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Hofner Ignition vs Hofner Ignition "Pro"

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InboundBoxCar

Feb 3, 2021
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3
#1
Hello TalkBass, 1st post in this site.

From my research, the Hofner Ignition ( HI-BB-SB) is out of stock everywhere (with a few local store exceptions). The "new" Ignition Pro ( HI-BB-PRO) is in stock in major stores, and it's offered in more colours (instead of just sunburst)

Is the "pro" really a newer model? Is it built better? (I believe standard one is built in China and Pro in Indonesia)

Few differences I have spotted: the pro version has tea cup knobs and comes with flat strings, whereas the ignition comes with black knobs and round strings--but that's about it.

Found a deal on a standard model that is $30 cheaper than the "Pro", so just trying to figure out if the Pro is the best choice or if there aren't major differences, go with the standard model and just invest in LaBella tapewound/flatwound strings.

Thank you!
 
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#2
I'd have to think the differences are merely cosmetic, but if I had to buy a Hofner, I'd definitely go with the Pro...nicer colors and definitely better strings.
The $30 wouldn't sway my decision in the slightest.
Maybe the Pro is replacing the standard Ignition basses. I can't imagine them having two separate entry-level models.
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#5
Doesn't matter because I changed them already, but I don't think they're Hofner, because the Hofner brand flats "suitable for Höfner Beatles Bass and Club Bass (Ignition, Contemporary & made in Germany)" are a lighter gauge, and because the stock strings were horrible in my opinion (the first used bass strings I have trashed instead of saving in a big ziplok bag).

I love this instrument; just be prepared to change the strings. I used La Bella 760FHB2.
 
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#7
LetItGrowTone said:
...I don't think they're Hofner brand...
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Correction, maybe:
Someone on Invalid Link Removed posted a sound file of his newly purchased Ignition Pro, wondering what was wrong. It sounded like mine with the original strings. He said that he had already received and installed a new set of Hofner strings and that they sounded the same. So maybe they really are Hofner brand strings.

(He had not removed the packing material from under the bridge, but I had already removed mine.)

After intonating, loving it with La Bella 760FHB2.
 
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#10
LetItGrowTone said:
Correction, maybe:
Someone on Invalid Link Removed posted a sound file of his newly purchased Ignition Pro, wondering what was wrong. It sounded like mine with the original strings. He said that he had already received and installed a new set of Hofner strings and that they sounded the same. So maybe they really are Hofner brand strings.

(He had not removed the packing material from under the bridge, but I had already removed mine.)

After intonating, loving it with La Bella 760FHB2.
Click to expand...
Thank you. Should have updated this post. I ended up keeping mine, and took it to a local luthier, who installed LaBella strings and completed a proper setup (intonation + adjustment + fret cleanup). Sounds amazing. Pretty happy with my purchase so far.

Also bought a Fender Studio 40, so have different "presets" available as well.
 
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#11
I received my Pro Club last week. Shipped from the U.S. to Saudi Arabia in 4 days. Paid $120 in shipping and $125 in customs/import fees. Expensive but it was worth it since there are no Hofner vendors here. The Pro Club is indeed made for the U S. Market. Comes with original-style tea cup knobs, Hofner strings and no text on the truss rod cover unlike the standard Ignition. Apparently made with German materials and manufactured in China. Complements my Epiphone Viola nicely. It needed a set-up and I was a more than a bit miffed that there were absolutely no packing materials in the box other than the bag it was placed in. Unbelievable, but not a single scratch or dent on it. Plays beautifully.
 

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#12
Hello, I just received my "Pro" last week. The finish and fretboard look great. I specifically wanted the teacups and flat wound strings for the more "authentic" look and sound. Mine has a made in China sticker as well.

I think the pickups sound fine as is. This is my first Hofner though I've picked them up in the stores for at least the last 10 years due to my slight obsession with all things Beatle.

A, D, and G strings sound fine (except for a buzz on the 2nd fret of the A string), the but the E string is completely muffled (sounds like a bag of wet newspaper). Playing any fretted notes on the E-string is very hard to hear unplugged and doesn't really improve when plugged in.

I have not removed the packing material under the bridge yet so maybe it's as simple as that? I'm planning to taking it to GC ASAP to see if they can sort it out, but I thought I would check here first to see what I could learn.
 
#13
Rob Wagner said:
I received my Pro Club last week. Shipped from the U.S. to Saudi Arabia in 4 days. Paid $120 in shipping and $125 in customs/import fees. Expensive but it was worth it since there are no Hofner vendors here. The Pro Club is indeed made for the U S. Market. Comes with original-style tea cup knobs, Hofner strings and no text on the truss rod cover unlike the standard Ignition. Apparently made with German materials and manufactured in China. Complements my Epiphone Viola nicely. It needed a set-up and I was a more than a bit miffed that there were absolutely no packing materials in the box other than the bag it was placed in. Unbelievable, but not a single scratch or dent on it. Plays beautifully.
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I have been looking at these specially the one in pearl white. Do you know what laquer these finishd in?
 
#15
The Contemporary models are made at the Hofner-owned and run factory in China, using German-made pickups. The Ignition line (unless something has changed) is made for Hofner at a third-party factory.
 
#16
sleepingEB0 said:
Anyone recall the contemporary differences? Are they Korean or some better factory?
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As @fermata said, the Contemporary (HCT) 500/1 is made at higher level factory in Beijing than the usual suspect factories in Qingdao that make many import brands. While the HCT uses the German made '63 reissue pickups, the Ignition uses a Chinese made staple pickup copy.

The biggest difference between the two is that the HCT has a spruce center block going through the body, and the Ignition is completely hollow like the German made basses. A lot was made of the center block when the Contemporary's came out, traditionalists saying it ruined what made a Hofner a Hofner, and the increased weight was supposed to be a big deal. Fact is the weight is no big deal, HCT's are still very light, and two, if you use round wounds or even better tapewounds, the HCT's sound like a Hofner bass.

The HCT's can be seen as more versatile than a traditional Hofner because you can get solid body-ish tones out of it. I've seen people slap on them too so they're pretty unique.
 
#17
I have both and the build quality on the HCT is clearly superior. The HCT sounds tighter and more precise. With that said, the hi-bass is, for me, more fun to play largely because of its toy-like quality. If I was going to mess around with some friends, I would bring the hi-bass. Both are a lot of fun.
 
#18
Mannyinnewyork said:
I have both and the build quality on the HCT is clearly superior. The HCT sounds tighter and more precise. With that said, the hi-bass is, for me, more fun to play largely because of its toy-like quality. If I was going to mess around with some friends, I would bring the hi-bass. Both are a lot of fun.
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Hi! Thanks for sharing this information. Sorry for the remedial question, but what do you mean when you say “hi-bass”? Does that stand for Hofner Ignition?
 

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