Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Definitely the Contemporary Series, or the Chinese made Hofners are worth it because they are so similar to the German made ones.

Steve, I've seen several Beatle tribute bands and they have all had real Hofners.

Marc, if you can't use the Hofner strap how similar can they be? Again, I'm not knocking it. I think it's a good idea for Hofner, just not for me.

I would rather have the contemporary series Hofner, but you can't get them in the US. That's seems odd to me.

I have heard that a limited number of the Contemporary Series Beatle Basses will be made available here in the US. I just like the looks of it better than the Icon. Plus it has the solid block inside of it that the Icon or the German basses don't. I think that will improve the sound overall. Plus $699 is much more reasonable than $1800 for a bass like that IMHO. I use to own a Hofner years ago, so I feel I can say that.

I bought one and used it for the first time this weekend...a good way to think of it, is to think of it as more of a 70's or 80's hofner bass....no slot below the neck....different pickups...etc. As the owner of a german hofner, I would safely say that not only the does the new icon series play better, but it is certainley as good sounding. There are only a few problems I have with it...

1. the left handed models have strange headstocks
2. non-bound headstock (which is actually good if you were going to do a revolution cavern bass conversion)
3. the finish is not great


-Alex

My Hofner had those bar magnet pick-ups that looked strange to me. It didn't sound bad at all, and played great. It just had the typical feedback issues that hollow body instruments have. That's why I think the solid block in the Contemporary Series bass will improve the overall sound. Plus, it has the German staple pick-ups for an authentic look unlike the Icon. If I was to get another Hofner, I would definitely go for the Contemporary bass over the Icon.

Hey Alex,

Great input on the Icon Series. Tell more about it, please! How does it sound with the roundwounds on it? Or did you switch out to flats?

Was the intonation good?
How heavy is the bass? Is it about 5-6 Lbs?
Is the volume output of the pickups good?
Is the neck skinny or a little on the fat side?

Thanks very much!

I have heard too many stories about the finish being lousy. I took one look at the Icon that is pictured at Pick of the Ricks, and cancelled my order. Hell, now I wish I wouldn't have sold my Rogue. Not only did it sound good, it looked good too.
Guess, I'll have to buy the real deal.

On another related note. I saw on a few web sites, that the contemporay series is offered in black.

What's so bad about it? It's just not flamed...

My old sixties Violin bass is the most unHofner of my bunch. The Rogue is not a bad bass. It has a clubbie neck. That some bass players love. Its 6 3/4 pounds. So its not too heavy.
My Turser Violin bass is a black finish. I got it just to have something different in a Violin bass. Perhaps I should have gotten the burst because they seem to look a lot more Hofner like than the Icon does actually in the finish department. With a few mods that I'm already used to doing it would work real well.
My Turser does have a lot better looking pick
guard and control panel than my Rogue does. Its also a light lighter, just under five pounds. If the Icon was as nice as the Turser in looks I'd be all over it already due to the Hofner name being on the headstock.
I have a Turser copy of a Hofner 500/6 verithin thats a pretty nice bass too. It even has the Hofner tailpiece on it.
The Contemporary looks better than the Icon and if its looks were combined with the Icon's weight that would be a great combination. I disagree on the solid wood block sounding better. I like the sound of the hollow body myself and the light weight. I think in fact that the hollow body sound is part of what the Violin bass is all about.
None of mine even the one with F holes have any real bad feedback issues. In fact if at all any that I get adds to the sustain of notes. Its adds more a live feeling to the instrument.

I like the look of the Contemporary models. But who in the US has them? I've seen them on UK sites..

Hi Bob,

I've played both the Turser and the Rogue violin copies and I read that you're regretting getting rid of the Rogue. IMO, if you liked the looks and playability of the Rogue, you will very much like the Turser copy. It really looks 'Hofneresque' and I think it plays a little better than the Rogue, especially with flats on it.

Well, my Icon came in today and I gave it a good going-over (esp. in light of the neck problem with the TR from MF last month).

Definitely worth the money. Weak spot is the finish, which uses a tinted CV that is spotty in places. The burst is less amber than Husky Pee Yellow...Too bad about the knobs, but I have a couple of sets of NOS Hofner knobs and I'll adapt one set.

I'll report on the sound as soon as I get it switched over to flats. What gauge should I be using for best sound?

My Hofner was prone to strange sounds and squeals at loud volumes due to it's hollow body. That's why I like the the solid block idea in the CT basses. It might make for slightly less feed back possibilities, and may make it sound more solid body like. Plus, it might add a little weight to the body which I would also like. My Hofner sometimes felt like I was playing a very fragile bass. And I know lot of people like that hollow body sound, I'm just not that wild over it. When I decided to sell the Hofner, I had a hard time moving it. And I wasn't asking much for it at all. But that was in the 80's when you almost couldn't give Hofners away. I always regretted selling my old '77 4001 workhorse, but I didn't regret selling the Hofner. Perhaps the newer CT's are better.

Ick, they come strung up with rounds? Who plays a Hofner with rounds?!

Paul, i'd go with a heavy-ish set. Maybe 50-105?