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Disadvantages to headless basses?

#241
foothilla said:
I had planned on buying this and immediately changing the nut, then setting up E-A-D-G-C (like every other 5 string I have ever owned). But, I was kinda surprised at how tight the B string sounds, compared to my previous 5 strings (2 Laklands,1 Fender, and 1 Martin). So, I am going to leave it with the low B for now. In addition, there isn't a lot of room for intonation saddle adjustment on these, and I have concerns that I might not be able to get it perfectly intonated with a E-A-D-G-C tuning.

So that brings me to the first thing I am not crazy about,....limited saddle travel, making certain strings potentially impossible to intonate.

1) perfect neck balance
2) best low B I've ever had (not sloppy feeling or sounding)
3) tuning is a breeze, tuned it once, and have not had to touch it for days
4) many available tones,....from very hifi,....to warm and round

I'll let you know about string change when the Thomastics get here. :thumbsup:
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I've actually wondered if those were made by Marusczcyk?

Plus, regarding intonation, there is someone on the forum who absolutely freaks out about this, and all I can say is intonation is perfect on my cheaper version (the indonesian). Plus, almost every acoustic guitar you'll see is set up the same without issues, except that they have LESS adjustment. I know a lot have compensated bridges, but how many people re-do those? That's a beautiful bass, by the way.
 
#243
KJMO said:
I've actually wondered if those were made by Marusczcyk?

Plus, regarding intonation, there is someone on the forum who absolutely freaks out about this, and all I can say is intonation is perfect on my cheaper version (the indonesian). Plus, almost every acoustic guitar you'll see is set up the same without issues, except that they have LESS adjustment. I know a lot have compensated bridges, but how many people re-do those? That's a beautiful bass, by the way.
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Marusczcyk primarily builds out of Poland.:bassist:

I think I will be fine intonating most strings that are to be tuned B-E-A-D-G. But, when a bass is designed to be B-E-A-D-G and you try to set it up for E-A-D-G-C, all of the bridge saddles need to take a significant jump forward. Sometimes the saddle can not be moved enough forward enough, without resetting the bridge (I had a Fender 5 string, where there just wasn't enough bridge saddle travel to get the high C properly intonated). I suspect I could run into that problem with this NS Designs. It might be destined to be my one 5 string with a low B string.
 
#244
I really like my headless, except changing strings is a pain. The ball ends don't stay put in the bridge "jaws", so inevitably it's a two-person job. But other than that, it balances better and holds tune longer than my other basses.

rh.jpg
 
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#247
ctmullins said:
Why not? What brand of bridge do you have?
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It's a Hipshot system. Last time I was at the Roscoe shop, Keith set this bass up and even he couldn't put new strings on without me holding the rogue ball ends in place. They're supposed to click into place so you can pull the string taut at the headless end and cut it, but they don't. It's a drag, but I change strings like once a year.
 
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#248
foothilla said:
Great top. What is that, spalted redwood?
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Thanks. It's cocobolo. There were three in a row like that near the bottom of a huge pile. The mind-blowing thing is, it's a Standard Plus top -- essentially the bottom of the barrel. It's the lowest-tier Roscoe model you can get a top on. So, for a Custom or Signature model, that top would have been in the reject pile!
 
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#250
I would like to address a couple of things in this thread. I've played both headless and headed basses for 20 years. There is no tonal loss with the headless design. My Status Stealth has a near perfect piano tone. My Muckelroy Samaritan has a brilliant gritty tone that comes from it's ash body. They are as unique in tone with their own characteristics as any headed bass.

The graphite neck on my Status is incredibly stable. It stays in tune for weeks. It's also an amazing pleasure to play. Low action, smooth as silk, great for slapping. I happen to adore the visual look of a headless bass, but I know its not for everybody. I purchase a supply of double-ball strings every 2 years or so from Status in England. Great strings and great service. It's an easy credit card transaction.

At home, I regularly pick up my 32" scale Muckelroy to practice. It's really fun and a pleasure to play such a light-weight (7 lbs), short scale bass.
 
#251
gregj8787 said:
I would like to address a couple of things in this thread. I've played both headless and headed basses for 20 years. There is no tonal loss with the headless design. My Status Stealth has a near perfect piano tone. My Muckelroy Samaritan has a brilliant gritty tone that comes from it's ash body. They are as unique in tone with their own characteristics as any headed bass.

The graphite neck on my Status is incredibly stable. It stays in tune for weeks. It's also an amazing pleasure to play. Low action, smooth as silk, great for slapping. I happen to adore the visual look of a headless bass, but I know its not for everybody. I purchase a supply of double-ball strings every 2 years or so from Status in England. Great strings and great service. It's an easy credit card transaction.

At home, I regularly pick up my 32" scale Muckelroy to practice. It's really fun and a pleasure to play such a light-weight (7 lbs), short scale bass.
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:thumbsup:

I wholeheartedly agree! I have a couple of headless basses, and I enjoy them (and their tone) just as much as any headed bass! I have a couple more in the works now.

But, I have to pick a slight nit here - 32" is medium scale, not short scale. I don't know of any true short scale (30") headless basses.... :cool:
 
#252
ctmullins said:
:thumbsup:

I wholeheartedly agree! I have a couple of headless basses, and I enjoy them (and their tone) just as much as any headed bass! I have a couple more in the works now.

But, I have to pick a slight nit here - 32" is medium scale, not short scale. I don't know of any true short scale (30") headless basses.... :cool:
Click to expand...

thanks for the correction... So 32" inch is considered medium scale.
 
#253
ctmullins said:
:thumbsup:

I wholeheartedly agree! I have a couple of headless basses, and I enjoy them (and their tone) just as much as any headed bass! I have a couple more in the works now.

But, I have to pick a slight nit here - 32" is medium scale, not short scale. I don't know of any true short scale (30") headless basses.... :cool:
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Doesn't Kiesel make short scale headless basses?
 
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#256
foothilla said:
I know that the look of a headless bass is a turnoff to many people. Regardless, I am considering buying one (a very expensive one). I have owned 800 billion basses in my life, but never a headless.

The claimed advantages are many (less weight, better weight distribution, no dead spots, better tuning, etc.). But to those of you that have played them extensively, are there any disadvantages with a headless bass? Anything that drove you crazy that I might be missing?

And just to be clear, the headless I'd be buying would be able to accommodate any strings. It wouldn't require double ball ends. So that wouldn't be a disadvantage.

Thanks in advance for any input.
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I was thinking I’d like to own a Spirit and tried one. It played marvelously, how ever it was a psychological issue I had with it. I always felt that my left hand was going to slide off the end of the neck, like falling off a cliff or something like that.
Sorry, no sale…
 

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