Hohner Headless Bass - Do you know the history?

[mercuryl]

Just purchased an active black B2A Hohner headless bass guitar. I've played a stock rosewood board USA Fender Precision for some time. The Hohner is fantasic. Easier to play as it is light and small and a very, very good sound. You can't replace the growl of a Precision though. Anyway, does anyone know anything about the history of these bass guitars. I see that my hero (JJ Burnel of the Stranglers) played one in the early eighties. I used to think it was a Steinberger that he played, but apparently not! The one I've got is an older model (I wouldn't be surprised if it was from the eighties) - although it is in very good condition. Curiously, the pickups have Hohner stamped on the front rather than the newer one's which have EMG Selects. I suppose that is a good thing. I've had a look at the Hohner site and it there is no historical data on there. I've also looked round the web with no luck. Also, I took the thing apart to clean it and couldn't find a serial number anywhere. Am I missing something? Any info you have would be appreciated!

 

[A9X]

What history are you looking for? The designs were licenced from Ned back in the day and they're made from maple in Korea. Very good basses for the price.
Neither of mine have serial numbers.

I have a B2ABD and a B2V as well as an XL2A

 

[GM60466]

I've had two Hohners headless in the past. Both were B2A. The one from 1985 was a fretless prototype which had EMG selects that I got from the sales rep after the NAMM show, and the other was a fretted model from 1986 with EMG selects. both of them had serial numbers stampped in the battery door. I've seen the models with "hohner" on the pickup, but they all from the late-'90s.

GM

 

[Presto2112]

No SN on mine(( its red and has hohner stamped on the EMGs in gold.

Dont know if a picture of the battery cavity helps

 

[foal30]

JJ B did play a Steinberger

(I'm not saying he didn't play a Hohner btw).

I had a B2A which was a good value bass. The active switch was far superior tot he passive mode. Normally it's the other way around with cheap(er) instruments

the serial number was on the inside of the battery plate

not within cooee of my L2 but IMO a 'better' instrument than the Cort and Ibanez Steinberger copies.

 

[parapentep70]

I've got the fretless model, I bought it in 1990 or 1991, but I am 99% sure it has the EMG pickups. Cost the equivalent of 450...500$.

Very good for the price (aesthetics, action and specially flexible sound). So-so in ergonomics, it looks small but it is 34', and it is balanced in a way that first position is far from the body. But neck is narrow and confortable for me, and playing at home (sitting) it is fantastic.

I broke it 3 years ago, I rushed to set it up after long time not playing. I broke the trussrod. It is difficult to repair in this model, neck-through and with the plastic fingerboard probably epoxied to the neck (no way to unglue). The only solution was to remove the ebonol fingerboard (a kind of plastic with VERY good sound), replace the trussrod with a modern double-action one and build a new fretless ebony fingerboard. I paid again 450...500$ (350€) for the repair, I was sure I could not get a bass like this for this price. AFter this I even invested another 50€ in a good foam gigbag for it (that is useless for any other instrument).

The sound is different, warmer. Plastic gives in my opinion more "muah" than ebony. And the instrument had to come back to the luthier due to some problem too long to mention here (basically a good idea when repairing resulting in an unpredictible side effect). But today it is like new,I like it very much and I keep it.

I also have 2 peavey Cirrus-5, fretted and fretless, BXP and Custom Shop. I prefer to play the Cirrus because due to balance their 35´scale "feels" shorter than the Hohner (first frets closer to my body), but sound is comparable in quality and versatility.

 

[RG]

I dont have the bass you have but I do have a B2B which is passive and has the P/J pickups. I used to have a Steinberger Synapse and I like this, which is less $, much better. The only thing I didnt like was the way it hung to far to the left, so I made a strap extender (just a small piece of metal) to simulate an upper horn on a bass with a traditional body. I think you can buy extenders too. Just my two cents.

 

[bgmww]

I own a Jack Bass Custom V. I know it was built by Cort factory in Korea.
Reallly good bass though very underestimated and underrated.

The serial number is on the inside of the battery plate

 

[ian_s]

I also have a B2B, used from GC for around $200. Wonderful for travelling, it fits in the overhead luggage bin. I like that it has the headless, L2 design, but that it's solid maple and passive PJ for great sound.

 

[Texsunburst59]

I don't know the history ,but I've got the passive Hohner B2B that I picked up about 2 yrs ago in a pawnshop for $58. It's a nice little quick grab practice bass.Here's mine.

 

[Oren Hudson]

Mine is a black B2A with the Steinberger DB, active, stacked knob, toggle switch and light and adjustable preamp on back cover along with fold down Steinberger piece for sitting and playing. Dual soapbox PUs. Lots of horsepower. No serial number that I can find.

 

[W_R]

I know this is an older thread, but...

I just dug out my B2B, after my recent house move, good times. I had the same issue with how far the neck hung, but I did acquire the strap arm hook thing for a Steinberger and used a dremel to create a shallow slot on the back of the body for the new part, it's perfect now. I did have to mod my hard case as well but that was easy. I recommend this method!

Next mod is an EQ, but I need to figure out the parts to get the 4-knob EQ down to 3... More good times ahead! I have to agree that these are nicely made basses for a great price. I had the 5 string version before, pretty good as well

 

[two fingers]

I had an old Cort one way back when. I think they were made at the same place. Mine was actually a really good little bass. I grabbed it as much as I did my Kramer back then. (Gimme a break. It was the 80's.)

 

[N. Kentucky Bass]

Not sure who made the pickups on my Hohner B2B. The guy who sold me the bass said it was about 20 years old. That was two and a half years ago. I upgraded the pickups to Lindy Fralins. Makes all the difference in tone quality! I tried half wounds, flat wounds, black nylon tapewounds and roundwounds on this bass. Went back to the "original" flats as they sound best to my ears. All told, the bass is well constructed. Very happy!

 

[Figjam]

My second(?) bass was a metallic satin color B2ADB. I enjoyed the neck profile, the sturdy bridge. It had EMG HZ pickups and an active preamp, I believe. The tone was okay,way more modern than the jazz I was using before it. It developed a 'ski jump' neck warp on the E string side before long. I think it still played fine despite this, though. It was minor. I don't remember if its the reason I moved on or not. Probably not. I bought the bass after enjoying a friends Steinberger USA guitar, a full bodied version. In hindsight, what I enjoyed about that guitar was not present on the Hohner bass; ebony fingerboard, nice body weight and shape. The Hohner just didnt do it for me, but it was a cool experience! I did enjoy it quite a bit. I paid $399 new.

 

[kesslari]

I've got the Hohner B2 V (5 string version).
It's great, bulletproof, plays and sounds really good.
Last summer I pulled out the frets and it's making a nice travel fretless.

 

[Scotland66]

I remember seeing a link for Hohner basses and models. Any information would be helpful. I am wanting to purchase a Hohner B2, B2A or even considered a Drop D. I've seen many have been upgraded with real EMG's versus the EMG selects. I hoping to find one that already been upgraded with real EMG's.

 

[A9X]

I remember seeing a link for Hohner basses and models. Any information would be helpful. I am wanting to purchase a Hohner B2, B2A or even considered a Drop D.

What are you wanting to know?
I own 2 B2s, a B2V and had a B2ADB and G3T in the past. I've also owned an XL2 since 86, plus I have a Spirit XL2 bass and a Korean made GT guitar.

The basses are larger in the body than the XL2 as you can see in the family photo (missing the red B2) but are still small compared to anything else. The pic with the red B2 has a pair of Samick SS in it, and the one on the left with the PG is about the same size as a 7ender Jag for proportion.

The Hohners are all maple so whilst not heavy are not featherweight either. The bridges are solid and reliable but need some not difficult periodic maintenance. Necks are quite thick, described by some as baseball bats but are more of a J width and so easy to play. Because they don't have the pivot plate of the XL2, stock they hang further to the left than most basses but that's easily remedied with an extension bar you can make for about $10. There's a really long Steinberger Spirit thread you should read as it's almost all relevant to the Hohners as well and a few people have tried other versions of the strap pin extender. The Synapse one is no longer available.
Pic is one of the rear of an NS Stick, but the principle is the same and you just need to drill 1 small hole.

You'll need DB stings of course unless you use one of the adaptors on sale on ebay for maybe $40. They work fine. D'Addario, La Bella, Ken Smith and Status make strings with the latter having a decent selection.

I've seen many have been upgraded with real EMG's versus the EMG selects. I hoping to find one that already been upgraded with real EMG's.

I've never seen one with active EMGs and I've had an epay search in place for many years.
They wouldn't be hard to install into the factory active Hohners as they already have the battery box, but a passive would need one routed in. The EMG HB (XL2) and HBCS (L2) are available from EMG for $US99 at the time I type and they should drop straight into the stock routs. Apparently, and I've yet to do this, the EMG35 will fit into the HB rout with some slight woodworking required.

 

[Scotland66]

I trying to decide between an active B2A versus passive B2. I've heard through TB that the EMG selects and original Hohners are sub par.

 

[A9X]

Both have the same pickups, the A has an onboard preamp.