couple ?'s about Epi Viola n Hofner Icon

retrorod77 · #1 09-30-2010, 02:45 PM

I'm new to bass and well these Violin shaped basses get my attention. Now i have tried the Hofner Icon at my nearest Guitar Center and well for me it sounded great but then again i don't have a pro ear for how the sound should sound like, so i maybe wrong or w/e but anyways. I couldn't try a Epi Viola because weird enough they didn't have them not even one to try out so yeah.

Now i have done some research on both and i have read that the viola has a better built quality then the hofner but that the hofner has a better sound? I want to know that if you equip both basses with La Bella flats would they sound equally the same? i mean if anyone has tried them both what's your opinion?

another thing i wanted to ask is about the china and indonesia models for the hofner. I've heard since they started to make them in indonesia they are better than their china brothers and wanted to see if this was true?

precision punk · #2 09-30-2010, 05:02 PM

I tried the Epiphone Viola at GC and couldn't put it down! Man if I had the money there, I would of walked out with it. The tone was really warm, woody and full with rounds! I can imagine how great it would sound with La Bella Flats.The build quality was amazing for the price tag. Sorry to say I have never tried the Hofner Icon but if it were up to me I would go with the Epiphone. It also has a more appealing finish to me. I think there wouldn't be a huge difference in the two as far as tone but the Epiphone Viola did sound and feel very good to me. You might want to call you're local GC to see if they are getting any Viola basses anytime soon.

**DeanT** · #3 09-30-2010, 05:04 PM

I hate to say it, but do search. There are a ton of threads on Epi vs. Hofner.

By the way, I have an Icon and I think it is better than an Epi Violin in all ways.

rockscott · #4 09-30-2010, 05:44 PM

Im very happy with my 5 day old viola!

dave-chaulk · #5 09-30-2010, 07:36 PM

a viola was the first bass that I actually completely owned - two or so years in, hah.

I love it dearly, though I admit I mainly play it for the beatles. but I play a whole lot of beatles.

slap on some medium d'addario chromes, and your set.

dave-chaulk · #6 09-30-2010, 07:37 PM

oh, don't forget the higher action.

RonChase · #7 10-01-2010, 08:01 AM

last year I owned 2 of the Hofners one Black Cherry and one transparent green I scored a Epi Viola for 70 bucks at a pawn shop and came into an ashdown 15 inch combo amp for a deuce.I traded te epi and ashdown for a guitar later on but I loved the viola and I will get another.I also love those hofners I have a LTD (looks like a Les Paul) and a Epi EBO and a jazz and Dean Acoustic electric,The sound seemed close but the tuners on the Epi were far better plus the Epi had a zero fret and normal knobs instead of the goofy switching system.Get both.After reading this I may step up my Quest for another Epi Viola in some ways it as better and it leaves me wondering if they had Epi violas back in the day maybe Macca would have prefered the Epi,we will never know

notverygood · #8 10-01-2010, 08:08 AM

I owned the Epi Viola not to long ago and I thought it was much better than than the Hofner. I had the La Bella flats on it and it sounded great. There is no doubt in my mind that the build quality and tone was better. JMO of course.

RickBlair · #9 10-01-2010, 07:44 PM

If you want to get into a hofner-style bass for very little $ check out a Douglas at rondomusic.com. The build quality is very good ( I really couldn't find anything to complain about on mine) and the price is very low. This style of bass isn't the best for all-around playing but with a set of flat or tapewound strings it works great in a big band setting if you don't want to use an upright.

Rick B.