Great headless basses?

[cnltb]

given someone at fender built the first headless bass ever, I'm surprised they don't have anything in their catalogue.(afaik)

 

[A9X]

given someone at fender built the first headless bass ever

I thought that was at Gibson. Inadvertently.

 

[spade2you]

I thought that was at Gibson. Inadvertently.

I'm playing more guitar these days. I'm flabbergasted with the way Gibson fans will defend that design flaw to the hilt. It's not like it's necessary to function. Gibson even offers a thicker volute on some of their more "modern" Les Pauls that aren't 100% built to 1950's specs.

 

[A9X]

I'm flabbergasted with the way Gibson fans will defend that design flaw to the hilt.

SO am I, but guitarists are a strange breed. This subject actually came up when talking with a luthier friend of mine that I want to build myself a couple of basses and we were discussing the scarf joint. He said he hated the Gibson design but at one stage it was about 50% of their throughput for repairs.

 

[spade2you]

SO am I, but guitarists are a strange breed. This subject actually came up when talking with a luthier friend of mine that I want to build myself a couple of basses and we were discussing the scarf joint. He said he hated the Gibson design but at one stage it was about 50% of their throughput for repairs.

Yup. There are tons of legitimate solutions, but the diehards think you'll loose all credibility at tan pants blues festivals, LOL. I've seen a good amount of decapitated guitars, which is unfortunate. I guess it's job security for luthiers repairing stuff.

I have plans of a LP type sound, but obviously won't be using that headstock joint.

 

[A9X]

but obviously won't be using that headstock joint.

We've located the wood we need for this project in a friend's shed of all places and the pieces are large enough so that we can cut the angled headstock from the one piece. It'll actually be 2 NT blanks cut in opposite directions to maximise wood useage.

 

[cnltb]

No idea if there really is something to this, but it is entertaining reading, I find...
The Ballad of Beat Pfändler and the Headless Bass — Rust Magazine

 

[A9X]

^^ Good story.

 

[D.A.R.K.]

Here's the Kiesel I had built- was truly precision made, excellent work, beautiful instrument- but had no life to it sonically, whatsoever. It was to be a replacement for another, vintage instrument I play (scale and string gage/tuning specific, non standard), but fell so short sonically I let it go (and still play the original). Only custom build I've ever done.View attachment 4182978

Fast forward, I ended up getting a custom neck made by Funktronic as a solution for the vintage instrument mentioned- found another one, which was a rescue with a neck that was toast, and did the mods (Mid 60's Hagstrom bass):

 

[J Posega]

Fast forward, I ended up getting a custom neck made by Funktronic as a solution for the vintage instrument mentioned- found another one, which was a rescue with a neck that was toast, and did the mods (Mid 60's Hagstrom bass):View attachment 5158516

Very cool; retro but modernized. Are the electronics yet to be installed or are you going straight from pickups to output?

Also really like how the pickguard is bevelled around the neck for a little extra accent. Looks like pin striping.

 

[D.A.R.K.]

Very cool; retro but modernized. Are the electronics yet to be installed or are you going straight from pickups to output?

Also really like how the pickguard is bevelled around the neck for a little extra accent. Looks like pin striping.

Just going straight to output jack right now,
I'm one of those less is more people and always run stuff full out. It does require always having a volume pedal though. The pick guard is stock, and the bevel is definitely aesthetically pleasing!
Only thing left to do is install a dummy coil, these old pickups are very loud and get a bit noisy (worked a charm with my other one).

 

[Zoot H Rollo]

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