Customer Reviews

Hofner Icon Series Beatle Bass Guitar - Sunburst

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

As a professional musician and university music professor, I have pretty high standards. Of course, I'm primarily a woodwind performer, and although I've fooled around with guitar since high school, this was my first electric bass guitar. Hofner's Icon model has cheaper wood and generally some cheaper parts than their professional level basses, but I love this instrument. The short scale is perfect for moving seamlessly between guitar and bass and makes technically demanding passages easier than on a standard scale bass. I've gotten to the point where I've taken the bass to parties and played a couple of paying gigs with it. The intonation is pretty good, although it is not up to the level of professional instruments. The main issue is that 1st fret notes are very sharp. The movable bridge is a little tricky to work with, too. I found that I just had to find a spot where there was a fairly decent blend of string height, string angle, and scale for the intonation. Generally, the switches and pickups seem to work pretty well, although the switches get just a little flaky when the temperature and humidity conditions change rapidly. I find that the strings that come with it work ok, but that flat wound strings really improve it, making it useful for rock and jazz playing. I did have to do some minor work on the frets, since two of them were set a little lower than the rest, but just a little adjustment eliminated fret buzz. It's no pre-CBS Fender, to be sure, but for less than $400, it looks good, sounds good, and is lightweight and easy to play.

When I began playing, this was the first bass that I fell in love with and purchased. Built in China with Chinese electronics and some plywood mixed in, you get what you pay for. Ultimately, it looks good, feels good, and is very playable and quite fun. The several Hofner Icon variants that I used were very quirky especially with sound cutting out when any pressure was put on the bass cable.
This is a hollow body bass, just like Sir Paul's, so there is more weight to the neck than the body, causing the Icon to drop at the headstock when worn with a strap and you go hands-free. I tended to tighten my strap and wear the Icon pretty close to my body to counter this.

Good luck finding a good case by the way...

The next step up is the CT or Contemporary...this is also made in China, but with authentic German Hofner electronics and has a sound block on the inside, giving it a more modern (hence: "contemporary") sound and more weight. The CT comes in around $700 or so and is styled much like the originals complete with a neck pocket...so you can wear your Hofner strap just like Sir Paul.

If you really want a GREAT bass, drop the coin (about $2,000) and get a true German-made Hofner like the 500/1 V63 reissue. I would recommend North Coast Music or another reputable Hofner dealer, NOT the big box Guitar Center and such. These guitars have flat wound strings which sound and feel awesome (like warm butter!)...totally recommended! I'm not sure how they would sound on an Icon or CT, but if I couldn't swing the $2k, I would have given it a shot.

Overall, I highly recommend the Icon, CT, and German-made Hofners....it just depends on your price point.

This product is extremely light-weight and compact. If you play progressive/experimental rock like myself, and/or you don't play simple three-note bass lines, then you know that your fingers can become rather sore and cramp up if you play for a long time. With this bass this is no longer an issue, as the frets are closer together, and the strings themselves are spaced closer together. This bass has three toggle switches (Solo/rhythm, bass on/off, and treble on/off) which will dramatically change the tone; this also saves time by simply turning the switch(es), rather than having to turn knobs, as I had to do with my Fender Squier P-Bass. I highly recommend this bass guitar to any musician, as it can sound great with all genre's of music.

I have played bass for 15+ years. I own/have owned a G&L SB2, 2500L, Fender Jazz, Ibanez, etc so this is not my first instrument. I purchased this bass expecting it not to be of considerable quality. I was shocked at how well this bass was made. Especially being an Indonesian made model.

It is very easy to play. Great feel and weight with a unique tonal quality. This does not feel or look like a cheap instrument. I will certainly be looking into a German made Hofner since playing this one.

I only gave it 4 stars because of the cheaper quality tuners and tail piece. You should know that the specs of this bass are a little different than the German made models. IE: the arch of this bass is less than the German made models.

If you want a great sounding lower priced Hofner, I highly recommend this.

Thank you for product bought the Hofner bass for my brothers bithday plays great sounds great can't ask more then that







Thank you

I own this bass. It's a great bass, period. It's super light weight and plays like a guitar. After you play it you'll understand how Paul McCartney made his Hofner bass lines dance. You won't be disappointed. BnB Beatles Depot

It's an OK bass, but the bridge is made poorly and is broken. I am trying to get a replacement from the seller, but am waiting for results. I hope that the supplier will come through with a new bridge. I would also appreciate some help from Amazon.