Anyone own or play one of these cheap Hofner knock offs? How are they, generally speaking. MF has them for $179 shipped and I'm thinking of taking a chance sight unseen.
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Rogue VB100
- Thread starter BulbousMoses
- Start date
Yeah I've got one. Great bass, seems sturdier built than the Hofner Icon. The tuning keys are standard bass keys, not the Hofner banjo style, which detracts a little bit from the look but, again, that contributes to the feel that's it's more likely to last the long haul. I was very surprised when I got mine how much I liked it. I bought a hardshell case for it, cost me half what the bass did but it seemed too nice an instrument to not have a case.
Yeah, I watched a few YouTube videos of them last night and from what I saw, they seemed to be ok. The videos reproduced that Beatle sound pretty accurately. I think it's worth a shot getting it shipped up here.
It does the Beatles thing very well, as good as the Hofner Icon does in my experience. Just swap out the stock strings for some LaBella flats first and let them break in for a few weeks. I've had mine two years now, gigged it maybe half a dozen times, and it's been great each time.
Well, it can improve sustain. But on a Hofner one usually wants notes to decay quickly.
True but a foam insert will do that for me (McCartney jammed a foam block under the strings at the bridge)
That will do it. Letting the flats season for a few years was all I needed on mine. I suspect you'd be happy enough with the Rogue. The fit and finish was (to my surprise) a little better than the Hofner Icon and it thumps just fine. The good news is MF will pay for the return if you get a lemon, so there's little risk in trying one.
I have used a VB100 off and on as my main gigging bass for the last couple of years. They are very nice basses for their price range. I also recommend putting the LaBella flats on them.
I find my brace of Brices to have more low end than my Rogue or Epiphone Viola and the Rogue and Epi both have bridge blocks. I don't know for certain if that's why but it's quite obvious to me even when playing unplugged.
Then again the Brices are both black and the Rogue and Epi are 'burst so maybe it's just the finish...
Acoustically the Brice sounds louder than the Rogue or Epi, maybe that's due to the top having a bit more freedom.
Another difference I found is the Rogue and Epi both have plywood rims, the Brices are solid wood rims.
I use the same brand and gauge flats on all of them.
Finally someone who sees the light!!
I'm slowly digging my VB100 again which is strung with Chromes. I found an old set of RS88s in my string case and am tempted to install those. These last few eves I've been soloing the neck pickup, running it through an Ashdown MAG 300 ---> 2 Fender Bassman 1X15 and playing to the live version (at Randell's Island on July 19, 1970) of "Mississippi Queen" for giggles.
I own a Rogue as well as a "real" Hofner Club bass. Hofner lovers are quick to dismiss the cheap knockoffs as paling in comparison, but come on! How quickly we forget that original Hofners WERE cheap instruments before a certain Liverpudlian put them on the map and compelled them to use his affiliation to mark up their instruments to astronomical (read: way overpriced, IMO) prices. That's exactly why McCartney bought one. He couldn't afford a Fender at the time, the Hofner was cheap, and symmetrical. So you want the truth? I think the Rogue is better in many respects. Not nearly as flimsy feeling, a bit heavier, and the tone is classic Hofner with a bit more punch and clarity. Yes, aesthetically they're not as nice. The pickguard and control plates are cheap looking and not as nice as the Hofner pearloid ones, and the banjo tuners look cooler on a Hofner too. But truthfully, the control knobs and switches are cheap plastic junk on a Hofner too.
For about $2200 less than a Hofner and offering 99% of the tone and build arguably better in some respects, it's a no brainer.
For about $2200 less than a Hofner and offering 99% of the tone and build arguably better in some respects, it's a no brainer.
I've played several vintage 500/1s since the 80's and each time I wondered what the fuss was about. I bought my VB100 because it's a price I can justify paying for this type of bass.
We'll get burned as heretics for what we say but then honesty never sat well with people who embrace 'blind faith' and heresay.
I've had similar views about SX Fender copies ...
Exactly, why spend all that money for a Fender when you get a serviceable instrument at about 1/10 the cost?
I know Jeff Berlin feels that way. I remember a post here where he said something like he'd never pay over $500 for a bass guitar because for just a little money and a good luthier you can make it a really great playing/sounding instrument.
