Can you post a couple of pictures of the headstock break? I'm interested to see how difficult it would be to just create and attach a new headstock.
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Gibson ? or not Gibson Anyone recognise?
- Thread starter Samantha Mason
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Yep, I had one.i don't see any gibson parts on that bass. look for a 60s/70s-era matsumoku-factory neck to bring it back to life. any brand will doe.g. teisco, kay, aria
You know, I also really like the headless conversion idea. Headless hardware is expensive, but it would be unique and likely very comfortable (no neck dive). And that crap original bridge....
Does the truss rod in the original neck work?
Not all of it is expensive ( as mentioned in my earlier post, as little as $40 gets you in the headless game... 1 Set Black 4 String Headless Bass Guitar Bridge System Electric Bass Parts | eBay )
avon by rose morris the neck might fit
i think all these MIJ copy's are made in the same factory's 
But it doesn’t have the notch in the pickguard for the palm rest. That’s what’s throwing me. They wouldn’t have taken that manufacturing step unless it was needed. Got the right looking bridge pup though. But that would be easily switchable.
But who knows. They’d change those models around to use whatever was available in the parts bins, so who knows?
That’s awesome ! Did u have the broken head? I’ve only got the Brocken neck on a body missing tuners
Yes no prob
Attachments
I don't generally like the SG-style basses, but I think this one converted to headless could be a really cool, unique creature.That early-70s Japanese bass is just crying out for a headless conversion!!!
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Ouch!
Well, even if you plan to go headless you are faced with two issues:
- The truss rod adjustment is at the headstock end. You will need to get creative in finding a solution that will provide a string anchor with truss rod access. Something like this, if it will line up: 4 String Guitar Bridge for Headless Bass Guitar Black | eBay.
- Whether you go headless or rebuild the headstock, you will need to add a fair chunk of wood to be able to mount any of the hardware. It's definitely doable, though.
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i think all these MIJ copy's are made in the same factory's
Many of them were (at Matsumoku Industrial), which is why some of those 70's "lawsuit" copies are so good, across several brands.
Quite a few of them used bolt on necks, where the original had used a set (or through) neck ; which in the OP's case opens up some useful possibilities, and might work out cheaper than trying to salvage the original neck - assuming it's even straight.
But it doesn’t have the notch in the pickguard for the palm rest. That’s what’s throwing me. They wouldn’t have taken that manufacturing step unless it was needed. Got the right looking bridge pup though. But that would be easily switchable.
But who knows. They’d change those models around to use whatever was available in the parts bins, so who knows?
Absolutely! If we could accumulate one example of every variation on every make and model of these 70s copies, there would be more basses than what @bholder and @B-Mac have combined. What a pity it was so hard to obtain a gigable set-up on these instruments. There would be a lot more of them around.
That looks pretty fatal to me, and we don’t even know if the truss rod works, state of the frets etc. Biding your time and looking for a replacement neck (someone here might even have one) would seem to be your best bet. The headless conversion thing, if it’s even possible with this model, would involve quite a bit of work and $$ I think. Alternatively, you could sell what you have or part it out to people who need what you have.
So how’s things going with the refurb?Thank you so much for all the help . I’m going to refurb it myself as I’ve done a few electric guitars and a few bass guitars. So I’m going to see what I can find thank you
