Is this a hofner contemporary?

marc61 · Post by **marc61** » Fri Jan 12, 2007 2:23 pm

If so, I think I'm gonna grab it. I can pick it up in person...

http://cgi.ebay.com/HOFNER-BEATLE-BASS-ASIAN-MADE-W-GERMAN-PICKUPS_W0QQitemZ300070004319QQihZ020QQcategoryZ4713QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

fran4001 · Post by **fran4001** » Fri Jan 12, 2007 2:51 pm

Nope. It's an Icon. 100% Asian. The color is one giveaway, as is the headstock without the white outline. The Contemporary actually looks nearly identical to the German Hofner.

marc61 · Post by **marc61** » Fri Jan 12, 2007 4:36 pm

Thanks!

I thought the German parts didn"t fit on the Icon...Not worth $500 then. There's alays a catch with the stuff at that place.

philhowes · Post by **philhowes** » Sat Jan 13, 2007 3:59 am

I'm not sure what it is - but it does have the zero fret - I thought the icon did not have the zero fret.

bassduke49 · Post by **bassduke49** » Sat Jan 13, 2007 5:30 am

I think it stated that a zero fret was added. Hmm. If not done properly, that would screw up the tuning, I suspect.

This is definitely the Icon with Hofner teacup knobs and switches added. Note the main (outboard) arms of the tailpiece straighten out before they reach the string anchor. Another way to tell (although not evident in these photos) is that the Icon neck is set into a long rabbet in the body -- all the way to the end of the neck. The Contemporary (like the German Hofners) is set into a shorter rabbet and is cantilevered over the body. If you will recall, Paul McCartney used the old-style strap that wrapped around the narrow portion of the top of the body, underneath the cantilevered section of the neck. You wouldn't be able to do that with the Icon (and several other Hofner copies).

I've seen the Icon and the Contemporary side by side, and the Contemp is almost indistinguishable from the German-made basses. The Icon is noticeably different in construction and color.