[RichT]

3 hours ago, W1_Pro said:

So thats interesting. I've tried a set of harley Benton shortscale flats, and they didnt fit. With the cobalts....did you get the silk onto the tuning head? 

 

Yes, Hofners technically require medium scale 32" strings, so most sets listed as short scale are too short, but those Rotosound and GHS sets happen to be wound long enough to fit. The LaBellas I've linked to are sets made specifically to fit Hofners. 

 

The Cobalts are 40-95 gauge and they fit through the tuners no problem, but as they're 34" strings then some of the wound string is also wrapped around the posts. That doesn't bother me, and the sound is exactly what I was looking for so I've stuck with them. 

 

[shoulderpet]

On 17/01/2025 at 11:22, W1_Pro said:

Morning all,

I have recently procured (at eyewatering expense) a set of these flats to go on my Hofner. As we all know the Hofner has very specific machine heads with tiny little string holes in them, rather than slits. I was happily stringing up the bass until I got to the .96 low E. It does not fit through the hole in the machine head shaft. I'm struggling here. These strings I thought, were meant to be for Hofner basses.  Can anyone shed any light on this? Am I doing something stupid? have I missed something? Help!

 

I found them a very tight fit,I was able to get the E string on by very slowly pushing just enough of the string through the tuner to be able to wind it but it was a tight fit.

[shoulderpet]

7 hours ago, W1_Pro said:

So thats interesting. I've tried a set of harley Benton shortscale flats, and they didnt fit. With the cobalts....did you get the silk onto the tuning head? 

You will likely need medium scale due to the extra length of the tailpiece.

[W1_Pro]

6 minutes ago, shoulderpet said:

You will likely need medium scale due to the extra length of the tailpiece.

They were long enough, but the E string wouldnt fit through the hole in the tuning peg. Infuriating.

[luckman67]

8 hours ago, W1_Pro said:

That is very kind of you. I would be happy to take you up on the offer. I shall PM you.

 

PM Sent.

[W1_Pro]

OK, so its done..kind of. I have reamed out the hole on the e string tuner using a 3.5mm HSS bit and my trusty Makita on a slow setting. It seems to be OK. I'll string it up just now and report back but the Thomastik low E (.96) now definitely fits through the hole.