scrumpymike Posted November 25, 2016 Share Posted November 25, 2016 Just bought a lovely active Hohner Jack from those nice guys Geraint and Dan at Jaywalk Guitars in Street (Somerset). Nipped in to the shop today on spec (as you do), saw this amongst the used stuff and had a go out of curiosity. Loved it! Wasn't expecting such a different playing experience from everything else I've owned. It even wants to sit on the strap in a different position - closer to vertical than normal (like Bill Wyman in the '60s) that feels strangely natural to me. Anybody out there got/had one? I'd be interested in any kind of feedback. I'll post a pic or 2 this weekend. PS Also gave a US Standard Jag a run - what a tone-monster is that!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
essexbasscat Posted November 25, 2016 Share Posted November 25, 2016 The active ones had very powerful pickups, very light and easy to play. A lot of bass for the money. Was rated in a BC poll a few years ago as one of the 'must play' basses I owned one from new and sold it to get my first USA P bass. If another one came along at the right time in good condition I'd get it without a doubt. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JapanAxe Posted November 25, 2016 Share Posted November 25, 2016 I had one with Jazz-type pickups. In the end I favoured the sound of a Precision, but yes a pleasant playing experience. I think the asking prices have got a bit unrealistic in recent years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
landwomble Posted November 25, 2016 Share Posted November 25, 2016 My second ever bass was one of these and I wish I still had it. Only sold it as the headless look got the piss ripped out of me...! Sustain for days Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luckman67 Posted November 26, 2016 Share Posted November 26, 2016 I had the black one a very good bass to own. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JapanAxe Posted November 26, 2016 Share Posted November 26, 2016 Jack Hohner, Jack Hohner - didn't he sit in the corner and report some kind of food-related incident? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scrumpymike Posted November 26, 2016 Author Share Posted November 26, 2016 And here's the pics: [url="http://[URL=http://s1149.photobucket.com/user/scrumpymike/media/IMG_4968_zpsbml4r2fz.jpg.html][IMG]http://i1149.photobucket.com/albums/o598/scrumpymike/IMG_4968_zpsbml4r2fz.jpg[/IMG][/URL]"][IMG]http://i1149.photobucket.com/albums/o598/scrumpymike/IMG_4968_zpsbml4r2fz.jpg[/IMG][/url] [url="http://[URL=http://s1149.photobucket.com/user/scrumpymike/media/IMG_4966_zpsntcogckd.jpg.html][IMG]http://i1149.photobucket.com/albums/o598/scrumpymike/IMG_4966_zpsntcogckd.jpg[/IMG][/URL]"][IMG]http://i1149.photobucket.com/albums/o598/scrumpymike/IMG_4966_zpsntcogckd.jpg[/IMG][/url] Thanks for the reassuring feedback guys. Found a couple of unexpected benefits of ownership: shorter than normal case fits across the boot of my car; the bass is stable when you stand it up on the floor thanks to beefy twin strap buttons. All good then! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alyctes Posted November 26, 2016 Share Posted November 26, 2016 I like them. I had one, but traded it for some reason I forget. Mistake. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul_5 Posted November 26, 2016 Share Posted November 26, 2016 I had a five string one for years. Stripped the paint off it to reveal some lovely wood underneath. Waxed it and gigged it for years. Sold it due toi the string spacing being a bit too narrow for me. Great sound though, whether running passive or active. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alyctes Posted November 26, 2016 Share Posted November 26, 2016 Also, there is a rather less common equivalent with a headstock; B Bass Pro, I think? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul S Posted November 26, 2016 Share Posted November 26, 2016 Yes, I had one of those. Lovely thing. Also the B2 series, which are similar to these but of course headless and bodiless. I currently have a B2V and a B2B, previously had a couple of B2As. I'd say the B2B is the best of the bunch - passive with P/J pickups. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
essexbasscat Posted November 26, 2016 Share Posted November 26, 2016 [quote name='scrumpymike' timestamp='1480161843' post='3182097'] And here's the pics: Thanks for the reassuring feedback guys. Found a couple of unexpected benefits of ownership: shorter than normal case fits across the boot of my car; the bass is stable when you stand it up on the floor thanks to beefy twin strap buttons. All good then! [/quote] Very nice indeed, congratulations on the find Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrtcat Posted November 26, 2016 Share Posted November 26, 2016 I had a 5 string once. It was excellent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
King Tut Posted November 27, 2016 Share Posted November 27, 2016 I have one identical to that. It was the bass I owned when I first started to gig. I sold it years later to RickWakeman's Alan, who sometimes plays sax for us, then bought it back off him. It doesn't see much use at the moment but I'm planning to drop a Glokenclang eq in there and restring and start taking it as a spare, or main bass for tighter stages. Light, comfy, great sound and as has been said, loads of sustain. Only issue for me is the short top horn which puts the bass in a different position on your body to a Fender and sticks the neck out about two frets further to the left. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brother Jones Posted November 27, 2016 Share Posted November 27, 2016 I bought one of the first of these in the UK in 1987 or so - a black one, with the EMG Select humbuckers like yours. The new price was £275. It was my standard bass for five years or so. The pickups were very powerful, and the bass (or mine at least) could take a very low action with the crazy light gauge strings that were fashionable at the time. It was basically thought of as a Status copy (for well over £1k less than the real thing). I loved owning a bass that actually had a red LED on it.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scrumpymike Posted November 27, 2016 Author Share Posted November 27, 2016 "I loved owning a bass that actually had a red LED on it...." I felt the same about my old TE head with the UV-lit front panel - didn't have an LED on my bass though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GreeneKing Posted November 28, 2016 Share Posted November 28, 2016 Identical to my first bass bought in Mansons College Avenue Plymouth in about 1995. A great bass although I didn't realise just how good it was at the time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uk_lefty Posted November 28, 2016 Share Posted November 28, 2016 Great basses, especially with the EMG pickups Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anzoid Posted November 28, 2016 Share Posted November 28, 2016 I've had a couple of these - a Custom - maple body with jazz pickups. Through the amp I had at the time it sounded weak so I sold it... was a stupid move, it was the amp, not the bass... Then picked up a black one with the EMG Selects and it was... OK. Moved it one after a while because it just wasn't getting any use and the condition wasn't great. Would buy another Custom in a heartbeat if I could. Friend has a black Jack with the EMGs that he's had since he bought it new years and years ago, it's immaculate - but he won't sell it to me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scrumpymike Posted November 29, 2016 Author Share Posted November 29, 2016 "Friend has a black Jack with the EMGs that he's had since he bought it new years and years ago, it's immaculate - but he won't sell it to me " How unreasonable is that?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.