Vox Starstream Artist Series Headless Basses VSBA-HL4 Four String & VSBA-HL5 Five String - 2025-2026
Fig. 1 - Headless Neckpiece: VSBA-HL5 Bass Guitar
Vox has a long history of novel guitar body designs, creating such instruments as the coffin shaped Phantom and the Mk6 Teardrop. Vox guitars were also known for their innovative electronics, some even including built in battery powered effects such as fuzz, wah, E-tuner and repeat percussion.
In 2016, Vox introduced the "Starstream Type 1" modeling guitars. The Starstream Type 1 featured a compact wood inner body that was similar in size to a travel guitar. A sculpted plastic frame with the stylized outline of a traditional dual cutaway solid body guitar encircled the inner body, continuing the Vox heritage of novel body architecture.
In 2019, Vox expanded the Starstream Series by introducing four bass guitars, two in the "VSB Series" with passive electronics and two in the premium "VSBA Artist Series" featuring Aguilar pickups and battery operated preamplifier.
Vox Introduces 4 and 5 String Starstream Headless Bass Guitars
Vox launched two new VSBA Artist Series basses in 2025: the Starstream VSBA-HL4 four string and VSBA-HL5 five string headless basses. These instruments offered a number of benefits:
The lightweight frame body and headless design create a significantly lighter instrument.
Eliminating the heavy headstock and tuners prevents "neck dive," ensuring the bass stays in the balanced position.
Removing the string length between the nut and tuners minimizes pitch drift.
The absence of a headstock reduces the instrument’s total length by up to 8 inches.
Without a vulnerable headstock, the neck is far less prone to accidental breaks or damage.
Fig. 2 - Headless Bass System - Bridge and Tuner Assembly
Fig. 3 -Aguilar AG-4M Pickup (VSBA-HL-4)
Headless Bridge and Headless Neckpiece Vox developed a unique combination bridge and tuner assembly for the VSBA headless basses (see Fig. 2). The bridge is fully adjustable for saddle height and string intonation. The micro-adjustable tuners have knurled knobs that are positoned diagonally for ease of access. Thesse tuners have been designed with an accurate low force winding mechanism to ensure stable and precise tuning.
The headless neckpiece (see Fig. 1) provides a touch of weight to the end of the neck. This weight distribution optimizes shoulder balance while simultaneously boosting resonance to maintain a deep, full-bodied tone.
Scale Moving away from the short scale format of the 2019 Starstream bass models, the VSBA-HL4 and VSBA-HL5 feature a full 34" scale length, matching the industry standard of Fender Precision and Jazz basses.
Neck
Both the Vox VSBA-HL-4 and VSBA-HL-5 headless basses were constructed with bolt-on hard maple necks and 24-fret rosewood fingerboards, offering a full two-octave range on every string. The 4-string VSBA-HL-4 features a 38mm (~1.5") nut and 19mm (~0.75") string spacing at the bridge, providing a feel comparable to a classic J-style bass. To accommodate the low B-string, the 5-string VSBA-HL-5 utilizes a wider 46mm (~1.8") nut and a closer 18mm (11/16") string spacing at the bridge. A deep bolt-on neck joint ensured maximum playability and direct transmission of string vibrations to the body (see Fig. 4).
Body The VSBA-HL-4 and HL-5 headless basses both feature an alder body and an outer frame of molded resin.
Fig. 4 - Deep Bolt-On Neck Joint
Fig. 5 -Aguilar OBP-3 Preamp Controls
Pickup The Vox VSBA-HL-4 had an Aguilar AG-4M pickup (see Fig. 3), while the 5-string VSBA-HL-5 used the Aguilar AG-5M pickup, the five string counterpart of the AG-4M. Both were Alnico V equipped humbuckers designed to recreate the classic, punchy tone of a 70s-era "Stingray" bass.
Active Preamp Both the VSBA-HL-4 and VSBA-HL-5 basses were equipped with an Aguilar OBP-3 active preamp, powered by a 9V alkaline battery accessible via a compartment on the back of the bass. The OBP-3 preamp provided extensive tonal control through dedicated volume, treble, middle, and bass knobs (see Fig. 5). A bypass toggle, positioned just above the control knobs, switched the bass into passive mode, disengaging the preamp and the three-band EQ. To preserve battery life, the preamp is off until a cable is inserted into the output jack. Battery life expectancy is up to 325 hours.
Included Accessories Vox custom bass gig bag, allen wrenches for bridge, head piece and truss adjustments, Owner's Manual.
Price
The VSBA-HL-4 retailed for $3499 USD in 2026 with a "street" price of $2799.99 USD. The VSBA-HL-5 retailed for $3599 USD in 2026 with a "street" price of $2999.99 USD. Country of origin: Japan
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