NBD! Hohner “The Jack” (Halloween Headless)

[Pea Turgh]

Just got in from meeting @scrumpymike to pick up this fantastic beast!

I first saw it in the classifieds here, then shortly after played it at the SW Bass Bash. I wanted it.

Fast forward a few months and here we be!  I will have to get used to the narrower string spacing (ironic as I posted about not liking narrow necks earlier in the week) and the lack of head, but my playing feels more fluid already. Looking forward to gigging it Friday!

 

 

Edited October 29, 2018 by Pea Turgh

[Pea Turgh]

Only thing that’s puzzling me though is what is going on in the battery compartment?  Any ideas?

Edited October 29, 2018 by Pea Turgh

[AndyTravis]

That’s the preamp in there. Odd, but how they did it until the 90’s

[Paul S]

The only thing puzzling me in that picture is how the battery compartment lid has managed to remain attached!  😄

[Pea Turgh]

Dammit - I tugged on it thinking it was a spacer or something. I guess it shouldn’t come out then?

[AndyTravis]

10 minutes ago, Pea Turgh said:

Dammit - I tugged on it thinking it was a spacer or something. I guess it shouldn’t come out then?

Nope

[Skybone]

Nice bass

[King Tut]

I think the hole houses a trimpot so you can adjust the active volume against passive. Could be wrong mind!

[fretmeister]

Lovely!

 

Hohner really were a great brand. Awesome value for money.

[scrumpymike]

Hey Pete, nice meeting you again and glad it's still as good as you remembered it from the SW Bass Bash - just don't go trying to pull any more bits off it (oops, forgot it's yours now and you can pull as many bits off as you like) 😄

[Jono Bolton]

I hated these when I was younger, but they've definitely grown on me.

[BreadBin]

What's narrow about it @Pea Turgh? I have a B bass here which has a similar body shape -the nut on that is around 41mm

[Paul S]

String spacing at the bridge is always tight on these, not so much the nut.  I've had a lot of the variants of these - the B Bass, Jack, various body-less B2 derivatives.  All be cracking basses.  A 5 string Jack would be interesting - anyone ever seen one?

[Pea Turgh]

On 30/10/2018 at 17:45, BreadBin said:

What's narrow about it @Pea Turgh? I have a B bass here which has a similar body shape -the nut on that is around 41mm

Nut width 38mm, but the strings are a mere 29mm centre to centre!  The bridge spacing is cosy too.

Edited January 24, 2019 by Pea Turgh

[BreadBin]

3 minutes ago, Pea Turgh said:

Nut width 38mm, but the strings are a mere 2.9mm centre to centre!  The bridge spacing is cosy too.

That's interesting 

[Bassassin]

This looks like a fairly early one - think it's essentially a B2A with a body - same pickups, controls, electronics, and neck dimensions too by the sound of it.

Always had a bit of GAS for these - quite fancy the J/J version.

[Chris2112]

I bought one of these about 13 years ago at Howard's Bass Place in the toon. I paid £160 for it, I think - I had gone shopping to buy my at-the-time girlfriend a present and ended up blowing the dough on a new bass! I loved the bridge pickup tone but I didn't think much of the blend/neck pickup sounds. Not that it mattered, as the bridge tone was mint.

[Pea Turgh]

Can anyone suggest a good set of strings for this bass?

My usual preference is D’Addario chrome flats 40/60/80/100, but I can’t see that they make double ball end versions.

Not adverse to rounds, just prefer flats.

Also thinking of upgrading the preamp, or going passive.  I’m venturing in to new territory there, so advice gratefully received!

Thanks in advance!

[anzoid]

Status Hotwires are worth a look from http://www.status-graphite.com

They're just over £16 a set and they have a range of gauges. When ever I've replaced whatever strings came on the current "headless-de-jour" (I've been through a few :D) it's tended to be Hotwires. I like 'em and they seem to last well.

(Just noticed you said you prefer flats... Current Hotwires are roundwound, but I have had flats on a headless... I'll have a dig around when I get home to see if I can find what they were... Status used to make flatwounds so it could have been I had an old set of those. The only other thing I can find is La Bella flats: https://www.stringsdirect.co.uk/strings-c1/sets-c865/bass-guitar-c34/la-bella-s500l-double-ball-end-flatwound-bass-strings-43-104-stainless-steel-p13529)

As for preamps... I've got a Steinberger Spirit XT-2 that uses the same size humbucker style pickups and I'm thinking of dropping in a couple of EMG HB series pickups, using the volume pots they come with and adding an EMG BTC control stacked bass/treble pot for tone control. Apparently it's a direct drop in for the three controls that our respective basses share, though there's more room for manoeuvre in the Jack bass. An alternative would be the BTC System which has volume, blend and a bass/treble stack.

Edited January 24, 2019 by anzoid

[Stub Mandrel]

On 30/10/2018 at 18:07, Paul S said:

String spacing at the bridge is always tight on these, not so much the nut.  I've had a lot of the variants of these - the B Bass, Jack, various body-less B2 derivatives.  All be cracking basses.  A 5 string Jack would be interesting - anyone ever seen one?

I have one 🙂

And a B2 🙂 🙂