NBD: In the spirit to lose my head!

[Cat Burrito]

Growing up in the 80s, I always hated the whole idea of what we called cricket bat basses. I remember seeing Bill Wyman and Tina Weymouth with them but it was never enough to swing it for me. 
 

As I have gone through my playing career, I have met loads of owners who swear by them. Then over lockdown, I became obsessed with this video…

 

https://youtu.be/wjv_KI4BTaM?si=mYxweEJPccEeAoaL

 

I thought it might pass but I found myself wanting one. I thought it might pass but it’s the “never say never” one I thought I would never own. The guitarist from my duo bought the Steinberger Spirit guitar so I ordered the bass a couple of months back. It came today.

 

 

I haven’t bought a bass in a long time and my first impression is that it is heavy for what it is (but light, given that there isn’t much of it). It could use a bit of a set up, although the bottom strings are good. There’s a lot of tone variation and I am looking forward to the whole matching vibe with my duo. 
 

I don’t think it will ever be my favourite but for something to muck around with, I anticipate it’ll be a lot of fun. 

Edited June 27 by Cat Burrito
Autocorrect

[Lozz196]

Congrats, have to admit I’ve been tempted by these for a while

[Reggaebass]

Congrats cat, I did similar with my Hohner B2A, I bought it to try and love it, I found it a bit strange on a strap at first 

[tauzero]

They hang a bit strangely with the neck strap button in the original position as they tilt forwards (assuming the same thing happens as on the Hohner B2). I have seen a picture of one (must have been a Hohner B2 as it was natural finish) with the strap button moved to the shoulder but never managed to find the picture again.

 

You may find more useful information here: 

 

 

[Cosmo Valdemar]

On 27/06/2025 at 17:35, Cat Burrito said:

Growing up in the 80s, I always hated the whole idea of what we called cricket bat basses. I remember seeing Bill Wyman and Tina Weymouth with them but it was never enough to swing it for me. 
 

As I have gone through my playing career, I have met loads of owners who swear by them. Then over lockdown, I became obsessed with this video…

 

https://youtu.be/wjv_KI4BTaM?si=mYxweEJPccEeAoaL

 

I thought it might pass but I found myself wanting one. I thought it might pass but it’s the “never say never” one I thought I would never own. The guitarist from my duo bought the Steinberger Spirit guitar so I ordered the bass a couple of months back. It came today.

 

 

I haven’t bought a bass in a long time and my first impression is that it is heavy for what it is (but light, given that there isn’t much of it). It could use a bit of a set up, although the bottom strings are good. There’s a lot of tone variation and I am looking forward to the whole matching vibe with my duo. 
 

I don’t think it will ever be my favourite but for something to muck around with, I anticipate it’ll be a lot of fun. 

Many years ago I had a dream where I went into a guitar shop and asked to play the Aria Cliff Burton bass they had. It was on the ceiling and, by the time the guy in the shop had brought it down, it had turned into one of these.

Not wanting to appear rude I had a quick play and heard the most beautiful bass tone ever... so pure and lush that a crowd gathered to hear where this amazing sound was coming from.

Needless to say they've been on my mind ever since. I hope yours sounds as glorious as mine did 😆

[SpondonBassed]

On 27/06/2025 at 17:35, Cat Burrito said:

Growing up in the 80s, I always hated the whole idea of what we called cricket bat basses. I remember seeing Bill Wyman and Tina Weymouth with them but it was never enough to swing it for me. 
 

As I have gone through my playing career, I have met loads of owners who swear by them. Then over lockdown, I became obsessed with this video…

 

https://youtu.be/wjv_KI4BTaM?si=mYxweEJPccEeAoaL

 

I thought it might pass but I found myself wanting one. I thought it might pass but it’s the “never say never” one I thought I would never own. The guitarist from my duo bought the Steinberger Spirit guitar so I ordered the bass a couple of months back. It came today.

 

 

I haven’t bought a bass in a long time and my first impression is that it is heavy for what it is (but light, given that there isn’t much of it). It could use a bit of a set up, although the bottom strings are good. There’s a lot of tone variation and I am looking forward to the whole matching vibe with my duo. 
 

I don’t think it will ever be my favourite but for something to muck around with, I anticipate it’ll be a lot of fun. 

 

The bass in the vid is the Hohner B2A.

 

I have one.  It's active.  I also have a five string Steinberger Spirit.  It's passive.

 

The Hohner is a much better quality instrument.  Mine is strung with piano wound (exposed core at the saddles) rounds.  It zings.  A proper slap monster.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited June 29 by SpondonBassed

[SuperSeagull]

There is a B2A for sale locally to me for £350. I've had one before, I don't need another one but I'm very tempted just because they are a very good bass in a very small package. 

[Cat Burrito]

19 hours ago, SpondonBassed said:

 

The bass in the vid is the Hohner B2A.

Ah, I thought that it might be the Hohner as it doesn’t have the Spirit logo. I remember those well. I wanted the style rather than the exact one. I believe the Spirit basses are wood too and I must confess I always prefer passive, simply because a flat battery is one more thing to go wrong. It makes sense that the Hohner would be superior as you aren’t paying for the name. 

[JoeEvans]

I really like small-bodied headless basses. I had an Ibanez Axstar for a while which sounded superb but in the end I couldn't get on with the narrow string spacing. Then I bought an ACG Border Reiver which has more by way of body, although it's still small compared to a normal bass, and that's just amazing, as you would expect.

But I still quite fancy a true cricket bat, and the Hohners do look good...

Part of the pleasure of the ACG is that it feels heavy for its size, but because it's small bodied, medium scale and headless, it's actually very light. So you get a bass that feels satisfying solid, but also light on the shoulder, at the same time.

[EMG456]

On 30/06/2025 at 07:37, Cat Burrito said:

Ah, I thought that it might be the Hohner as it doesn’t have the Spirit logo. I remember those well. I wanted the style rather than the exact one. I believe the Spirit basses are wood too and I must confess I always prefer passive, simply because a flat battery is one more thing to go wrong. It makes sense that the Hohner would be superior as you aren’t paying for the name. 

Original (80s) Hohners and Steinberger Spirits were made in the same factory using the same hardware and were essentially the same instruments. 

As a Steinberger player since 1984, it still amazes me the continuing controversy/ furore over these instruments. 
 

They were designed to address various shortcomings of the traditional electric bass and the all wood versions retain a surprising amount of those benefits.

 

Yes,  it will feel a bit odd at first but give it a few days and you’ll feel much more at home. 

[Lozz196]

I like them, they scream a decade more than any other bass imo, even more so than the original Precision basses.

[uk_lefty]

I had the cricket bat Hohner B2A with EMG pups. It was ace!! When I finally get my 80s band started... Later this summer I hope, I will probably want another. Though mine was active I loved the sound in passive.

[BassTool]

On 29/06/2025 at 12:20, SpondonBassed said:

 

The bass in the vid is the Hohner B2A.

 

I have one.  It's active.  I also have a five string Steinberger Spirit.  It's passive.

 

The Hohner is a much better quality instrument.  Mine is strung with piano wound (exposed core at the saddles) rounds.  It zings.  A proper slap monster.

 

 

 

 

 

 

My B2A sits behind the settee, great little bass, with the drop Dtuner bridge too👍🏼

Edited July 1 by BassTool

[Reggaebass]

I prefer my B2A in active mode, flicking that little switch really adds some low end, I’ve got the labella flats too, absolutely ideal for my reggae and dub 

[dave_bass5]

I got a couple of those Spirits in white from Music Yo quite a few years ago for free (long story, cock up with deliveries etc). I sold one, and ended up swapping one for a B2A (and then sold that as I didnt like it as much). I still have one with the more traditional body. I really like the EMG Select pups on them.

 

 

Edited July 2 by dave_bass5