Britain’s Pleasure Division was extremely influential on post-punk/new wave music, and a handful of American bands that emerged within the early/mid ’80s (together with the B-52s and R.E.M.) owe bit to Peter Hook of their bass-forward method to melodies. By means of his lengthy profession (largely with New Order), Hook went by way of basses of each ilk earlier than touchdown on Yamaha BBs as a favourite for his or her sound and really feel. Seeking to mix these qualities with the “gunslinger” look and full of life character of a semi-hollow (that may feed again when wanted), within the early ’80s he labored with British builder Chris Eccleshall on a bass they known as the Viking. For many years, it was his mainstay.

In 2022, Hook determined to revisit the shape, and approached Eastwood (which had beforehand constructed a clone of his Shergold Marathon 6) to hold the torch rather than Eccleshall, who died in 2020. Their newest collab is the Hooky VK Professional.

Combining the dimensions, really feel, and energetic electronics impressed by his favourite Yamaha with the seems that grew to become a part of his persona, the VK Professional has a gloss-black C-shaped maple neck/block with maple high mated to mahogany again and sides. Its ebony fretboard has a 16″ radius, 22 frets, and is 1.65″ huge on the nut – cozy center floor between Precision and Jazz. At 34″, its scale is acquainted and the neck joins the physique on the twentieth fret – a deep set that contributes to the bass being a tad neck-heavy (even when counterbalanced by the 9-volt battery and wiring/pots of its energetic circuit).

The Eastwood pickups have Alnico V magnets and are wound to 12k output. In passive mode, they operate with simply the chrome-top Quantity and Tone knobs. Toggle to energetic and you may dial in bumps/cuts in Bass, Center, and Treble.

Whereas standing, the VK Professional hangs comfortably; our tester weighed 8.6 kilos and the place of the neck/physique joint creates a roomier/longer really feel to the neck. The proprietary close-ratio tuners (1:22) are a pleasant contact, and the bridge is totally adjustable.

Plugged in, the VK Professional is uber-versatile. Hook’s sound and elegance demand high-end that accentuates his decide assault, and the Eastwood brings it; pushed, the Treble will get vibrant sufficient for any event whereas mids could be tweaked to reinforce or subdue punch/drive and the Bass knob brings all the pieces from “simply spherical sufficient” to driver-threatening growth.

All instructed, the Hooky VK Professional is an attention-grabbing piece provided in 4 finishes and left-handed format. Environment friendly slap/pop play would require elimination of the pickguard, however for another model, it’s able to ship. – Ward Meeker

This text initially appeared in VG’s September 2025 subject. All copyrights are by the creator and Classic Guitar journal. Unauthorized replication or use is strictly prohibited