Got a Hofner Club coming in

[drbassman]

I was at the shop today and the guys told me that they had Hofner Club Icons and CTs coming in so I put my name in for one.  Should be interesting to see the Clubs in the lower priced construction.  Either way, I'll walk away with one if they are at least respectable.

[Dave W]

Do you still have your German-made Club?

[drbassman]

I sold it last year to buy my Gretsch Thunder Jet bass.  I really prefer the Gretsch, it's got more mass without being too heavy.  I like the slightly wider neck and the chambered body sounds as good as the Hofner.  I play the T J at gigs all the time. It usually goes along with a TB to each one.

I do miss that hollow plunky sound of the Club, so I thought I'd give one of low end ones a try.

[Chris P.]

I've seen the Chinese Contemporary Club and it's really nice! I haven't played it, but I did have the Cont. violin at home for some weeks and it's nice!

There's also a CS Club coming!

[drbassman]

I've seen the Chinese Contemporary Club and it's really nice! I haven't played it, but I did have the Cont. violin at home for some weeks and it's nice!

There's also a CS Club coming!

What's the difference between the 2?

[Chris P.]

If you mean the difference between the Contemporary Club Bass and the Contemporary violin: Both made in China woth some German parts (pick ups and more). The violin one is voilin shaped and the club is more Les Paul shaped. A slightly bogger body, so maybe more bass? I haven't heard the club amplified.

And now I see a strange coincidence: Contemporary Series = CS./ Custom Shop - CS Confusing!!

I meant that Höfner now also has a Custom Shop with very expensive German made custom coloured Club Basses,

Between ContSrs and CustShp are the normal German made Höfners.

In Holland:
Cont Series: 650 euros
German Hofners: 2.000 euros
Custom Shop: Not yet available but I guess 3000+?

[drbassman]

I assumed the Icon was all Chinese and the CT has more German parts.  Am I correct?

[Chris P.]

I haven't seen the Icon in real life, but I heard it's just a cheap thing. The Cont. Series has German pick ups and is really well made!

[Dave W]

I've played an Icon violin bass. It was as good as other clones at the lower end of the market, i.e. decent but not great. It didn't look or sound quite like the originals, but that's to be expected.

[Chris P.]

The Cont series sounds good. They are very like originals, but they have a wooden block in the body. I compared it to a real one and it was close. The guy who was married to this original liked the Chinese one too.

[godofthunder]

 I still have my '65-'66. It is a fun bass to play, I've got the intonation darn close. It does not get much use but I jammed with it a tearago with some friend who have a American roots rock gig and it sounded great ! My usual distortion/sustain was replaced by swelling feed back the bass really sings ! I'm curious to check out you club when it arrives Bill !

[drbassman]

Yep, it's supposed to be in this week at the HOG, so we'll see.  Now I've got to sell something to pay for it!!!

[drbassman]

A Club guitar came in and I am so tempted to buy it, what a nice 6 stringer!  Still waiting on the bass.

[Chris P.]

I received a mail from Höfner after I asked some questions for this bass magazine I'm writing for. The Custom Shop is US only! Höfner Germany ships bare bodies to the states. The Custom Shop there will finish them and put the hardware on, as ordered by the customer.

[Dave W]

That's strange. I wasn't aware they had any facility in the US, and I would be surprised if it's actually company-owned. More likely some kind of contract arrangement.