Hohner Telecaster Serial Numbers
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! 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. 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. 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.
Hohner Telecaster For Sale
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!
Hohner Serial Number Lookup
I did enjoy it quite a bit. I paid $399 new.