• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Hofner or Danelectro?

Should I buy a used Danelectro or Hofner Icon/Ignition?

  • Hofner

    Votes: 12 26.1%

  • Danelectro

    Votes: 28 60.9%

  • Something else (please explain)

    Votes: 6 13.0%
  • Total voters
    46
#62
Joe Nerve said:
I have a Dan Electro Hodad (2 pickup, but I also once owned the 3), and an Ignition Club bass. Not sure I'm going to be of much help, as it is a tough call.

They're both featherweights, but the Hodad is practically a no-weight. Feels like I have nothing around my neck. The plusses for me on the Dano are the tone controls, and the ability to blend the pickups. For some reason I also like the thin body... but it ends there.

What I like about the Hodad is that despite the lack of tone controls, the bass sits perfectly in a R&R mix. I was blown away actually, the first time I played it with a band (and at the time it was a Zep tribute). It cut through pounding drums, and sounded awesome. Thick, rich, sweet and perfectly balanced. I can't say that for the Hodad. While it was capable some cool sounds, mine was a lot barkier and boomier than the Hofner, and those cool sounds were a bit difficult to dial in. Some people prefer arkier and boomier basses though... so there ya have it :).

I will never let go of my Hofner. I might very well let go of my Danelectro.

I'd wait for crazy sales, use Musicians friend 15% off plus 8% Backstage pass or whatever - try to find used deals maybe, and buy both. Check them both out for a while, and then sell the one you like less. What's going to fit best with your particular band, and what will feel better to you will be different than for anybody else. Ya might wind up like both, too :).

Oh yeah... another important thing - the neck on the Hofner is far more stable than the neck on the Danelectro. I had to adjust and readjust constantly with the Dano. The Hodad, strangely enough I set up once, when I got it at least a year and half ago. You need to remove the neck on some Danos too in order to adjust the truss rod. You may want to consider that. I don't know what its like on a Longhorn.
Click to expand...
The new Danos have dual action trussrods, and have a reputation of having very stable necks. As for cutting through, my new Longhorn is a tone monster, and easily cuts through the mix in my band. I have no knowledge of the Hodad though. By the way, I HAD a Hofner Contemporary. It is long gone. The Dano is never leaving. Cheers!
 
  • Like
Reactions: Joe Nerve and kjp360
#65
kjp360 said:
I was under the impression that there are lots of options for swapping out lipsticks? Are the lipsticks in the basses different? I'm pretty sure the ones for guitar are just a flat bar so string spacing and number of poles shouldn't be an issue should they? I'm comfy swapping out pups and wiring if that is all that is holding an instrument back. I haven't done it for my Mustang yet but only because in the mix the pup is fine. Not as thick as my friend's original solo'd...
Click to expand...
The lipsticks are key to the Dano sound. Why switch them out?
 
  • Like
Reactions: kjp360
#70
GIBrat51 said:
I'm afraid I'll have to agree. Nice as Hofners are, they comAAe with some baggage that Danos don't have:
1. Hofners can be (and often are) picky about strings. They basically like strings designed just for Hofners - strings that are really medium scale length; with small ball ends; and with very long tuner ends. Danos aren't nearly so picky...
2. Even if you can find medium scale, non Hofner-specific strings that'll work on your Hofner? The string pool you'll be fishing in, is mighty small... Dano Longhorns take regular short scale strings; a much bigger pond to fish in...
Violin basses - or any bass - with a floating bridge, can be really picky about which strings it will tune up and intonate with. Sometimes you get lucky, and there's no problem. Sometimes it'll tune up OK, but it'll only intonate the E ang G string - with a lot of fussing around. And, sometimes, with that set of strings you have your heart set on? It won't intonate at all... Danos? They can be fussy, too, sometimes; but not nearly as much. And,
View attachment 3628543 if you want, you can replace the bridge with one that will intonate just fine...
3. The Hofner's controls are... well, I just think of them as Germany's revenge for losing WWII. Danelectro controls are just simple stacked pots...
One good thing about a Hofner, though, is that they're available with a case; Longhorns are not. However... don't tell anyone, but
View attachment 3628555 a Longhorn fits perfectly in an Epiphone ES-339 guitar case...:cool:
Click to expand...
My Dano Longhorn fits pretty much any guitar case that will fit a Strat or Tele.
 
#71
IMG_6967.JPG
Heh , I recently picked up a brand new leather gig bag made by Levy on kijiji . It's really a guitar bag but the Longhorn fits perfectly . The bag may be worth more than the Dano , but I'm ok with that . I love that Longhorn ! Pic of the bag is from the internet ...
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back