Hofner-(not just Beatle Basses)-Group Part 2 - Page 9

rfslick · #**161** 12-28-2012, 10:53 AM

+1000
I have an Ignition Club, Ignition Violin and bought a new 500/1 in '67 and a '68 in about '70. I sold both German basses because I was afraid I would destroy them as they felt fragile. The Ignition basses feel much more like a Gibson 330, fully hollow, but much more solid, while sounding acoustic. They are made of slightly thicker veneer and have a sound block beneath the bridge, about 3/4 by 1 inch.
Check out this video of how the German Hofners are constructed. They are not carved top as they used to be, they now have several veneers, as you will see in the video. Still far too expensive.
http://youtu.be/qCOycca1ezo

Pimpernel Smith · #**162** 12-28-2012, 12:14 PM

bassplayer8953:

I second that. I owned 5 German Hofner basses, and sold them off. Today, I own a Hofner Ignition violin bass, and I love it. Pyramid Gold flat strings do it for me.

rfslick · #**163** 12-28-2012, 09:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassplayer8953

...in short, if you want a German Hofner, save up and buy a German Hofner. An Icon/Ignition will never be a German 500/1, no matter how many parts you color or replace. And not the biggest deal anyway; after 25+ years of owning a German Hofner, I sold/traded it: no regrets. When the Hofner bug bit me again, I bought an Icon; very good clone, without the outrageous cost of a German instrument.[/b]

+1000 again. I also bought a new Rogue VB100 this last July (7/12). These are now fantastic instruments. They used to be cut out of a block of plywood, with sides that were about 3/4 inch thick. The sides and back are now the same veneer as the top and back. The color is very well done. It has kerfing all around the seams inside like an acoustic guitar. I play it interchangably with my Hofner Ignition, and guess what? They sell for $229 all day long. Last time I looked, they were on sale for $219. A fantastic buy!

odysseios · #**164** 12-29-2012, 01:51 AM

If Hofner wouldn't build his instruments by hand and with quality woods, sure the cost will be lower.
Chinese CT are industrially made in a Peking official Hofner facility and their cost is lowered. Same german specs (eye is pleased, not a background point of view), german made neck, same german electronics, a lot of people having both chinese and germans says same sound.
So Hofner put inside of CTs the notorious sustain block, otherwise the german production would risk the collapse.

boynamedsuse · #**165** 12-29-2012, 08:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by odysseios

If Hofner wouldn't build his instruments by hand and with quality woods, sure the cost will be lower.
Chinese CT are industrially made in a Peking official Hofner facility and their cost is lowered. Same german specs (eye is pleased, not a background point of view), german made neck, same german electronics, a lot of people having both chinese and germans says same sound.
So Hofner put inside of CTs the notorious sustain block, otherwise the german production would risk the collapse.

I prefer the sustain block you get in the Contemporary. More sustain and less feedback (at least in theory). It also has some heft while still being lighter in weight than a slab body bass. Nice balance too. My Club is the only bass I have with truly zero neck dive.

rfslick · #**166** 12-29-2012, 08:22 AM

The CT models are absolutely gorgeous! The colors and the three piece neck are beautiful. I'm jealous of the neck, but the only one who would ever see it would be me. All that said, I've never had an instance of feed back with either my Ignition Club or Ignition Violin basses in a variety of playing situations. The major differences I see are the German style pickups and surrounds and the three piece neck. The sounds are very close.

odysseios · #**167** 12-29-2012, 08:45 AM

Pickups/frames are not only german style, they are such the same of the 2000€ basses!

And about the 3 piece necks, i known from an unguarded Hofner employee they are all made in Germany.

rfslick · #**168** 12-29-2012, 10:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by odysseios

Pickups/frames are not only german style, they are such the same of the 2000€ basses!

And about the 3 piece necks, i known from an unguarded Hofner employee they are all made in Germany.

Are you saying that CT's and Ignitions are all made in Germany? If this is true, why in the world would they put a 'made in Indonesia' sticker on them?

odysseios · #**169** 12-29-2012, 10:18 AM

I am saying 2 parts of the CT are made in Germany:
1) the pickups (and relative frame)
2) the neck
According on what told me the Hofner employee, only 3 piece necks are all made in Germany. Ignition has a 1 piece neck, and is entirely made in Indonesia; maybe his pickups/electronics are made in China.

rfslick · #**170** 12-29-2012, 10:29 AM

Thanks for the clarification.

Mastermold · #**171** 12-29-2012, 10:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by odysseios

I am saying 2 parts of the CT are made in Germany:
1) the pickups (and relative frame)
2) the neck
According on what told me the Hofner employee, only 3 piece necks are all made in Germany. Ignition has a 1 piece neck, and is entirely made in Indonesia; maybe his pickups/electronics are made in China.

The CT sure is pretty, no denying that. I'm happy enough with my Ignition and the neck is stable and very playable. I think if I were to spend more money on a Hofner I'd save up for a German however.

odysseios · #**172** 12-29-2012, 10:59 AM

I own a CT but that's not for an economic reason: in my city there isn't any Hofner dealer, so i should buy a german bass from an internet store only. And i'm not favorably disposed to take delivery of a 2000€ flawed instrument, because also german basses can go out of facility with flaws.
So i am waiting for a local 2nd hand bargain.

Mastermold · #**173** 12-29-2012, 11:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by odysseios

I own a CT but that's not for an economic reason: in my city there isn't any Hofner dealer, so i should buy a german bass from an internet store only. And i'm not favorably disposed to take delivery of a 2000€ flawed instrument, because also german basses can go out of facility with flaws.
So i am waiting for a local 2nd hand bargain.

Yeah the second hand market is the way to go, I've seen some really nice used German Hofners selling for half of what they sell for new.

odysseios · #**174** 12-29-2012, 11:07 AM

I already owned an Ignition and his sound is, if it's possible, more hofner-esque than a german one. But the feel and playability are completely different, while the CT has the same specs of a german reissue. And, according on what told from german/CT owners, the sound also is not too different, despite the sustain block.

off-topic · #**175** 12-30-2012, 11:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by odysseios

But the feel and playability are completely different

I had the same impression.

mongo2 · #**176** 12-31-2012, 06:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by odysseios

I already owned an Ignition and his sound is, if it's possible, more hofner-esque than a german one. But the feel and playability are completely different,

Exactly, I prefer my Ignition for just that reason. I'm not a fan of the feel of the German (vintage or recent) or CT examples I've tried.

odysseios · #**177** 01-02-2013, 02:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mongo2

I'm not a fan of the feel of the German...

That's a considerable part of Hofner playing (apart from german electronics and close specs).

mongo2 · #**178** 01-02-2013, 04:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by odysseios

That's a considerable part of Hofner playing (apart from german electronics and close specs).

Until the Icon/Ignitions I had absolutely no interest in Hofners only because I couldn't stand their necks. The changes made the the neck design/profile for the Icon/Ignition work much better for me.

bill reed · #**179** 01-02-2013, 04:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by odysseios

I am saying 2 parts of the CT are made in Germany:
1) the pickups (and relative frame)
2) the neck
According on what told me the Hofner employee, only 3 piece necks are all made in Germany. Ignition has a 1 piece neck, and is entirely made in Indonesia; maybe his pickups/electronics are made in China.

are you saying that both the Ignition and CT are one piece necks! and only the German made ones are three piece!
I can't see how making the necks in Germany and then sending them to China to be fitted or China sending the bodys to Germany to be fitted would pay! it would be cheeper making the neck and body in the same place as most other makers do. like you said about the Ignition made in Indonesia.
with the set neck you have to have both parts and trim and adjust to get both to fit really well before gluing.

odysseios · #**180** 01-02-2013, 05:03 AM

I wrote: "only 3 piece necks are all made in Germany".
And since the CT neck is made by 3 pieces, it's evidently made in Germany (==> Hofner employee info).
Your thinking about the shipping could work, but what about the pickups? Those are as is known the same of the german reissues, so Hofner really must send those to China, then they come back with assembled CTs.
Also consider CT necks must have the same identical specs such as German V64 (as you can see on the Hofner web).