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Contemporary or Icon

F

ficalini

Aug 5, 2011
103
0
30
NW Houston
#1
So i've done my research on both basses and I'm torn between the two and have no idea what to get

On one hand, the Icon is a hollowbody yet lacks the German pickups and has "quality issues"...On the other hand, the Contempory has real 511B PU's and a more traditional neck, but a tone block.

I guess what I'm trying to figure out is if anyone owns or has compared the two side by side and knows which is better based on sound, overall quality, authenticity, etc.

ficalini
 
#2
ficalini said:
So i've done my research on both basses and I'm torn between the two and have no idea what to get

On one hand, the Icon is a hollowbody yet lacks the German pickups and has "quality issues"...On the other hand, the Contempory has real 511B PU's and a more traditional neck, but a tone block.

I guess what I'm trying to figure out is if anyone owns or has compared the two side by side and knows which is better based on sound, overall quality, authenticity, etc.

ficalini
Click to expand...

What is the impact of the tone block?
 
#3
Any responses you get here will be subjective. What are you looking for in a violin bass? Do you want McCartney's tone or are you looking for the Hofner look?

If you're looking for the tone and won't buy a German made 500/1 then you're probably going to want buy a Icon or what is now the Ignition BB. If you want the look the CT is probably what you want.

The tone block in the CT tends to dampen the sound of the bass making it sound a bit more modern compared to its German made cousin which has a "woody" tone to it. You'll also get improved string sustain in the CT compared the Ignition because of the block. The Ignition will give you more of that "woody" tone because it is a true semi-acoustic.

The best way to determine which one you prefer is to go and try them both and then decide for your self.

TD
 
#5
The Contemporary is a commercial business which was born for working with his factory round strings.
Changing of the strings with flats (just like Hofners/Pyramids) can decrease a little the activity of the CT center block, which is not enormous: some vintage Hofners weights up to 2,400 Kg, the CT weights 2,600.
As far as i am concerned, i prefer the CT (having first owned a HI) because i like also the look of the 500/1, and a CT with a couple of light modifications becomes almost identical to a 2000€ german V64.
Consider at high volumes the Ignition also will reach a little sustain, mainly on the D-G strings.
 
#6
odysseios said:
The Contemporary is a commercial business which was born for working with his factory round strings.
Changing of the strings with flats (just like Hofners/Pyramids) can decrease a little the activity of the CT center block, which is not enormous: some vintage Hofners weights up to 2,400 Kg, the CT weights 2,600.
As far as i am concerned, i prefer the CT (having first owned a HI) because i like also the look of the 500/1, and a CT with a couple of light modifications becomes almost identical to a 2000€ german V64.
Consider at high volumes the Ignition also will reach a little sustain, mainly on the D-G strings.
Click to expand...

Thanks! that helped alot:D
 
#9
ficalini said:
What did you like about the Icon/Ignition vs the CT?
Click to expand...

I prefer the Icon/Ignition neck size and shape, and to me they sound more like the current German made versions and the originals than the CTs do.

I like the 'burst finish of the CT better than the Icon 'burst, but I remedied that by getting mine in black which I like better than either 'burst.
 
#10
mongo2 said:
I prefer the Icon/Ignition neck size and shape, and to me they sound more like the current German made versions and the originals than the CTs do.

I like the 'burst finish of the CT better than the Icon 'burst, but I remedied that by getting mine in black which I like better than either 'burst.
Click to expand...

What is different about the neck size and shape? BTW Sorry about all the questions
 
#11
CT's neck fully respects the same specs of the german Hofners, whereas Ignition's neck is sensibly thinner and narrower.
CT's neck and headstock are made in three vertical glued pieces (maple-beech-maple) just as german V63/64 are; HI is made in 2 horizontal glued pieces (neck + headstock).
 

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