HILS Guitars HNB5 NEXT Black Headless Bass Guitar

Headless Multi-Scale 5-String Bass Built for Modern Players

The HILS HNB5 NEXT Black is a headless 5-string bass built for players who want extended-range authority without the bulk of a traditional body. Its 838–889 mm multi-scale fanned-fret layout gives the low B extra punch and clarity while keeping the upper register fast and natural. Weighing roughly 3.6 kg and measuring 1054 mm end to end, this instrument slips into overhead bins and stays comfortable across long sets. It is a travel-ready, gig-ready piece that covers worship, metal, fusion, pop, studio sessions, and weekend gigs with equal confidence.

What Sets the HNB5 NEXT Apart

The Alchemy mono-rail bridge and matching custom headpiece anchor strings at both ends for rock-solid tuning stability on a fanned-fret neck. A push/pull active-passive volume control lets players switch from scooped active EQ to vintage-flavored passive response mid-set without swapping cables or batteries. These details put this model in a different league from entry-level headless basses that rely on generic hardware.

Body and Neck — Warmth and Stability in a Compact Frame

The mahogany body and 5-piece maple/walnut neck give the instrument a warm, resonant foundation and the rigidity needed to keep a fanned-fret neck stable under string tension. A satin black finish on the body and a natural satin neck keep the playing surface fast and glare-free under stage lights, while the 4-bolt neck attachment keeps the neck-to-body joint tight through climate changes.

• Body Material: Mahogany — warm, woody fundamental that supports the active EQ
• Neck Construction: 5-piece maple/walnut, 4-bolt attachment — resists warping across climate changes
• The bass remains light enough at 3.6 kg for multi-hour sets and overhead-bin travel.

Multi-Scale Fanned Frets — Tight Low B, Smooth Treble Side

The fanned-fret fingerboard is the heart of the modern feel. The longer 889 mm scale on the bass side keeps the low B focused and defined, while the shorter 838 mm treble side keeps the upper strings fast and natural under the fingers. Twenty-four stainless-steel frets, a 305 mm fingerboard radius, and a 46 mm bone nut give the playing surface a familiar, modern feel that thumb-style and pick players both appreciate.

• Scale Length: 838–889 mm multi-scale — optimized tension per string
• Fingerboard Radius: 305 mm — comfortable for thumb-and-fingerstyle and pick playing
• A 46 mm bone nut provides enough width for five-string chord work and double-stops.

Electronics and Hardware — Active Tones with Passive Backup

Two custom single-coil pickups feed an active 3-band EQ with treble, middle, and bass controls, plus a pickup blend knob for fast tone shaping. The push/pull volume pot drops the preamp out of circuit for a passive voicing on demand, useful when a front-of-house engineer wants a flatter, more vintage-flavored signal. The Alchemy-designed mono-rail bridge and headpiece anchor strings firmly, and D'Addario EXL170-5 strings ship installed from the factory.

• Pickup Configuration: SS — two custom single-coils — articulate, musical bass voice
• Controls: Volume (push/pull active-passive), Blend, 3-band EQ — full tone sculpting from the bass
• The Alchemy mono-rail bridge with 18 mm string spacing anchors strings firmly at both ends.

Who Should Play the HILS HNB5 NEXT Black

This bass is the right choice for working musicians who need extended low-B range, modern multi-scale ergonomics, and a road-ready headless format at a mid-tier price. Worship, progressive metal, fusion, and modern pop players will appreciate how the active 3-band EQ and pickup blend dial in everything from round neck-position warmth to tight bridge-position attack. Touring musicians benefit from the 3.6 kg weight and 1054 mm overall length, which make airline overhead-bin travel and long sets noticeably easier.