you are mistaken about the pickups on the CT series. They have the exact same pickups as the German model; the 511B staple PU's. The wiring harness is the Chinese one.
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Hofner Icon vs Contemporary vs Original
- Thread starter stranded horse
- Start date
Different shape, the corners of the Icon piockup are sharper than the German pickups. I never measured them but the Icon pickups also look a bit longer to my eye.
Just curious...has anyone put flats on a CT and if so, does the tone on a CT with flats vary "that much" from a hollow MIG or Icon? Just wondering how much that block affects things, as even a Fender P with flats (about as different from a Hofner as you can get) gets pretty thump-y, once the flats wear in...?!?!
If you look at the Icon bass, the pu's are mounted on the surrounds, and screwed to the top; the CT, and German models are not. I have LaBella DTB flats on mine, and I can get a great hollow body sound. The amp and settings plays a part as well in aquiring a certain tone I'm not going to waste my time arguing over which bass does oir doesn't sound like a hollow body German model bass. There are a number of audio files online to compare them. I get a fantastic early Beatles bass "thump" from my CT. If someone else hears a different sound than me; then they deserve their opinion. I've been playing for 49 years, and have been a Beatles follower since the early days, and the CT gets me "that" sound. I'd love to own a German model also, but for 1/3 the price, the CT is a steal IMHO.
John Sr.
John Sr.
No, in my opinion the tone on a CT with flats is not much (any?) different from a hollow MIG or Icon. My experience is that your amp settings and playing technique make more of a difference. I've played Icons, a couple of 60s MIGs, and now own a CT, and, call me cynical, but I think the center block thing is a bit of a marketing device.
I'd agree with that statement. The CTs I've played don't sound terribly different from a MIG Hofner to my ear. Does the block add strength? That's another debate, I guess.
I disagree, to my ears the CT I tried sounded very different. Much less like a hollowbody than the Icons I compared it to.
+1. With today's amp technology, you can EQ almost any bass with flat wound strings to sound close to Sir Paul's Hofner. But I played all three (Icon, CT and 1966 500/1) in studio through some very high end preamps. The Icon and 500/1 have a true hollowbody sound. The CT was just not as "vintage" sounding.
I have a Waterstone Indra, which is the same design as a CT. Meaning, it is semi hollow and has a wood block down the center. I have La Bella Beatle flat wounds on it. Does it sound warm and vintage? Yes. Does it sound hollow? No. It sounds great, but not the "same" as my hollow body Hofner Icon basses.
"Good enough" or "close enough" is in the ear of the beholder.
If you want a hollow body thump, then get a Hofner Icon or German made Hofner. A CT may come close, but it will never nail the exact tone. The laws of physics will ensure that. That's why Hofner put a wood block down the center. So it would have a different tone (modern or contemporary). If not, why put it there?
A lot of folks seem to want to claim a CT can sound just like an Icon. If that's the case, then just get an Icon and save $400!
"Good enough" or "close enough" is in the ear of the beholder.
If you want a hollow body thump, then get a Hofner Icon or German made Hofner. A CT may come close, but it will never nail the exact tone. The laws of physics will ensure that. That's why Hofner put a wood block down the center. So it would have a different tone (modern or contemporary). If not, why put it there?
A lot of folks seem to want to claim a CT can sound just like an Icon. If that's the case, then just get an Icon and save $400!
A lot of folks seem to want to claim a CT can sound just like an Icon. If that's the case, then just get an Icon and save $400!
+1
Plus, IMO, the Icon neck has a more user friendly profile.
Yes. CT with LaBella Beatle flats. Don't get me wrong. It sounded really good. But it was different from the Icon and the vintage 500/1. I am convinced that the center block makes a difference. The CT was punchy and tight. The notes on the two hollowbodys just "bloomed" in a different way - if that makes any sense. (Icon and vintage 500/1). It wasn't as quick as the CT. Each note would swell from the initial attack. Kind of like a double bass. Since that was the specific sound I am going for with this bass, I prefer the Icon over the CT.
But, please note: As I said above, I found the CT better looking and more versatile than the Icon. If I was only going to have one bass, I would have chosen the CT. But, for me, I have other solid body basses strung with flats that can sound like the CT. I wanted a hollowbody that would give me that vintage sound. At that, I think the Icon excels over the CT.
But, please note: As I said above, I found the CT better looking and more versatile than the Icon. If I was only going to have one bass, I would have chosen the CT. But, for me, I have other solid body basses strung with flats that can sound like the CT. I wanted a hollowbody that would give me that vintage sound. At that, I think the Icon excels over the CT.
With Pyramid flats on the CT and MIG Club I compared, my ear didn't detect much of a difference. The CT didn't have the "bloom" previously mentioned, but the tonal characteristics were very similar, at least to my wrecked ears.
Best bet is for the buyer to try them all and get what best suits his or her needs.
If they are in an area where all three Hofners are not readily available, then they will need to take a chance on one based on what they read here.
If they are in an area where all three Hofners are not readily available, then they will need to take a chance on one based on what they read here.
Exactly, for me the bloom is what it's all about with a Hofner style bass. And, obviously the condition of one's ears after years of playing loud music is definitely a factor when comparing instruments. I've used hearing protection since the early '70s (still do) and today I'm glad I did.
I own a CT, Hofner flats strung. Before of that, i had an Ignition and it was totally poor of sustain, mainly the E/A strings; in some (no Beatles) situations this could be a little embarrassing. Unluckily i can't make a live comparison of a german and a CT, but by listen to a lot of videos on the Tube, i noticed the germans can have a sustain which has no reason to envy a CT.
One example is this:
Hofner 500/2CV Harmonics Sustain Slap - YouTube
One example is this:
Hofner 500/2CV Harmonics Sustain Slap - YouTube
mongo2 said:
Yes, I've lost most of my high frequencies due to age and general abuse, but I still have my lows!
My Icon basses can sustain. How long does a bass note need to sustain? Besides, it is hardly noticeable when a guitar is sustaining with it.
Sounds like the CT is the best of both worlds. A modern tone with some of the vintage tone. Buy one of those!
Sounds like the CT is the best of both worlds. A modern tone with some of the vintage tone. Buy one of those!
Same here but I prefer the tone of the Icon when I mute to limit sustain.
I find there's an interesting difference in the bloom between my Icon Violin and Icon Club, that being there is more of a bloom effect with the Icon Violin compared to the Icon Club which I attribute to the differences in the position of the bridge on bodies of the two designs.
