Hofner hard shell case for the Icon Series bass
How Does the Hofner Icon Series Beatle Bass differ from the Hofner Contemporary Series Beatle Bass?
Both the Icon and Contemporary Basses are made in China. Both use tuners, pick guards, control panels, input jacks, switches, and knobs sourced in either China or Korea. The Icon has Chinese pickups and pickup rings built to Hofner specifications. The bodies and necks on either bass are built in China. Both basses have a polyurethane fiish, but the finish on the Icon is slightly less yellow in the center, and modeled after the color of the finish of a 1961 Hofner bass. The primary difference appears to be that the Contemporary Beatle Bass has a solid sound block in the middle of the body and Hofner staple pickups, while the Icon Beatle Bass does not. German made Hofner Beatle Basses do not have this sound block, as well. This sound block changes the tone of the Contemporary Beatle Bass so that it sounds a bit more like a solid body bass. The Contemporary Series basses are about twice as expensive than the Icon Series basses.
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| The German Beatle Bass Hofner parts pictured below do not fit on the Hofner Icon bass. |
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The German Hofner Beatle Bass guitar strap (NCM-205) does NOT fit the Icon. |
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The German Hofner Pick Guard does NOT fit the Icon. |
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The German Hofner control panel does NOT fit the Icon. |
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The German Hofner Pickups and/or pickup surrounds do NOT fit the Icon.. |
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The German Hofner tuners (V62 strip or V63 individual style) do NOT fit the Icon. |
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10/26/06
Gary,
The Icon was just delievered and I've got to say I am really impressed with it all. Carefully packed and shipped with care, I appreciate the effort you put into what really is a specialized service you perform there at NCM. While it shows some telltail signs that is is not a German produced Beatle Bass, I am impressed with the bass' authenticy it shows in dimensions and in overall appearance. And the added bonus was the Hofner shipping box it came in to show it's genuine. The bass is well worth the money and immeasurably improved over the bass that I have owned for a time (its manufacturer will be left nameless, but it rhymes with Tay Jurser). Thank you very much again for the Icon and the 325 Ric - they will look and sound great together!
Matt P
Kirkland WA
10/30/06
Mr. Gary,
I recieved my Hofner Icon bass last week. In spite of the minor flaws that are natural to a $350 instrument, It looks great. The neck is heavenly, and the action came super low, as I like. The double-packing was perfect: it could be sent to Iraq, and the bass would get there harmless.
Thanks for the great service, as always.
Ivan
Brazil
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Hofner Icon Series Beatle Bass -Transparent Black Finish
If you were wishing to buy a Hofner Beatle bass, but not willing or do not have the funds available to purchase the Hofner Beatle Basses produced in Germany (or purchase an inaccurate replica), this Hofner Icon Series Beatle bass may just be the ticket for you. I know that many of you are anxious to hear how this new Icon Series bass compares to the Hofner V63 or V62 German produced basses, so please read the following carefully to understand the differences.
Before I proceed, please understand that the Hofner V62, V63, Deluxe, and Cavern basses are hand made in Germany by Hofner, but the Hofner Icon bass is totally produced in China.
The Hofner Icon bass does not have any German Beatle bass hardware. The bridge, tailpiece, tuners, pickups, switches, pots, pickguard, and pick up surrounds are all of Chinese or Korean origin. Their appearance suggests the appearance of the German parts, but tonally, they may not be the same as a German bass.
The German made Hofner Beatle basses all have a "zero" fret, but the Icon series bass does not.
The German made Beatle basses have a gold Hofner logo, the Icon basses have a pearl inlaid Hofner logo.
The Icon series Beatle bass has a spruce plywood top and a maple plywood back. The German produced V62, V63, Deluxe, and Cavern basses all feature premium German spruce tops and German premium maple backs.
This Icon Series bass is finished in a transparent black polyurethane finish. It is very hard to accurately depict this finish in photos, but one can actually see the wood grain pattern through the black stained finish.
Options:
Left handed black Icon basses are NOT available at this time, sorry.
The Hofner Icon Series Bass bass comes strung with orientally produced round wound bass strings. North Coast Music offers the original German made Hofner Beatle bass flat wound bass strings (our part number NCM-249) that you can install yourself on this bass should you prefer.
North Coast Music also offers the genuine Hofner "tea cup" knobs used on the German produced basses as an optional purchase (our part number #NCM-215), should you wish to add this detail to your Icon Series Beatle Bass.
The Hofner Beatle Bass strap (our part number NCM-205) does not fit on this bass.
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The Icon Series Beatle Bass with a Hofner hard shell case is selling for a discount price of $439 plus just $15 for all of the following services:
Hand selection of each Icon bass at the Hofner US warehouse by Gary
Thorough inspection for quality, along with neck relief, action, and intonation adjustments) so you can expect your Icon to in the upper end of quality for the model
Double boxing for superb protection in shipping. Ask any other online store if they will take the time or expense to do this for you. Click here for a picture.
North Coast Music will install two genuine Hofner "tea cup" knobs for an addtional $42
DHL surface shipping/insurance to addresses in the continental US.
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It is in stock now.
Hofner Transparent Black Icon Bass, RIGHT HANDED, with a genuine Hofner Icon Hard Shell Case. The price includes double boxing for safe delivery via DHL, full inspection and a basic setup by DoctorVox (inspection wil reject problem basses, setup is neck truss, action, and intonation).
Price: $439.00 USD each
Continental US Shipping: $15 USD each
Alaska, Hawaii, and International Shipping: Click here
Part #: IconBlk
Order Quantity: 
Having trouble with the shopping cart? Click here
Hofner Transparent Black Icon Bass, right handed, PLUS GERMAN HOFNER TEACUP KNOBS INSTALLED AT NORTH COAST MUSIC prior to shipment and a genuine Hofner Icon Hard Shell Case. The price includes double boxing for safe delivery via DHL, full inspection and a basic setup by DoctorVox (inspection will reject problem basses, setup is neck truss, action, and intonation).
Price: $479.00 USD each
Continental US Shipping: $15 USD each
Alaska, Hawaii, and International Shipping: Click here
Part #: IconBlk
Order Quantity:
Having trouble with the shopping cart? Click here
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