How to correctly position the bridge on your Hofner Violin Bass

Adjusting the bridge correctly into the correct position is key to keeping your Violin Bass in tune.
To celebrate Paul McCartney's 80th Birthday I've made a series of videos using the bass he made famous. Check out the playlist here:
• Paul McCartney Hofner ...
Here's the string gauge video that I mentioned:
• Are you using the righ...
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#hofner #paulmccartney #paulmccartneybass #mccartneybass #hofnerbass #violinbass #hofnerviolinbass #bridgeposition #bridgeheight #guitarsetup #basssetup #hofner500/1 #hofner5001 #guitarslikenoother

[@ConstantineIsslamow]

Thank you for sharing with us.

[@DevilAndSons]

It's a pleasure. Thanks for watching and commenting.

[@electricwave8710]

thanks a lot,just bought an hofner violin bass (left) and this videos is really good for setting

[@DevilAndSons]

Thanks for watching and commenting, I'm glad the video was helpful

[@SpinesAndSplines]

Thanks for this video! I bought one of the Harley Benton fretless violin basses a few months ago, and I got lazy and have just been playing it with the factory setup since then, in part because it's fretless, so I've just been using my ears for intonation, and then the DIY Kit Challenge came along and I got distracted. Picked it up again a few days ago though and I plan on doing a proper setup now. :)

[@DevilAndSons]

Well I'm very glad I have been of help. I really enjoyed that competition, such a great range of entries.

[@SMMPUK]

Love it! I am gonna avidly watch all the videos about it as this bass it’s been my dream since I was a child :)

[@DevilAndSons]

So glad to hear that. It definitely is one of those instruments that is unique and something people can fall in love with.

[@sj_-_]

Great video. Just this morning I re-set up my Hofner Club bass, which has the same bridge system. I'd been having a problem with the E and A vibrating against the bridge because of the saddle being in the furthest back slots. As an experiment I markef where the saddles were on the bridge (intonation was fine, put all the saddles in the slot nearest the pick up and then lined up the saddles with the marks. It's angled slightly towards the tailpiece at the E string -rather than the G string as normal- but the intonation is fine and the buzzing has gone.

[@DevilAndSons]

That's great to hear, thanks for sharing. I can't believe I didn't mention the slots on the bridge and changing the saddles around!

[@Evan_Kersey]

Oh man, thank you so much

[@DevilAndSons]

It's a pleasure

[@MrLouo]

I’ve had good luck with moving those saddles to different slots on the top of the bridge. I’m pretty sure that’s why those groves are there

[@DevilAndSons]

You are 100% right, I can't believe I didn't mention that. Thanks for commenting.

[@sfrilix1781]

Should the whole bridge be in the 15 inches or just the end

[@DevilAndSons]

The aim is for the middle to be at the start, so you can move it to adjust for intonation. I stupidly didn't mention in this video that you will probably be able to move the white saddle parts and move them too for extra compensation for the intonation. Does that make sense and answer your question?

[@TotalSinging]

I can listen to this type of English accent all day.

[@DevilAndSons]

Ha, thanks. I have plenty to keep you occupied.

[@lrvogt1257]

Good tip. Can you tell me what the pitch angle of the neck is relative to the body and the pitch of the head stock relative to the neck? I can't deem to find those anywhere. Thanks

[@DevilAndSons]

Thanks. I'm afraid I can't. If you use Facebook there are a couple of hofner violin bass fan groups that will be full of people that can tell you, and probably let you know of there are variations between different production models.

[@lrvogt1257]

@@DevilAndSons : I dumped Facebook years ago but thanks.

[@DevilAndSons]

I basically keep it for the guitar groups.

[@joshuasprings6927]

What about the height of the bridge? How do i know how to set that

[@DevilAndSons]

That's part of the setup, often called setting the action or string height. I have a video on how to set up a guitar with a chapter on how to set the action. I'll link it below. Essentially it's exactly the same on bass, a matter of taste for the player. I would suggest 2.5mm for the low E at the 12th fret and 2mm fir the G is a g9od starting point. That will make sense after watching the video.

[@DevilAndSons]

Here's the video. Go to the action/string height chapter. kzbin.info/www/bejne/nKenXqSpgpijn7M

[@borgonianevolution]

Oh that tail piece is a fiddly one to get perfect. Oh and just a heads up.. your strings are on upside down 🤣 😜

[@DevilAndSons]

Honestly, every time I work on a left handed instrument I get very confused. Also reverse headstocks- I have twice put the decal on upside-down on them.

[@borgonianevolution]

@@DevilAndSons On my first GGBO I had the body on the bench face down and drilled the strap button hole on the wrong horn haha

[@DevilAndSons]

I shouldn't laugh but mistakes like that are so easily done.

[@brian.f09]

Great video - thanks! On my Greco - Violin bass (Hofner knockoff), all the strings, except the E, are resting on the backside of the bridge between the saddles and the tailpiece. I imagine the strings should only make contact with the fret wire saddles, not the bridge too. Do you think this affects the sound? I lowered the bridge/action as far as possible, but they’re still touching the bridge. I'm not even sure if sanding that area of the bridge would provide enough clearance. Any thoughts or suggestions? Thanks!

[@DevilAndSons]

Thanks for watching. I actually have a section about that in the middle of my video on a guitar bridge that works in a similar way kzbin.info/www/bejne/ipKqpX-FmayJgK8 Is your tailpiece resting on the body? You should be able to angle it so it's raised which will help with the break angle coming off of the saddles.

[@brian.f09]

@@DevilAndSons Thanks for the reply and video link. What you describe in the video about the break point coming off the saddles and hitting the bridge is exactly what's happening. However, I can't set the angle of the tailpiece because it's a hinge (like the tailpieces on a Epi Casino & Hofner). I suppose if the only thing I need to be concerned about is breaking strings, and it's not impacting the sound, then I guess it's okay... Thanks again!

[@DevilAndSons]

@brian.f09 I don't see ot will be an issue, but from looking at photos of the Greco online they are normally raised tailpieces, I.e. the hinge lifts it far enough above the body that the break angle is big enough to not touch the bridge. Anyway, I think you are right and it will be OK.

[@bazzrik5426]

Hi...I was wondering, are those Rotosound TruBass strings? If so, what scale length?

[@DevilAndSons]

They were supplied my client who owns the bass. They are Pyramid Black Tape Nylon Set 648/1. According to him they are perfect for most hollow and acoustic basses for the warm donk type sound.

[@Tuneman-iy8og]

I've got a very dull (no sustain) E string and tried all of these steps with no luck. Moving the bridge also does not affect intonation for me according to my tuner, im using a boss TU-2 pedal for that. What could be wrong with my höfner?

[@DevilAndSons]

Sorry for the delay in responding. Is the e string playing clearly or catching at all when you play (I.e. are you getting any fret buzz)? One fiddly and time consuming thing you could try is swapping your e string to a different position and seeing if it still happens there, as one cause of dull strings is just that they need replacing. If it's happening in another position (still tuned to e of course) then it isn't anything to do with where the string is but much more likely to be the string itself. Even on a new bass the strings could have been cheap and on it for ages.

[@benja___t]

When i bought my hofner like 2-3 years ago i had the same problem. It was a dead string. I bought a new set (Labela 760FBHB2) and problem solved!

[@saboteur1001]

Thanks for this interesting trick. Will surely try it. P.S. If it's not songs, the Britain English seems some different language to me. I perceive it with a significant effort. Anyone else?

[@DevilAndSons]

It's a pleasure. Where are you from? I know I talk noticeable slowly and pretty clear because of my background working in education and Public speaking, but still have my accent which includes some non-king's English pronunciations.

[@saboteur1001]

@@DevilAndSons I'm not American, but I'm kinda used to American language so much that sometimes, when I hear British speech, it seems some different language to me. So I'm wondering if it's only me or anyone else feels the same :)

[@DevilAndSons]

I think it's different enough, bit then there are so many accents in both countries. I can't follow strong dialects in this country sometimes!

[@richardbeaton7324]

You're a hero , Thanks ! what height should the bridge be ?

[@DevilAndSons]

Everything is a personal choice but I would recommend setting the bridge so the lowest string is around 2mm higher than the 12th fret, and the top string is 1.5mm. Some people may go 2.5mm and 2mm, really depends on your style of playing. Always measure the bridge height by the height of the string above the frets and 12th fret is the ideal place to check.

[@richardbeaton7324]

@@DevilAndSons Amazing thank you ! , I've always preferred a very low action. Keep the videos coming , Take care!

[@DevilAndSons]

Thanks Richard. It's all personal taste. You can really keep lowering until you get fret buzz or notes chocking out, there is no exact answer to how high or low ot should be.

[@cometogether6033]

@@DevilAndSons o

[@DevilAndSons]

Cheers

[@user-lt8mo1kr7o]

I have a question I’m totally clueless when it comes to setups but I just got my hofner ignition bass today and the first fret for everything string is buzzing and I don’t know how to fix it

[@user-lt8mo1kr7o]

And also the action is way to low

[@DevilAndSons]

Thanks for commenting. Hopefully we can work it out. Is it just at the first fret and nowhere else? Sometimes raising the string height can resolve that, it may only be a slight adjustment that you need to do. Do the strings feel to you like raising the height of them from the frets would be OK or they already as high as you want them? Sometimes adjusting the truss rod can resolve this. I normally try the string height first unless it's already high or you want to keep it low. It's also possible there is a problem with the actual first or second fret. That would be something that is harder to fix without the right tools.

[@user-lt8mo1kr7o]

@@DevilAndSonsyes it just buzzes on the first fret of every string

[@DevilAndSons]

Do you feel ok to try and slightly adjust the string height (I.e raise the bridge) to see if that makes a difference?

[@user-lt8mo1kr7o]

@@DevilAndSons Yeah I’ll try that out and see if It works, thanks for the help btw

[@WayBackNowLetsGo]

At best is getting it close enough. String height is critical as with length.

[@DevilAndSons]

They can both effect each other too.

[@user-ge3oy1vl6v]

Hi. is it possible to take off the mounting ring for the pickups in the ignition so it can look like McCartneys

[@DevilAndSons]

These pickups are only held in place with the mounting rings and without them would only be loose. Does McCartney not have mounting rings on his, or are you talking about a different model?

[@DevilAndSons]

I had a quick look for an Ignition without mounting rings on the Internet and couldn't find a photo, so I think they probably have pickups that work in the same way, which would mean if he had pickups without a mounting ring they were either a different pickup model or had been altered in someway.

[@user-ge3oy1vl6v]

@@DevilAndSons McCartney has a mounting ring but its very thin and i want my ignition to look more like his.

[@user-ge3oy1vl6v]

@@DevilAndSons idk if its a mounting ring but there is a black thing under the grey pickup

[@DevilAndSons]

I reckon you could probably buy replacement rings in the size you want, they are probably too fragile to try and sand down to make thinner. But yes, they should come out of the mounting ring easily if it's the same system as in this video.

[@stephenstrings]

Much easier and more accurate to tune the 19th. fret harmonic to the stopped 19th. fret. The Hofner saddle pieces are useless for adjusting the intonation . Just one of the silly design elements of Hofner instruments.

[@DevilAndSons]

That's interesting, I've never heard anyone say that before. As for the saddle pieces, it's so interesting that certain designs remain despite not being the greatest, potentially I think because of the tradition and people loving the vintage look.

[@TRICK-OR-TREAT236]

THAT BRIDGE IS A REAL P.O.S. THAT HOFNER SHOULD HAVE FIXED DECADES AGO. THE ONLY CORRECT AND ACCURATE WAY IS WITH A FIXED BRIDGE AND ADJUSTABLE SADDLES. SHAME ON YOU HOFNER.

[@DevilAndSons]

So many people won't accept that guitar design has progressed since the original models.

[@niallchurch2679]

You speeded up the sound so we didn't hear te octave higher sound!

[@DevilAndSons]

Oops. Thanks for pointing that out