Cheapie Headless Basses on eBay

[twocargar]

The tuners are a crude sidewinder type. The knobs extend individually to assist in tuning but I had to keep something similar to a jar opener to help grip and turn.

I don't know if you headless bassers have seen this thread, but I bought some of these graphite washers and they made a big difference tuning my bass up.

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1059741

 

[Maxdusty]

Glad the washers worked on your bass too- I have a hankering for another headless bass, I still have quite a few extra washers to use for it too lol. I'll probably also eventually get the string adapter so I won't have to rely too much on double ball strings.
You'd think this info about the washers would be more readily available on the web, but I was tearing my hair out until I found one thread (out of like 6 pages) even mentioning something about a washer! Not even on the Steinberger site, it was in an old TB thread. (yay!)
I found that putting two washers (instead of just 1) in each of my tuners is optimal on my Hohner, it's so smooth to turn -I hardly feel the tension in tuning the bass yet the tuning doesn't slip.

 

[ERIC31]

Anyone get one of these basses yet? I want to try out a headless but not trying to spend $500 and then finding out I don't like it.

 

[twocargar]

Anyone get one of these basses yet? I want to try out a headless but not trying to spend $500 and then finding out I don't like it.
View attachment 437407

BadAax, no. Starfire, yes, I posted about it on post #18. You definitely get what you pay for, which is both positive and negative.

Funny, but when I was thinking about buying a headless paddle-type bass, I couldn't find any locally. Of course once I bought mine, one popped up here on TB, a few on my local CL and even at the local music shop I frequent. I like mine, but wish I could have found a used Cort, Hohner, etc. It was the first new instrument I bought in more than 10 years!

 

[cronker]

I had one of the Cort knockoff boat paddles for some years. I realise this was back when Cort were only starting out and weren't highly regarded or experienced, but it was an absolute POS.
Hope this helps

 

[Maxdusty]

I had one of the Cort knockoff boat paddles for some years. I realise this was back when Cort were only starting out and weren't highly regarded or experienced, but it was an absolute POS.
Hope this helps

I had one too, I have to agree. I wasn't very happy with the sound and feel of it (it had the P/J pickup) - I could have of course upgraded the pickups and electronics, but I just didn't think it was worth it as I wasn't happy with the neck. I ended up selling it and bought a Hohner headless bass instead. Much, much better.

 

[twocargar]

A while back I mentioned I bought a Starfire. After breaking one of the bridge saddles from tightening it too much, I had to buy a new, crappy replacement bridge on eBay. I thought about buying a Steinberger replacement, trying to sell the bass, but decided on buying a replacement bridge and hope I don't break that one too.

That was frustrating, so in the case it sat for a good year after I got it playable. A bit of fishing-reel grease on the screw ends of the tuners and some graphite washers, and it tuned and played nicely, but it was still a bit uncomfortable. I was constantly off by a fret or two when I wasn't looking at the neck while playing. Looking on the Interwebs, I found the Steinberger strap extension, but wasn't about to pay that for my cheapie. I'd effectively double the value of the bass! That reminded me of the old joke: How do you double the value of a [insert cheap car name here]? Fill the tank with gas.

I found a metal bar that I had from my garage door opener, screwed that into the strap button hole with a rubber washer, and it worked! Much more comfortable. Roll back the bridge pickup a bit and it sounds great! I may even bring it to practice next time.