Hohner The Jack Bass Custom

£249 new from The Bass Centre

I tried this bass around 10 years ago and loved it, though couldn't afford it in my student days! Finally got one and it doesn't disappoint. Firstly the looks, looks great - the headless design looks great and because the lack of a headstock, it balances beautifully when on the strap. The action was a bit low out of the box which resulted in some fret buzz. A little adjustment and this was fine. Sound wise, this is a fantastic bass. With the active circuit off, you can get some great sounds. From a Jazz bass style twang to a good Precision style sound. Switch the circuit on though and it's out of this world! Everything from Jazz to rock to funk. Great rock style by mixing both pickups - real twang and growl! Lower the treble for some nice fingering sounds from jazzy honk to the more understated bassy sound. It comes into it's own for slapping. The low action and thin neck make it a pleasure to slap away on. Sound is crystal clear and very versatile - I would recommend this bass to anyone!

A couple of slight niggles. The tone/bass controls don't work in passive mode. The jack socket is located on the side of the body - possible to pull the cable out if you stand on the lead! Feed it through the strap and it should be fine. The battery is a bit of a pain to change - the backplate is help on by about 9 screws! At first, the treble and bass control knobs seemed to turn together, but this seems to have stopped. Nothing serious though.

Seems well put together. The neck is sleek and fast. The through-neck design with deep cutaways makes access to the higher frets a breeze. The bridge is as solid as they come and, with the tuners at the body end, makes tuning easy. Mine is in black and the finish was excellent.

In short, this is an excellent bass that I would recommend to anyone. The headless design makes a change from the standard bass look and gives extra comfort and balance. Sounds are excellent and varied. Action low and fast. I run mine through a Behringer Bass V-Amp Pro and have hardly put it down since i got it!

This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

Do not trust the photo, Jack Bass Custom Jack is closer to the bass. (The photo is of a B2B ...).
This is a 4 string active bass, headless (bridge Steinberg), made in a single piece of wood (I do not know which one), with 24 frets
It possde Hohner with 2 microphones for each volume. A small switch can trigger the preamp. A big knob two levels for the determination of the bass and treble
A small LED lights when the preamp is on.

UTILIZATION

The handle is a bit pais (trs round) which makes it a little harder to play. At the same time used to it pretty quickly.
The access to treble is pretty good: you can make 22 bars on the cargo without twisting your hand (is there really someone who vroudrait make a barr on the 22nd cargo?)
What j'apprcie on this bass is its weight (lev without being heavy) and quiilibre. I can not play bass with a handle normal (the weight on my left hand many).
The low possde 2 SETTING THE webbing: a rather high (for jazz) and a rather low (for hardrockeurs). I play only the finger and thus position.
This is a REALLY low comfortable.
The only fly in terms of ergonomics: the battery is difficult pramp out once installed.
The double rope Systm balls for headless gnial is simply: you change string in record time. (All guitarists are jealous)

SOUNDS

I play for 6 years now. I continue to grow with and I do not see its limits (for cons I see mine ...). She followed me in all my groups and in all styles: funk, jazz, fusion, rock, pop ...
Trs is versatile: it is easily obtained a good sound for jazz and round with some of the rglages pramp it can be devilishly hard slapper.
The handle headless does not only have an equilibrated instrument but also to have a handle becoming one pice with the body. This gives a pariculier sustain the instrument. Let a vibrating cot Mex Fender Jazz Bass and you will understand (basically the Jackbass rsons twice as long).
You can feel the handle vibrate with the rest of the bass is pretty Tripp.
I jou fender jazz bass with a Mexican and a cort: No doubt, the jackbass is more versatile and sounds better. The only tests that low given me want to change: a musicman stingray and Jazzbass amricaine 60s.

OVERALL OPINION

I bought the bass on a jack favorite (she's beautiful: red with visible wood!) And because of his point of view, we feel right now that can do something. I saw a trainer in a story on a great recording studio in the United States: So I guess I'm not the only find that this instrument sounds vraimment thunder.
Pay the era of okaz 3500Fr, I think I made a case because the machine is rare and is unanimously of gnralement bass (much better than me) that the 'tried.
I think buying a 5 cord in the months ahead but I will not resell the Jackbass provided. I would miss it!
In résumé:
Its inconvnients:
- Chres and the strings are sometimes difficult to find.
- The handle is big enough and round it more difficult to play
- It has only four strings
Advantages:
- Versatile
- Sounds really
- Trs good balance and enjoyable play

Please note the picture is not a Jack Bass Custom 5-string but a B2B.  The Jack has body horns more like a standard bass body.
The Jack Custom 5 string Bass is an active 5-string bass, headless (bridge by Steinberg), made from one piece of wood, neck-through with 24 frets, easy to access in the treble, separate volume control for each pickup with Hohner. A small switch can trigger the preamp. A big knob split into two levels for the determination of the bass and treble
A small LED lights when the preamp is on.
Use
The neck is very correct, I advise you to do the same as John Petrucci does and go with sandpaper and then 2000 to 1500 wet and dry used wet on the back of the neck to give you a real smooth highway without the fuck varnish, scratch even trying to go to specialty stores to find the car body specialty papers for hyper price OK!
The access to treble is good because the neck does not have a huge heel because of the neck-through design. The weight is correct and balanced with a choice of two height adjustment strap buttons for a high and low for jazz rockers. Fingers playing the top position is ideal and comfortable.
Consumption side: battery change once a year for safety but it does eat much power and yet the amp is always triggered. on the other hand remember to unplug your guitar jack lead when you're not playing as the battery continues to charge ... and there you change the battery often as every instrument preamp!

UTILIZATION

As for the strings in fact you can choose to buy the double rope balls (or other Steinberger) ultra easy to change or a simple solution that works if you want any kind of string is using dominoes Legrand Electric brand and tighten your ropes course depending on the size of each string choose your domino, domino the scope of primary and small, and secondly you can buy any type of rope you good vez have a screwdriver but frankly a bassist does not change and does not break strings as often as guitar is not it!

SOUNDS

HIS side is énooorrrrmmme with so serious that you thrilled by side against amp is better to have a Trace Elliot amp in my case or SWR or Ampeg ... following correctly if it is ridiculous to have a formula without the rest ... I used it with several groups and individual records it is very versatile and adapts without taking the lead in all styles: funk, jazz, fusion, rock, pop ... sound can be round for jazz can slapper like crazy and spend a huge shake you ...
The handle allows a headless original instrument but also more balanced because of one piece with the body, it gives a damn sustain to the instrument.
The Jack Custom 5 string bass that I propose is to clear natural wood color, she serves as the studio to do the bass parts for artists or for a serious concert precise and powerful.

OVERALL OPINION

In summary:
You want a 5 string bass that sounds well, you know what you have to do!
- Strings for expensive dual balls or hard to find, it's easy to level the problem of tariff see above or contact me if you want to explain my address dominique.vassart @ wanadoo.fr
Advantages:
- Versatile
- Sounds great with his 5-string
- Very well balanced and enjoyable to play