mickeymoose wrote: Do any bofs have info on this headless bass, were & when it was manufactured etc.

Thanks in advance

I had two for quite a while, very underrated instrument. 34in bass that felt like a guitar, I had a great setup on mine - played like a dream. But I wanted something a bit more contemporary (pre-amp and pups were 80's bland) and a bit lighter (all maple and super durable hardware = heavy) - so they went to a good home. Bonus was they fitted in my guitar hardshell cases.

The most complete info I could find was via of our very own Alan Ratcliffe (gone but not forgotten!) : http://ratcliffe.co.za/gear/thejack/

I think they might have been korean manufactured, but I have no evidence. There is a serial number on the back control cavity plate if you look very carefully - hohner germany might be able to help with more details.

I still have one set of strings (N.O.S Hohner wings) if you need some.

Thanks for info, I scoured the hofner websight but could find no mention of them.
I may take your strings when I take delivery, what gauge and type(flat wound or other)
cheers!

Meron Rigas wrote:

mickeymoose wrote: Do any bofs have info on this headless bass, were & when it was manufactured etc.

Thanks in advance

I had two for quite a while, very underrated instrument. 34in bass that felt like a guitar, I had a great setup on mine - played like a dream. But I wanted something a bit more contemporary (pre-amp and pups were 80's bland) and a bit lighter (all maple and super durable hardware = heavy) - so they went to a good home. Bonus was they fitted in my guitar hardshell cases.

The most complete info I could find was via of our very own Alan Ratcliffe (gone but not forgotten!) : http://ratcliffe.co.za/gear/thejack/

I think they might have been korean manufactured, but I have no evidence. There is a serial number on the back control cavity plate if you look very carefully - hohner germany might be able to help with more details.

I still have one set of strings (N.O.S Hohner wings) if you need some.

Yes Alan is a legend, he actually mailed me the bass pickups from his "the jack" (he upgraded to custom ones if I remember right) for my "Lazy (b)ASS" build and they are very solid, even in the passive configuration that I have them wired into.

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mickeymoose wrote: Thanks for info, I scoured the hofner websight but could find no mention of them.
I may take your strings when I take delivery, what gauge and type(flat wound or other)
cheers!

A pleasure - I kinda miss that bass! Like many manufacturers, hohner don't maintain much of a archive/history of instruments. Kinda odd someone hasn't done a headless fansite?

Anyways, there wasn't much when I looked into it - still in production, the B2/G2/G3 headless range gets a bit more attention and the jack was ignored in favour?

The set I have are the Hohner Wings, stainless roundwounds, think 105-45. I guesstimate they're about 20 years old, but the other three sets I used were as new. I had a new set of GHS's (double ball end) that I compared them to, similar zing in the string.

Alternatives are a getting/making string adaptor (check ebay), see if Music Mate still bring in the GHS double ball ends, International order (check Status basses in the UK, I was going to order from them before I found the NOS strings) & finally you could convince a local dealer to ask the distributor bring in some - I twisted a arm at the Gear Junkie and now the D'addario distributors stock short scale strings 8)

G-Man wrote: Yes Alan is a legend, he actually mailed me the bass pickups from his "the jack" (he upgraded to custom ones if I remember right) for my "Lazy (b)ASS" build and they are very solid, even in the passive configuration that I have them wired into.

The EMG Select's? I only tried them as wired - the passive switch bypasses the controls completely on mine. Active mode was okay, emg hifi, without much fidelity :? Same as in my G2 - but they do like gain, adds a bit of life to them.

What do they sound in your lazy bass?

Alan mentioned they were better re-wired passive only. I did chat to him about re-winding them, was about 200USD + shipping for a pair.

But nothing feels like the jack - I could see a project based around rescuing a abused hohner jack being something I'd fall in love with.

Stumbled accross this which suggests that cort was probably the manufacturer... thoughts?


https://www.google.co.za/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwjR_sX5qebPAhXGORQKHVMEB2UQFggaMAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cortguitars.net%2Fen%2Fabout%2Fabout.asp&usg=AFQjCNF0PXU4YnjXYcfX5f1lDHfLjBN_Pg&sig2=_pLsdDT0h8p19sQ-oConrA

1984 – Cort begins production of headless guitars with licensed designs from Ned Steinberger. With this contractual agreement with Steinberger, Cort had the exclusive license to manufacture headless design guitars for Cort’s own brand as well as OEM production for brands such as Kramer and Hohner. The Cort-branded headless guitar is often remembered as the defining image of Cort during this era.

mickeymoose wrote: Stumbled accross this which suggests that cort was probably the manufacturer... thoughts?

1984 – Cort begins production of headless guitars with licensed designs from Ned Steinberger. With this contractual agreement with Steinberger, Cort had the exclusive license to manufacture headless design guitars for Cort’s own brand as well as OEM production for brands such as Kramer and Hohner. The Cort-branded headless guitar is often remembered as the defining image of Cort during this era.

Well spotted - It's VERY likely. Cort does a lot of ghost builds for major manufacturers (re-branded).

Cort did the Space bass B2, fugly imho - similar hardware and general look at the hohner B2 range - but I'd say the hohner had better hardware - that bridge look a bit agricultural.

https://reverb.com/item/337326-cort-space-b2-headless-steinberger-licensed-bridge-4-string-bass-80-s-black



I'd get that Space PB - that's pretty sweet (paint job aside).

I must agree!
cheers!

The hohner jack had a very material influence in my life !!!

While pondering a purchase of Meron's hohner jack, he offered to demonstrate it if I played drums.
(I'd never played a dumkit before)

Started a whole journey in drums I've never regretted !!
Ending in owning my own kit (also ably assisted by Meron)
?

so did you still take the jack? ?

Nah, I managed to talk him out of it ? Eventually I lent him a short scale Cort of mine that's big fun to play.

The Jack sold a few months ago to a UK collector :'( - t'was a good home though, the fellow has four headless hohner's!

When's your's arriving? If it's the one that's been hacked to have a pbass pup installed, that was one of mine (and the one that I'm looking for).

should be here monday, how much do you need for your 20 year old strings?. will send pics when its here, don't think it is your old one. looks all original as far as I can tell.

mickeymoose wrote: should be here monday, how much do you need for your 20 year old strings?. will send pics when its here, don't think it is your old one. looks all original as far as I can tell.

How's R200 + shipping? I'll dig em out of storage tomorrow and check they are a complete set and unused (I'm 99.9% they are)

Have you research the string adaptor thing? Long term, that is a mod I would do. Also reversible (as long as you keep the original part(s))

Yeah, dunno where that jack is, but I have feeling in my waters it'll find it's way back to me someday. Can you believe I gave it away... ?

I have looked at that string adaptor thingy, its an option. I am also thinking of how feaseable it is to try and "ball" standard strings to size, using balls from old strings, might be tricky but I see no reason it can't be done. Any thoughts?

mickeymoose wrote: I am also thinking of how feaseable it is to try and "ball" standard strings to size, using balls from old strings, might be tricky but I see no reason it can't be done. Any thoughts?

Never tried!

I've cut down long scale strings for short scale bassers and know that dealing with the wrap not unravelling needs a bit of care. It's worth's a google!

more info FWIW. Bass JACK BASS CUSTOM ...-19992x HP single coil BS5 + BS6 (PJ-style); vol/vol/tone; black hardware; Steinberger fine tuning bridge; Californian solid maple through neck with rosewood fingerboard; 24 nickel silver frets; Korean double ball strings; red LED; Korean double ball strings; colours: walnut-stain, metallic red, natural satin950 DM (1990); 1150 DM (1992+1994 https://www.google.co.za/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=17&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwjgkLffxPbPAhUEL8AKHeOzDYc4ChAWCDowBg&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdocuments.mx%2Fdocuments%2Fhohner-historicalmodels.html&usg=AFQjCNG0F4O4rkmTnTSHcALzVawwVp57cA&sig2=CemvSBF8S1TdrlPXEZm-nA