any word on new rondos?

[thomasthecat]

Does anyone know when rondo will have new basses? Honestly, I cant take the new "triangle" headstocks. They look awful to me. This may already be a thread, I did a little searching and didnt find anything. Any info would be appreaciated greatly, I like the basses and the price but man... those headstocks

 

[St Drogo]

I don't think ye olde headstocks are coming back, if that's what you're hoping for. They got into a spot of bother with Fender about that, I thought.

 

[Diogenes]

That new headstock that you don't like... it's here to stay for awhile so don't count on the next shipment to look any different.

 

[ghostdog93]

A search for "Essex" will bring up a ton of threads about the basses...including headstock mods, etc., etc. for those who hate the new look.

Two other things:

1) Rondo has been selling separate necks with the old-style Fenderish headstock for the past two weeks or so. Go to their website and check and the "Bodies & Parts" page.

2) I think Rondo has had a few "new" basses over the past few months, including the J-style with J/MM pups, and the upgraded J-series with hi-mass bridges, upgraded hardware and different finishes. They also are carrying the Douglas Pisces again. IMHO, Kurt at Rondo does a pretty good job of keeping the website updated with the new stuff.

Again, if by "new" you mean "going back to the old h/s design", well...I wouldn't hold your breath.

 

[thomasthecat]

Thanks guys, so no new/old headstock haha. I want the 5 string j bass, the natural ash looks so sweet. It looks like the only replacement neck is a fretless for the 5'er. Could it be fretted or should i look elsewhere for a 5 string neck? I suck at fretless

 

[KingRazor]

I've noticed a trend where the longer a bass production company is in business, the worse their products start to look. This is at least true with Rondo and Ibanez.

 

[ian_s]

If you don't like the headstock, a jigsaw or bandsaw can be your best friend.

 

[thomasthecat]

I'm all for the band saw idea

 

[ProfGumby]

I actually am ok with the new headstock. However if you don't like it there are a few options. I have a Jay Turser neck here I bought for a concept project but am really considering reshaping the headstock and selling it!

Also, with the replacements (old headstock necks on Rondo) it is really not hard to swap a neck out. I tell you if I was in a position to do so, I would be buying SX basses and old headstock replacement necks and mating them. I also would be reshaping the new head stocks and selling them....

This is not rocket science....and there are many basses out there, close enough in price to Rondo (read that Jay Turser, Indiana and Squier standard, VM and CV series) that if a guy does not like the new head stock, you have a ton of options!

 

[ghostdog93]

Thanks guys, so no new/old headstock haha. I want the 5 string j bass, the natural ash looks so sweet. It looks like the only replacement neck is a fretless for the 5'er. Could it be fretted or should i look elsewhere for a 5 string neck? I suck at fretless

I'm pretty sure a decent luthier could fret that neck with a minimum of hassle. Of course, this would drive the cost up.

Then again, a little jigsaw work on the new headstock could be just the thing to sort things out. Go here and look at post #11.

HTH.

 

[SGD Lutherie]

I like the new headstock. Why does everything have to look like a Fender? That's getting very generic. Let's all wear the same clothes too, right?

 

[thomasthecat]

So gigsaw it is, im gonna get the five string after all the christmas shopping is done. Thanks a million guys

 

[ghostdog93]

I like the new headstock. Why does everything have to look like a Fender? That's getting very generic. Let's all wear the same clothes too, right?

I see your point, but for me, it's not the shape of the headstock...it's the size. I don't care if it looks Fender-ish or not, but it needs more wood.

And yes, that's what she said. *ba-ding!*

 

[SGD Lutherie]

I thought it looked kind of big already.

 

[ProfGumby]

I thought it looked kind of big already.

That's what she said......










Couldn't help myself...

And face it, we have all seen a lot smaller, a lot bigger and a lot worse. (I know, that's what she said...) Also, I must be the only one to remember the bad rap the "old" headstock got when it a few years back. The wrap then was it was too big, too Fenderish.... Hey, one likes it or one does not. I can respect that but I find it a bit amusing that when I started buying SX all I heard was Fender Rip Off, Boat paddle headstock and on and on....

BTW, the new headstock looks really nice on a 5 strings as well!

 

[KingRazor]

I like the look of the headstock with the dixie cup mod. I prefer it to both the new and old SX headstocks.

 

[St Drogo]

I like the new headstock. Why does everything have to look like a Fender? That's getting very generic. Let's all wear the same clothes too, right?

Things don't have to be the same as everything else to look nice. I don't like the new sx headstocks because they don't suit the rest of the instrument. If you want to wear purple clownshoes and a neon-green tophat together with a nice suit, sure you can. I wouldn't though.

On the jag-style basses it looks a lot better, it suits the rest of the instrument better.

Disclaimer: I do not, nor have ever claimed that SGD Lutherie does in fact wear ridiculous clothes.

 

[dabbler]

BTW, the new headstock looks really nice on a 5 strings as well!

But I think it looks best on the six stringers!

 

[letsrumble]

Paper Jamz came up with an attractive headstock for their Fender copy.

 

[Diogenes]

Paper Jamz came up with an attractive headstock for their Fender copy.

That is a better alternative... even slight curves make a big difference.


These days, there really is only one option on the market for me... a bass which I wouldn't have to modify. And to top it off IMHO it has one of the nicest looking headstocks around: