Hofner Icon Series Vintage Violin Bass, Transparent Black Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)To qualify this, I have only been playing the bass for a few months at the time I'm writing this review...
I fell in like with the look of the Hofner Icon at the local Guitar Center and bought it. After a month of practice, lessons, and research, I happened upon a Hofner 500/1 vintage '63 reissue violin bass (hand made in Germany) at a hole-in-the wall music shop in downtown Chicago and fell in LOVE with it and it's amazing flatwound strings! I dropped nearly $2,000 and brought this beautiful instrument (such high quality that it should qualify as a piece of furniture) and returned my Icon with no regrets.
I may actually purchase another Icon soon and throw some flatwound strings (Hofners from North Coast Music) and use it for my travel bass when on vacation.
Here's what you need to know about the available Hofner basses:
ICON ($400ish)
-Made in China with Chinese electronics that can be quirky
-Fit and finish is adequate for the price point
-Regular roundwound strings with some fret buzz depending on setup
-Hollow body
-A pain in the butt getting a case sometimes! Go EBay or Amazon!
-Available in lefty (often with a case oddly)
CONTEMPORARY ($700ish)
-Made in China with German electronics
-Fit and finish adequate...slightly better than the Icon
-Has regular roundwound strings
-Hollow body BUT has a sound block inside giving it more sustain and a more modern, hence "contemporary" bass sound
-Has a neck bridge so you can slap on a McCartney-style Hofner strap!
-Available in lefty I believe?
-No case
GERMAN-MADE HOFNERS ($2,000 +)
-Hand-made in the Fatherland
-Fit and finish are amazing! Beautiful wood, stain, finish, feel
-Hofner (Pyramid) flatwound strings that give the most mellow "thump" and feel like butter!
-Comes with either a German vintage bullet case or flight case
-Available in lefty of course!

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With authentic details inspired by the original, the Hofner Icon Series Vintage Bass makes the legendary violin bass available to the rest of us. Don't get the idea that this a just a "nowhere man" look-alike. This quality instrument features a real spruce top and beautiful flamed maple back and sides. The semi-hollow body and set neck will give you the warm, round tone you expect from the violin bass. Rosewood fretboard, sunburst finish.The Icon Series Vintage Bass is featured in the video game Guitar Hero II for PlayStation 2.

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Rogue VB100 Violin Bass Guitar, Vintage Sunburst Review

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(More customer reviews)I LOVE THIS LITTLE BASS!!! Only had it for two full days, yet, it's personality has grabbed my bass heart and shook it. Connected to my BX1B & Hartke 12" combo, it made sounds that made my imagination soar. Wonderful bass tones, crazy effects, making "pigs fly", and attempts at the "Jaco Growl".....LOVIN' IT!. Got a set of LaBella flatwounds on the way for some deep groove warm butta action. Excellent price, excellent product. Some production flaws like uneven markers above one fret, and after removing the pick guard(cheesy), the holes left leave small cracks around them. Wanted to leave the holes exposed, by decided to but the screws back in(lame), but overall, a BEAUTIFUL instrument with a wonderful character, just waiting for me to breath life into it when I get home from a hard day. Thanks to ROGUE for making this sound & technology affordable to us part-time Bass players, full-time Bass lovers.

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The Rogue VB-100 violin bass guitar features a flamed maple arched top and back with the European-style hollowbody that makes it lightweight and capable of deep, resonant bass tones. The violin bass's traditional 31" scale offers immediate familiarity in your hands. A custom trapeze tailpiece, pearloid pickguard, and body binding on front and back are added touches. Don't be fooled by the tiny price; this Rogue a serious violin bass nicely made with all the playability and tone of the original at a fraction of the cost.

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