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Lets make this the last Hofner Icon vs Contemporary Thread

#101
For those of you who missed the Hello.com deal on the sunburst Icon Club, you can have another shot at it today... But it is a black Icon Club not the sunburst. Which is fine by me.
I kicked myself for letting the deal pass last time and jumped today.

This has been an interesting thread to read regarding the differences of the CT and the Icon. I know burning an Icon was mentioned, but as a means of comparison, I suspect the CT will burn longer and give off more heat.
:hiding:
No matter what, I am happy that I am able to afford any bass whatsoever and I WILL enjoy playing this one.
 
#103
I own a CT, and have played an Icon. The Icon just felt cheap, although the sound was not bad. The CT sounds more modern, not necessarily like an old Hofner, and the German pickups are loud and powerful. Lots of bass, lots of treble. If you can find a CT used, go for it. But if you're really looking to duplicate the old Hofner sound, for less money, but with a quality instrument, try to find a Greco VB-500 (1977-81). They're about $600 these days.
 
#104
The Hofner Icon will feel "cheap" if you are used to solid body or semi hollow basses. So will a German made Hofner. Both are true hollow body basses, so are very light and feel like a toy compared to, say, a Fender P bass or a Rickenbacker.
 
#105
The HI is cheap and light, the German one is light only, not sure cheap, being handmade and with a finish of the 1st order. Not possible a comparison on the wood or craftmanship level. But the sound of the HI can be more Hofner-esque than a german reissue itself, with his very poor sustain and his remarkable punch :)
 
#106
odysseios said:
The HI is cheap and light, the German one is light only, not sure cheap, being handmade and with a finish of the 1st order. Not possible a comparison on the wood or craftmanship level. But the sound of the HI can be more Hofner-esque than a german reissue itself, with his very poor sustain and his remarkable punch :)
Click to expand...

Yup. That's what I've said all along!:D
 
#109
In some cases it could be a little embarrassing, i.e. if you end a song with a shot on the E, sound disappears too fast... this is partially true on the CT also; not sure the same thing on a Fender Precision.
There is more sustain on the D/G strings, especially at high volumes.

Mongo, what strings do you have on the HI? I had the Hofners.
 
#110
odysseios said:
In some cases it could be a little embarrassing, i.e. if you end a song with a shot on the E, sound disappears too fast...
Click to expand...

Never happens with mine. I usually have to either stop the string or fade it out with the volume control. I can always keep hitting the string if I need a longer note for a sustained "rock" ending....again, just like on my solidbodies

odysseios said:
Mongo, what strings do you have on the HI? I had the Hofners.
Click to expand...

Labella 760n for the Beatle Bass on one violin and club, Labella 760 flats for the Beatle Bass on another violin and regular long scale 760n on a violin I modified by replacing the swinging tailpiece with a simple maple tailpiece so it can use long scale strings.
 
#115
I thought I would add my two cents..I play in a cover blues and rock band..doobies, ZZ, Beatles, and Steely...so I normally play a Yamaha "Nathan East" 5.. when I thought about getting something for picking purposes...I didn't want to spend a lot of money..I play through an Ampeg Portaflex 500 2x10, and a vintage "Acoustic" 122 15"combo.. I found a Jay Turser JT2 used for sale and I bought it and it was ok for my use. But I found the string spacing wider( Fender Jazz) that the Hofner. For strickly picking I wanted a significant difference..so I took it back to my GC and traded for the Hofner Ignition..much better sound and feel...the Turser is more of a HTC copy than the Ignition.. So I will be keeping the Ignition and tricking it out with maybe the german made pickups, bridge and nut. Hope this helps.
 
#116
I play in an acoustic band with a Jazz Bass. My son loaned me his Höfner 500/1 CT (flat wounds + Ampeg tube), I tested it on Heartbreak Hotel and Mrs. Robinson. I got a great sound, type double bass, you see?
Even if I am very fan of the beatles and McCartney, I didn't want a bass too typical as the 500/1.
By viewing the forums and youtube, I preferred to choose the Hofner Club Bass 500/2 which has a more common look. This hollow bass are very similar, same neck, same pickups...
I live in Belgium, and I did not find a 500/2 in stock. Since I was very impatient, I took the risk to take a Club Ignition Bass. I first replaced the very bad strings with Hofner Flat wounds. Essential !
Now, I can easily compare the 2 sounds, and I can tell you that the 2 basses offer a sound identical.
My conclusions: there is probably little difference between an ignition and a CT about the tone but it's not obvious. There are certainly problems of finishes. For example, I had to file carefully a few edges frets on mine. There remained some streaks.
Honestly, I find that the CT 500/1 is more finished than my 500/2 Ignition, but despite everything, the sound is very interesting and very typical.
 
#117
I use Hofner branded Pyramid Gold flats on my Hofner Ignition violin bass. I've owned 5 German made Hofner basses over 40 years. I prefer the Ignition to all of my past German made basses. The neck is set better the sound and the feel are great, just what I wanted.
If you know how to set up a Hofner, and fit it up with first class flats, you'll have no problems achieving the classic Hofner sound. The sustain is no problem either.
 
#118
My first Hofner was an Icon. Love it! I have since purchased Icon Club basses and German made Hofner 500/1 and 500/2 basses. I really love them and enjoy them. But I won't sell my Icon. It is a great bass that I believe can compete with the German made basses.

Certain features on the Icon are better, IMO. For one thing, it is easier to adjust the PU height on the Icon than the German made basses. Also, the Icon, though lacking binding on the neck, come with dot markers on the side of the neck. It is maddening that my V63 bass has no dot markers on the side. Yeah, I know it is a reissue of how they made the bass in 1963. Some vintage design points need to be ejected! :)
 
#119
Just spotted 2 Hofner basses in my local guitar shop: 1 x Hofner Ignition Violin and one CT 500/1 so just had to try them side by side. To me it was so obvious that the CT is so much better quality: better looking bridge, pick guard, nut, zero fret, how the pick guard is attached, binding on the neck and neck shape (felt so much nicer).

However, when playing the Ignition the Hofner woody sound sound was so much more obvious (its also quite a bit lighter as no sound block). The CT def won on feel and quality for me but the Ignition had that sound. If i could have the ignition sound in the CT body i'd be a happy man! :confused:
 

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