The Hohner B2AV in Walnut Stain is a distinctive full-scale 5-string headless bass combining compact dimensions with the familiar feel and range of a conventional long-scale instrument.

Built around Hohner’s long-running Steinberger-licensed headless concept, the B2AV features a five-string fine-tuning bridge, 24-fret rosewood fingerboard, active tone circuitry and selectable active/passive operation. The result is an unusually portable bass that still provides the extended low-B range expected from a full-sized five-string.

The Walnut Stain finish gives this example a much warmer, more natural appearance than the black finishes commonly associated with headless instruments.

This Pre-Owned example is offered in Good condition and is supplied without a case or gigbag.

At A Glance

Pre-Owned Condition Report

Good Condition

This Hohner B2AV Walnut Stain is offered in Good condition.

Good condition means the bass shows noticeable cosmetic wear consistent with regular previous use, while remaining fully functional and suitable as a working instrument.

For a model such as the B2AV, which has now existed across several production eras, cosmetic ageing can form part of the character of a genuine player-grade example.

No faults, repairs or modifications have been supplied for this listing.

What’s Included?

✔ Hohner B2AV Walnut Stain 5-String Bass

✘ No Case Included
✘ No Gigbag Included
✘ No Additional Accessories Included

Condition Notes

This individual B2AV has been graded Good, reflecting visible evidence of previous ownership while remaining suitable for continued rehearsal, recording and live use.

No case or gigbag is supplied.

Fair Deal Quality Control Assessment

This Pre-Owned Hohner bass has been inspected and assessed by the Fair Deal Music team before sale.

Our checks cover both pickups, active and passive operation, tone controls, pickup volume controls, active-status function, output socket, frets, rosewood fingerboard, neck condition, Steinberger-licensed tuning hardware, bridge, foldable leg rest, hardware, tuning stability and overall playability.

Service / Setup Work

All Pre-Owned bass guitars at Fair Deal Music are set up and checked before leaving the shop.

Our assessment includes:

• Action
• Neck relief
• Fret condition
• Intonation
• Tuning stability
• Electronics
• Pickup balance
• Bridge setup
• Hardware
• Overall playability

Please remember that wooden instruments can respond slightly to changes in temperature and humidity during transport.

Why Choose The Hohner B2AV?

Full-Scale Headless Design

The B2AV may look dramatically shorter than a traditional bass, but Hohner designed the B2 range to retain a full 865mm scale length.

That means the playing position and string tension remain familiar while the unnecessary length beyond the nut is removed.

Five-String Range

The B2AV extends the traditional four-string format with a fifth low string, making it particularly useful for modern arrangements, lower-register accompaniment and players who want additional range without changing position as frequently.

Steinberger-Licensed Hardware

Hohner’s headless instruments became particularly well known for their use of hardware licensed by Steinberger.

Instead of conventional tuning machines at the headstock, tuning is handled at the bridge, contributing to the compact dimensions and distinctive balance of the instrument.

Active And Passive Operation

One of the B2AV’s most practical features is its active/passive switching.

The active circuit provides additional tonal shaping, while passive operation allows the bass to continue functioning without relying entirely on battery-powered electronics.

Foldable Leg Rest

Minimalist headless bodies can be awkward when sitting down, so Hohner incorporated a foldable leg rest.

It extends from the body during seated playing and folds away when standing or transporting the bass.

Why Choose A Headless Bass?

Removing the conventional headstock substantially reduces the overall length of an instrument without necessarily reducing its scale.

This makes a headless bass much easier to transport while also moving weight away from the far end of the neck.

For gigging musicians, players using public transport or anybody with limited storage space, the difference can be significant.

The B2AV is particularly interesting because it combines that compact layout with a genuine five-string, full-scale format rather than functioning as a reduced-size travel bass.

Comparison Against Popular Alternatives

Hohner B2AV vs Steinberger Bass

The visual connection is obvious because Hohner licensed elements of Steinberger’s headless hardware concept. Genuine Steinberger instruments occupy their own place in headless-bass history, while the B2AV offers a distinctive Hohner interpretation with its compact wooden construction and active/passive electronics.

B2AV vs Hohner B2A

The B2A is principally associated with four-string operation, whereas the B2AV provides five strings, giving the player access to an extended lower register.

B2AV vs Conventional 5-String Bass

A traditional five-string can have considerably greater overall length due to its headstock. The Hohner retains full-scale string length while occupying a much smaller physical footprint.

B2AV vs Modern Headless Bass

Modern headless instruments frequently use ergonomic body shaping, multi-scale fretboards and contemporary electronics. The Hohner represents an earlier and much more minimalist approach to the concept.

Who Is It For?

Travelling Bassists

Its compact overall dimensions make the B2AV particularly appealing for musicians who regularly transport their instrument.

Five-String Players

The extended low register makes it useful for contemporary rock, pop, funk, fusion and session work.

Players Looking For Something Unusual

The B2AV has an unmistakable visual identity and is far less commonly encountered than a conventional P or J-style bass.

Recording Musicians

Active/passive operation and two-pickup blending give the B2AV plenty of scope for finding a sound that sits appropriately within a recording.

Players Interested In 1980s And 1990s Instrument Design

The Hohner Headless Series is closely associated with the era when Steinberger-inspired minimalist instruments became a significant part of professional guitar and bass design.

Suitable Genres And Uses

The Hohner B2AV works particularly well for:

• Rock
• Pop
• Funk
• Fusion
• Progressive music
• Electronic music
• Alternative
• Session work
• Studio recording
• Live performance
• Travel
• Rehearsal
• Extended-range bass playing

Active vs Passive Operation

In active mode, the onboard electronics provide additional control over the instrument’s tonal response.

The active-status LED provides a useful visual reminder that the powered circuit is engaged.

The ability to switch back to passive operation is particularly useful because the bass is not completely dependent on its battery-powered preamp.

That is a practical feature for rehearsals and gigs, where a depleted battery might otherwise stop an active bass from functioning normally.

Story & Context: Hohner And The Headless Bass

Hohner developed its Professional Headless Series during the mid-1980s, at a time when Steinberger’s radical headless instruments were having a major influence on guitar and bass design.

Hohner licensed headless hardware from Steinberger and developed its own range of compact instruments around the concept.

The B2 family became one of the company’s most recognisable electric-instrument designs, offering a dramatically reduced overall length while maintaining full-scale dimensions.

The B2AV expanded the idea into a five-string format, combining the headless platform with active electronics and extended range.

Hohner subsequently produced the B2AV across more than one era, meaning exact pickup and hardware details can differ between older instruments and later reissues.

Technical Specifications

Specification Note

The Hohner B2AV was produced in multiple generations, and some specifications changed over its lifespan.

Later Hohner literature documents the B2AV-WS with two EVL J-style pickups, while earlier period literature describes versions using Designed by EMG pickups.

As no serial number or manufacturing year has been supplied for this individual bass, the exact pickup generation and other production-specific details have deliberately not been assumed.

Power Requirements

The active tone circuitry requires a battery when used in active mode.

The B2AV can also be switched to passive operation, providing a useful alternative if active processing is not required.

Why Buy Pre-Owned From Fair Deal Music?

Unusual instruments such as the Hohner B2AV are particularly interesting within the Pre-Owned market because many of their defining designs are no longer commonplace.

Rather than simply offering another conventional five-string, the B2AV combines full-scale playability, headless portability, Steinberger-licensed hardware and active/passive electronics.

Every Pre-Owned bass at Fair Deal Music is individually checked and assessed before sale.

Fair Deal Music Verdict

★★★★★ 5/5

The Hohner B2AV Walnut Stain remains one of the more distinctive five-string bass designs to emerge from the headless era.

Its biggest achievement is packaging a genuine full-scale five-string into an instrument comfortably under the overall dimensions of a normal bass.

Add active/passive electronics, Steinberger-licensed tuning hardware and the foldable leg rest and there is considerably more practical thought behind the design than its unusual appearance initially suggests.

Best suited for: Travelling musicians, five-string players and bassists looking for something genuinely different.

Customers usually upgrade from: Conventional four-string basses and entry-level five-string models.

Most commonly paired with: Compact bass amplifiers, compressors, DI boxes, preamps and recording interfaces.

Our tip: If you have never used bridge-mounted headless tuners before, allow a little time to adjust. Once familiar, they are straightforward and keep the entire instrument remarkably compact.

Showroom feedback: The B2AV is much more than a novelty. The full scale and five-string layout make it a proper working bass, while its portability remains genuinely useful decades after the design first appeared.

Why Buy From Fair Deal Music?

When you buy from Fair Deal Music, you're choosing one of the UK's most established, independent family run music retailers since 1987.

You can buy with confidence thanks to:

• Expert advice from knowledgeable musicians
• Carefully checked new and Pre-Owned musical equipment
• Birmingham showroom
• More than 6,000 Excellent customer reviews
• Secure ordering
• Fast UK delivery
• Friendly support before and after your purchase
• Decades of experience with new and second hand musical equipment

Trade In. Trade Up. Save More.

Thinking about upgrading? Your next bass could cost less than you think.

Fair Deal Music buys and part-exchanges a wide range of basses, guitars, amplifiers, keyboards and other musical equipment.

Your existing gear could help reduce the cost of your next instrument. Contact our team for a no-obligation valuation and we'll be happy to discuss your options.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Hohner B2AV a five-string bass?

Yes. The B2AV is a five-string headless electric bass.

Is it short scale?

No. Despite its compact overall dimensions, the B2AV has a full 865mm / approximately 34" scale length.

Why is it so short overall?

The conventional headstock has been removed and the tuning mechanism relocated to the bridge.

Is the bridge related to Steinberger?

Yes. Hohner fitted the B2AV with headless hardware licensed by Steinberger.

Is the bass active?

It features active electronics with selectable active/passive operation.

Does it still work in passive mode?

Yes. One of the B2AV’s useful features is the ability to switch from active to passive operation.

What is the fold-out bar on the body?

It is a foldable leg rest designed to make the narrow headless body comfortable when playing seated.

Is a case included?

No. This Pre-Owned example is supplied without a case or gigbag.