OK, I just got the first of my two new toys...er...uh...tools. Here it is, in all it's glory: a quite used Hohner Jack V 5-string bass. This is a neck-through design, headless w/Steinberger bridge, passive EMG pups with an active preamp (that can be switched off). That all sounds impressive, doesn't it?
You can't tell in the pics, but this is actually a fixer-upper that I got for a very good price. (I actually didn't even know it was coming with it's own custom hard-case...bonus!) The body is somewhat dinged up (and that really shows when wearing black), so I intend to strip the black finish off and give it a natural wood finish. Also, there's some pops and scratches from the input jack and volume knobs...that'll need a little attention. I *think* I like how it sounds...I've got to actually play it a little while and make sure. If I decide I really don't like how it sounds or plays, I suppose I'd just fix the electronics and resell it. Or maybe it'll become a true project bass? Anyway, it's very light-weight and well-balanced, which is very nice.
I've still got the first bass I ever owned, a somewhat beat up Yamaha BB300 4-string. I've decided to sell it (I never play it, and I'm sure someone else would like it to learn on and play for this first several years as a bassist...it's a great playing and good sounding bass!), so if this Hohner just turns out good enough to act as a backup 5-string, then I think I'll be quite happy with it.
This sucker's intonation is way, WAY out...gotta go work on fixing that.
UPDATE: I worked for about an hour and a half, and finally got the intonation almost completely right on. Man, that Steinberger bridge is a real PITA to set intonation. You loosen a hex screw on the side of the bridge so the rectangular saddles will move, then you move then by hand into the right position. Very unlike saddles that have a screw down the middle to position them...with this Steinberger setup, you can easily move the one you just positioned, the only thing that keeps it in place is the string tension...what were they thinking when they designed this?
More fun to come I'm sure.
I like how this guy sounds, I think. Not nearly as much as I like the Musicman, but probably about as much as I like the Dean fretless. It's got a very mid-rangey kind of character to it, doesn't growl like the MM. The fret noise on this sounds a little "clanky" versus the MM where the fret noise becomes "grind". The passive pickups/active preamp are interesting. It actually sounds a little more raw and edgy with the preamp powered off...it sounds more smooth with the preamp powered on (there's a little switch to turn it off/on). The low and high tone knobs only work if the preamp is powered on. I'm wondering what switching out the pickups and/or onboard preamp for something else might do to the sound? Anyway, it's got a very different vibe than the MM does. I thought the neck on the MM was somewhat thick, but the neck on this Hohner is much chunkier...now the MM feels thin to me! Variety is indeed the spice of life. I'm really like how well it's balanced, and tuning with the right hand is way cool!
UPDATE 2: I played this guy this morning at a volume where I can feel the love. I believe the more I play it the more I'm liking it.
Dave
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