Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Cool. It had a big label on the plastic wrap that said RED. The staff were talking saying "Why would you order a classic bass like that & have it painted red?" That's why I hovered around waiting for them to open it up. I was half expecting candy apple red, but the burgundy is very nice. I don't mind the binding at all, but I'm a fan of the BT option on Ric's, too.

Any more news or reviews on these basses? Did anyone take shipment of one of them?

There was a problem with the shipment from China.
It's been pushed back with scheduled delivery around the first part October.
As soon as I receive mine, I'll post a review.

For more info:

http://www.voxshowroom.com/northcoast/hofner/hofner_guitar/icon.html

Just me folks, but I'm a little uncomfortable with the whole look alike low fat Hofner.

I'm probably getting too old, but to me this waters down the Hofner mystique. I also think it muddies up the Hofner market.

I understand it is the way of the world, but I wonder in a niche market, might this backfire? Okay to open to a beginner market, but would it not be better to clearly differentiate between the China vs German basses?

If Kia starts building 1967, 427 Corvette's, would that be a good thing?

Ah heck, at the right price, maybe. I'm going back to my cave, nevermind!

It's just you, Gary!

I suppose another way to look at it is do you want Hofner to make the money or Rogue?

I actually agree with Gary's misgivings - and I think it's possible that Hofner may in fact end up making far less money because they will remove a large part of the market for the reissue 500 series guitars.

To me this is like when, years ago, Avis rent-a-car almost started a budget division because of competitor firms undercutting prices with less service - and at the final board meeting it was almost approved but then one of the senior directors, who I think was from Poland as the story goes, said "Back home where I come from we call this pissing in the soup"....end of proposal.

Anyway - time will tell...

I think from a business perspective it may have been the wrong move. Fender has the MIM/MIA basses, and in some ways the quality and sound is better than the American made ones. I'm curious about the Hofners and how they sound compared to the originals.

I was able to email the Hofner rep hear in the US.
He said the Icon series are starting to ship early next week.

A few months ago we got in a 1962 Hofner 500/1 bass in the workshop which suffered a neck break at the body end, but it was repairable. The owner supplied a set of Pyramid flatwound strings for that thick THUMP.

After I re-assembled it and strung it up I couldn't resist having a go with it, I plugged it into the workshop's Walter Wood amp and launched into "Come together" and that wild bassline from "I saw her standing there" which sounded authentic, the overall sound of this bass was powerful with very beautiful blooming lows. What really surprised me though was how authentic basslines of Jack Bruce sounded, I played the bassline of "Politician" just for a laugh and I got that powerful bumblebee buzz sound he's known for without any effort.

My only quibble was that the bass was a disaster to intonate, playing beyond the seventh fret was hopelessly off key. (Something Sir Paul himself had a thing or two to say about I later found out when reading the "Beatles gear" book on why he started to use his Rickenbacker in the studio, he finally could record adventurous basslines in tune. Live, any off note was muffled by the screams anyway.)

So, with a first hand account on the performance of the real deal, I hope that those Chinese made Hofners can live up to their name and I hope they are better intonated.

Anyone hear anything on shipping?

I saw Gary's site has them now listed as in stock.....

I'm stuck. I'd love to own a Hofner but I don't know if I should get one just because they're cheaper and say Hofner on them or just wait and save up for a German-made model.

Marc, North Coast has been shipping since last weekend. Musician's Friend now has them listed but not shipping until first week in Nov.
I called Music 123 again, and they are suppose to ship on the 5th. I'm not complaining too much with Music 123 because I ordered this back in July for $299.

Isn't $299 the price everywhere?

NCM has them for $349 I think. Plus $69 for the hard shell case, coming out to $418.