Lets make this the last Hofner Icon vs Contemporary Thread

[odysseios]

Hofner business with his economic basses has been something diabolic.
They put a wood block into the CT (as in the other instruments of the series, guitars included), also thinking not to risk selling only CTs and zero germans.
For 500€ you can have a nearly perfect and further germanizable copy of a 2000€ copy (try to compare my CT with the new V64 here below), but with a lot of sustain, which will decrease if you throw away those absurd chinese rounds.
To the other hand you can buy the cheapest Ignition, which sounds nearly like an original (here too, if you change the strings) but is not exactly a beauty masterpiece.
I made my choice after owning the HI for one year and so comparing the 2 basses on Youtube: there are plenty of videos and both sound well in a lot of cases; then i placed a bet on the upper quality and likeness of the CT.
Sounds are above, below there are my CT and a german V64:

 

[Rob Martinez]

sorry if it sounds like a dumb question, but most will say the CT sounds different because of the wood block, but can it still nail the Beatles sound plus more?

I don't care about "plus more" I care about what I want the bass to do. I do a specific thing. Yeah, the CT sounds like a modern bass, and less like a vintage one. If that is what you want, get a CT. But it does not sound like a hollowbody, that is a fact. I have a bass with that design, sounds great, like it has a wood block down the center. It does not sound hollow, no matter how much some folks here want it to. Why on earth did Hofner put a wood block down the center? So it can sound like a hollowbody? No. That is why it is called CONTEMPORARY. That means modern. Icon is called that because it sounds more like the iconic bass played by the iconinc bass player who made it famous to start with.

 

[Rob Martinez]

Yep, it sounds like a Hofner should.

Best thing to do is go to your local store and try both out. Otherwise, you can get an Icon and keep trying to convince yourself that it is "just as good", or get the CT and know that you bought the better bass.

Let's just drive it home Lazer. The German made Hofner is TONS better than the CT. I mean, it is made in Germany and costs $1000 more than the CT, which is a cheap toy compared to a German Hofner. So, no matter how hard you try to convince yourself the CT is "just as good," you are wrong. Get a German made Hofner and know that you bought a better bass.

In the meantime, I will put my Waterstone Indra up against your CT anytime, anyplace, anywhere, and it will make your CT look and sound like a cheap toy. For that matter, I also know my Icon is more vintage sounding that the CT will ever be. The wood block ensures that. I will say your CT will sound more modern than the Icon, which is a quality I don't care about or need.

 

[okc-zee]

I don't care about "plus more" I care about what I want the bass to do. I do a specific thing. Yeah, the CT sounds like a modern bass, and less like a vintage one. If that is what you want, get a CT. But it does not sound like a hollowbody, that is a fact. I have a bass with that design, sounds great, like it has a wood block down the center. It does not sound hollow, no matter how much some folks here want it to. Why on earth did Hofner put a wood block down the center? So it can sound like a hollowbody? No. That is why it is called CONTEMPORARY. That means modern. Icon is called that because it sounds more like the iconic bass played by the iconinc bass player who made it famous to start with.

+1...gotta agree..I love hofners..I own a couple.... I've played both Icon and CT..to me there definitely is a difference in their sound...They both sound good..Just depends on what you're going for...

 

[odysseios]

Ok Rob, then if i would bring my 390€ Crafted in Japan Fender Precision, with U.S. pickup, the story ends here about sound and quality for both Hofners, Waterstones and a lot of other more expensive basses, the amplifier explodes and we all go home...

 

[mizzou541]

Yeah, the whole point of owning a Hofner (for most) is to get the McCartney look and sound so you'd have to go with the Icon if you really want that hollow thump. That said, I'd rather have the CT if I were using it as my main bass as I'm in a band that plays zero Beatles songs. I prefer the sound block and tonal options and having owned both, the finish on my CT was far superior to the Icon.

 

[odysseios]

I played the HI and then the CT in a U2 cover band (lot of different basses for A. Clayton, not an Hofner maybe because of his hands size and stature, i suspect).
Now i'm playing in a rock/blues combo and i have to say when you increase too much the volume sound becomes all the same, HI or CT.

 

[Rob Martinez]

Yeah, the whole point of owning a Hofner (for most) is to get the McCartney look and sound so you'd have to go with the Icon if you really want that hollow thump. That said, I'd rather have the CT if I were using it as my main bass as I'm in a band that plays zero Beatles songs. I prefer the sound block and tonal options and having owned both, the finish on my CT was far superior to the Icon.

I agree with all this. The only point I go the other way on is finish. I just don't care how "fantastic" a guitar finish is. If I want a museum piece that I just look at, then yeah. But I play my basses, they are going to get scuffed, bumped, and nicked. So I don't care how "amazing" the finish is. My Icon basses look cool and sound great! I paid little for them, if the bass falls over, gets beer spilled on it, or anything else, I am not going to freak out.

 

[Rob Martinez]

Ok Rob, then if i would bring my 390€ Crafted in Japan Fender Precision, with U.S. pickup, the story ends here about sound and quality for both Hofners, Waterstones and a lot of other more expensive basses, the amplifier explodes and we all go home...

Waterstone 12 string bass will spank that Fender P bass!

 

[Ferniff]

Unfortunately with this question its mostly opinionated because not every single bass is the same, some got duds and some were blessed by Maccas

 

[odysseios]

Ouch, it's a pity Fender never built a 12 string bass... or i would have bought it to play Mr. Tambourine Man, Byrds cover!

 

[Ferniff]

Unfortunately with this question its mostly opinionated because not every single bass is the same, some got duds and some were blessed by Maccas magical touch perhaps. I'm going over to the music store later and I hope they have both the CT and Icon available to try.

So here's another silly question (mostly for the other curious minds looking to get a Hofner) and lets try to keep it short and simple:

If you're getting the Icon, what sound should you expect and what are the different genres you can play with it. Same question for CT

 

[Rob Martinez]

The Icon has a woody, thumpy sound, without a lot of sustain. It can sound a bit like an upright as well. It is what was considered an ideal bass sound in the 50s, though the Fender P bass changed a lot of that, bringing the electric solid bass sound to the fore. Still, a lot of solid body basses back then used foam to mute the string to replcate a more upright, hollow sound.

 

[audiomitch]

Why do I have the feeling this won't the the last "last Hofner Icon vs Contemporary Thread"?

I own an Icon, but I was also playing a German '68 that belonged to the guitarist in a group I was in. To be honest, I didn't notice a whole lot of difference. They both have that massive bottom and thunky attack. Lot's of fun, but not for a steady diet. The German one may have sounded a little more "solid", but it also needed a setup. I wasn't about to start adjusting things on his vintage Hofner!

But what the heck do I know? I play a Ric with roundwounds.

 

[funkytoe]

The Icon has a woody, thumpy sound, without a lot of sustain. It can sound a bit like an upright as well.

Amen. I picked up an Icon about 5 years ago so I would not have to take out my vintage 1965 500/1 to live dates. The plan was to play the ICON at live shows and save the 500/1 for recording work. Well guess what? I took both to a session to A/B them and both the engineer and the producer thought the ICON gave a more vintage vibe.

This is not an attempt to start a war. I'm NOT saying the ICON is better that the German counterpart. They aren't. My 500/1 has fantastic resonance -- remember it is built like a violin. With proper strings, it just sings. And the pickups are much louder/better than the ICON.

But, the ICON can really, REALLY nail that vintage, thumpy, hollowbody sound. Think "I'm a Man" by Chicago. Its lo-fidelity. And its awesome!

I tried the CT just to see if I needed one. In the end, I just could not find a place for it. It does NOT do vintage anywhere near as well as the ICON. And looks alone don't justify adding another $600 mid-level bass to the arsenal.

If you want to sound like Paul did in the 1960's, and you want to own a "Hofner" bass to pull out now and again, the ICON is certainly the right bass at the right price point.

If you want to hang a bass on the wall that looks alot like a vintage Hofner, or if you are going to string it with rounds and use it for everything, then the CT may be the bass for you.

I'll keep both my ICON and my 1965 500/1. But no CT in my future.

 

[lazerbrains]

Let's just drive it home Lazer. The German made Hofner is TONS better than the CT. I mean, it is made in Germany and costs $1000 more than the CT, which is a cheap toy compared to a German Hofner. So, no matter how hard you try to convince yourself the CT is "just as good," you are wrong. Get a German made Hofner and know that you bought a better bass.

In the meantime, I will put my Waterstone Indra up against your CT anytime, anyplace, anywhere, and it will make your CT look and sound like a cheap toy. For that matter, I also know my Icon is more vintage sounding that the CT will ever be. The wood block ensures that. I will say your CT will sound more modern than the Icon, which is a quality I don't care about or need.

Calm down there, cowboy. I don't own a CT, I have an Icon - now take a deep breath and lower your blood pressure a bit.....

 

[Rob Martinez]

Calm down there, cowboy. I don't own a CT, I have an Icon - now take a deep breath and lower your blood pressure a bit.....

Hey, you're the one who needs calming down. You own a bass you claim is the worst you've ever had. Get rid of it. Buy a CT if it is so much better. Instead of constantly trashing the Icon, just get rid of it. Buy something you like. I don't have any basses I hate. I sell the ones that don't suit me and keep ones I like.

Chill, man!

 

[lazerbrains]

Hey, you're the one who needs calming down. You own a bass you claim is the worst you've ever had. Get rid of it. Buy a CT if it is so much better. Instead of constantly trashing the Icon, just get rid of it. Buy something you like. I don't have any basses I hate. I sell the ones that don't suit me and keep ones I like.

Chill, man!

I forgot that you are a sensitive type - just remember that I am talking about my bass, not your girlfriend.

I think I will actually burn my Icon in a bonfire and videotape it for youtube. That would make a great 'artistic statement' about the perils of cheap chinese toys!

Is ICON short for: "I was CONned"?

 

[RickenBoogie]

settle down boys, no need to get all explicit and wot-not.

 

[Ferniff]

Seriously guys, let's just end this argument here. No winners or losers.

So I got to play a CT today, (they had no Icon) and I actually quite liked it. Not as loud as I liked acoustically but I dont think any of us really look for that in an eletric bass. It sounded great plugged, even with the rounds. I can only imagine what flats would do. I wasn't away that I had to leave either the Bass or Treble on, not both.