Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I would too Bob! The Contemporary looks like a beautiful nice sounding bass. They really need to lower the price of the Contemporary and discontinue the Icon IMHO. I don't think they will though. Even though I wish they would. You make a lot of good points Dan. I agree that the Turser is a nicer looking bass than the Icon, and the Rogue is a nicer looking bass too. In fact, there is a Rogue on ebay that I saw last night that is very nice indeed. I also saw a particularly nice Turser there too. Hofner, if they are going to keep the Icon, would be better to just offer the black finish IMHO. That burst just dosen't do it for me. It looks too cheesey. I'm still looking at the Brice because it's built more like the Contemporary w/sound block and all. But if Hofner ever lowered the Contemporary to around $450-550w/case, I'd buy one. I'm not counting on it due to the production of the Icon though. Even though I noticed too that more and more are popping up in EBay that are used. Disappointed first run buyers perhaps?

I recently bought the HOfner Icon bass and I think it is WELL worth the cash. I own a 62 hofner reissue and i think it plays better and it seems the sound is more even with the icon bass. I replaced the tailpiece with a german version, changed the knobs with the german tea-cup knobs, and took the pickguard off....looks much better with the pickguard off. I also took the control panel out and lightly painted it to make it more vintage looking like my 62 reissue. I'll post some pics later of it.
Jon N.

Allparts makes a replacement tailpiece for the Hofner bass that looks as good and is cheaper than the Hofner version. I'd be interested in seeing pics.

Here are a couple pics of both basses. The one thing I didn't like about the icon is that they had the pickguard installed with a screw in the body...so there is a small hole in the body. The icon has more of a "honey" color than the german hofner.

These two tailpieces look pretty close.
Both made in Germany.

The one from EBay is a $25 BIN.

http://cgi.ebay.com/TRAPEZE-TAILPIECE-FITS-HOFNER-BEATLE-BASS_W0QQitemZ330054636564QQihZ014QQcategoryZ4713QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

This one from Allparts list for $35.

http://www.allparts.com/details.php?call=displayimage&image=TP_0425-010-387.jpg&stock_id=238

Jon, welcome to the forum.
Thanks for posting pics, but I would love to see them a little lighter.

Randy, I don't think we will see Hofner saying goodbye to the Icon anytime soon. I would love to give it a chance, but like you I can't get pass the finish. I wish I could see one in person.

Here's a pic with flash but, the flash really washes out the color. The 62 reissue has more of the natural color showing through..the icon looks more like sir pauls bass today....kind of a more honey tint to it.
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v160/Jason7/fyuk75.jpg[/img]
I've also owned the Rogue violin bass and the hofner icon blows it away...in my opinion. The shape, the color, the sound is much better. I hated those "tiger stripes" in the wood on the rogue bass....i mean, they were pretty but, it didn't resemble the Hofner style.

Jon, thanks for the brighter pic. I know the flash washes out the color.
Since you have owned the Rogue, how do the pickups compare?
On my old Rogue, the pickups where really wobbley, and rocked back and forth if they where raised much. Also, like my 500/2 Club, you only need to slightly turn the pups on, and the volume is like they are cranked to the max.
There isn't much room for adjusting the volume.

The pickups in the Icon are top notch. They dont move at all and they are the staple-top style pickups which makes it even sweeter. The volume control is just about like my 62 reissue...I just usually leave mine wide open all the time. It also has the genuine Hofner paper attached to the inside of the bass. Thats what makes it so cool...its not a copy...its a Hofner!

The finish looks too yellow on mine, not quite amber enough. But I'll probably fix that next time I'm spraying amber CV on one of my customers' Ricks!

I don't like the sunburst on the Icon still. But I do like the black finish though. The tailpiece on the closeups I've seen of the Icon dosen't look as sturdy to me. What does yours look like Jon?

BTW, Bob, I'd love to give the Icon a chance too. Especially the black one, which looks nice. I just want to get some more info on build, and sound quality before I sink almost $450 into it.

Randy...I replaced the icon version tailpiece with the German tailpiece...along with the teacup knobs and vintage weathering done to my control panel.

Welcome Jon. Your Icon looks a lot better than others who have actually bought it vrs what the pic's look like the catalogs.
The tailpiece and knobs made it look better. The Contemporary is still nicer. But its double the cost. However you wouldn't have to buy the different tailpiece. The thirty five buck from allparts is not bad looking though. Certainly makes the Icon a bit more attractive. What the color of the logo on the Contemporary, Gold or Silver?
As far as coloring the pickguard or the control panel would the Fender amber spray made by reranch look any better Paul?

The logo on the Contemporary is gold like the German basses. I figure in due time they will start popping up on E-Bay in greater numbers and the prices will be somewhat better. If I were to get an Icon, I would have to get the black one, switch out the tailpiece and change the knobs. Don't know if I would want to do all that right from the start. Those teacup knobs aren't cheap at $20 a piece. The Allparts tailpiece should be top notch and will probably fit the copy basses too. At about $35, not a bad price. Although total aould be around $500 total. That's a little steep for a bass like this IMHO. The Brice still looks more attractive looks and price wise to me.

I got my Hofner Icon bass with hard shell case for $375 brand new shipped. Thats the cheapest I could find.
Jon N.