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

#21
New Black Icon Club arriving today. Woo-hoo!!

Just curious, in any of these threads, has anyone made a list of recorded examples or Youtubes of Hofners being used, other than Macca or Beatle-alikes? I've seen all the ones in this thread (Tosh, Wood, World Party, etc), and was just wondering about others??
 
#22
rfslick said:
Avalon
Registered User
The label w/model/serial may well be beneath the control plate, like the Violin or Club basses.
Click to expand...

I've had it open. No labels. I bought it brand new and it did not even have hang tags. When I contacted Hofner they said that since the 8 made were test runs for production, none of the hang tags, labels, serial numbers, etc.. were added. Of the 8 made, only 4 were sent to the US market. Mine also has the white MOP control plate with black switches and knobs that are typical for non-German Hofners. The production run models have the Tort plate and black knobs.
 
#23
Has anyone tinkered with removing the fret pieces that act as bridge saddles? On my CT Club I have to angle my bridge slightly back on the treble side to intonate properly. That however leaves too much room for the nail at the end of the pickguard to mount into the bridge as intended. My thought was to try to find a larger nail - but I can't get the other one out of the pg. So now I wonder if I can move the saddle back a slot or two it would allow my to move the bridge itself up. I tried the other night and there was good resistance trying to remove the saddle piece so I didn't want to yank too hard and pull out sections of wood from the bridge. Any thoughts or tricks/tips?
 
#24
That is a short piece of actual fret which has teeth which bite into the fret slot. It will have some resistance, but you can carefully pry it out with a sharp edged instrument like a steak knife. It's just like horse racing, get the consensus of the most of them in proper intonation, then move the one that's left. With mine, it was the E string.
 
#25
Ladies and Gentlemen, It's come to my attention that there is a problem finding Hofner Ignition Beatle Basses.
Today I stopped at my local GC in Concord, CA, and, there were two Trans-Black and one SunBurst Beatle Basses hanging on the wall. I then spoke to the store manager, who said, just a minute, and looked into his computer. He then turned to me and said "in Northern California, north of San Jose, there 27 Ignition Beatle Basses in stock at GC Stores. Most are Trans-Black.
What's up with all of that? If you're looking, call up a GC in Northern California.
Folks, this is not an ad for GC, but it seems that these Ignition basses are available. He also said that the distributor issue actually came up about 6 months ago. That's all I know at this point.
 
#26
ok!!!

Trans Black Icon Club arrived today, just in time to debox it and take it to rehearsal. I'd heard that some of these have fit and finish issues, but right out of the box the action, intonation and everything else was spot-on.

I'm glad I didn't get one of those "problem" HassleHofner's. :p

Plugged in....what can I say....it just WORKED. Everything I try and EQ my Fenders to do........deep, woody and fat......just poured out of the Icon naturally. Tonight's band plays classic rock obscurities and B-sides (Trower, Spirit, Jimi, Beatles, ZZ, Cream), and it fit in perfectly. We're a trio, so the other guys were digging the extra bottom. I can imagine it might get a wee bit blurry on a big stage, live, but I'm ok with that. There's a reason it's called a BASS and not a TREBLE.

Since I also play guitar and mando, no issues at all with the short scale and scrawny neck, even fingerstyle (which I play, mostly).

All in all, I dig.
 
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#31
Hey guys, it's been a while since I was looking at Hofners, and i have a few questions.

Why are the Ignition and CT modles more expensive now?

And how does the quality compare to that of a Squire CV or VM series?

Also if anyone could compare it to an Epiphone Dot that would be great

Thanks
 
#33
JimFog said:
One minor issue with my Icon. On close inspection, I can see the bridge posts are leaning forward a bit. No big deal now. I've seen it over and over again on archtop guitars, as well.

But, if it SHOULD become an issue down the line, what are my options for replacing the bridge? I understand the genuine Hofner bridges that North Coast Music sells don't fit the Icons? Can they be sanded down to fit, or are there other choices?

Thanks!
Click to expand...

Any hofner knock off bridge will do it... lets say: Rogue, Jay Turser, Eagle, even the Epi Viola will do it... the NC bridge is quite expensive but you can find cheaper bridges with All Parts...

cheers
 
#34
The reason they claim that the German bridge won't work is that they are formed to the top radius of the German bass. It's a simple mater to adjust them to your bass. Place a sheet of sand paper, maybe 220 or finer, sand side up under the bridge without strings,(maybe tape it in place to prevent it from moving and scratching the top). Then move the bridge forward and backward on the sand paper. This will make the bottom surface of the bridge conform to the top of the body.
 
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#36
rfslick said:
Ladies and Gentlemen, It's come to my attention that there is a problem finding Hofner Ignition Beatle Basses.
Today I stopped at my local GC in Concord, CA, and, there were two Trans-Black and one SunBurst Beatle Basses hanging on the wall. I then spoke to the store manager, who said, just a minute, and looked into his computer. He then turned to me and said "in Northern California, north of San Jose, there 27 Ignition Beatle Basses in stock at GC Stores. Most are Trans-Black.
What's up with all of that? If you're looking, call up a GC in Northern California.
Folks, this is not an ad for GC, but it seems that these Ignition basses are available. He also said that the distributor issue actually came up about 6 months ago. That's all I know at this point.
Click to expand...
rf,

thanks for the reconnaissance on the Ignitions. I did call four different Guitar Center stores all around the country. Each one checked their inventory and then their Web site and came up with "out of stock." Glad you found some.
 
#37
JimFog said:
ok!!!

Trans Black Icon Club arrived today, just in time to debox it and take it to rehearsal. I'd heard that some of these have fit and finish issues, but right out of the box the action, intonation and everything else was spot-on.

I'm glad I didn't get one of those "problem" HassleHofner's. :p

Plugged in....what can I say....it just WORKED. Everything I try and EQ my Fenders to do........deep, woody and fat......just poured out of the Icon naturally. Tonight's band plays classic rock obscurities and B-sides (Trower, Spirit, Jimi, Beatles, ZZ, Cream), and it fit in perfectly. We're a trio, so the other guys were digging the extra bottom. I can imagine it might get a wee bit blurry on a big stage, live, but I'm ok with that. There's a reason it's called a BASS and not a TREBLE.

Since I also play guitar and mando, no issues at all with the short scale and scrawny neck, even fingerstyle (which I play, mostly).

All in all, I dig.
Click to expand...
strings?
 
#38
JimFog said:
One minor issue with my Icon. On close inspection, I can see the bridge posts are leaning forward a bit. No big deal now. I've seen it over and over again on archtop guitars, as well.

But, if it SHOULD become an issue down the line, what are my options for replacing the bridge? I understand the genuine Hofner bridges that North Coast Music sells don't fit the Icons? Can they be sanded down to fit, or are there other choices?

Thanks!
Click to expand...
That's funny because my new Ignition's bridge is leaning slightly BACK, toward the trapeze. I assumed there was no problem with that.
 
#39
ficalini said:
Hey guys, it's been a while since I was looking at Hofners, and i have a few questions.

Why are the Ignition and CT modles more expensive now?

And how does the quality compare to that of a Squire CV or VM series?

Also if anyone could compare it to an Epiphone Dot that would be great

Thanks
Click to expand...
If you want an Icon (Ignition), go immediately to Norman's Rare Guitars in Tarzana, CA. Find them online. Buy it tomorrow at 11 AM Pacific time. You'll be surprised and delighted with the price. But if you wait a day, oh well.

They're expensive because Hofner has put the brakes on sending ANY AT ALL to the United States. 'Nuff said.
 
#40
IMG_0593.jpg

IMG_0594.jpg
Tahoe_Ed said:
Music Fun, I will give you a number now, but you gotta promise to post a picture when you get your Ignition. Welcome, you are member 116.
Click to expand...
Thanks, Ed.

My Ignition came today. It's a pretty little thing. Fit and finish are exceptional for an instrument of this price. The round-wounds click, buzz, rattle, and annoy; can't wait to receive my LaBellas next Wednesday.

The dynamics seem quite consistent up and down the fretboard on all strings, although a few notes have more sustain. They seem to be the same notes as on my Ovation, though, so maybe it's my amp. In any case, I assume that's a good sign for when I put the real strings on.

Let's try to get those photos loaded up. It looks like it will only let me upload two. Here we go.
 
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