Headless, 24 fan-fret 5-string project - the Meteorlite

[JIO]

Not sure how else to title this... I'm a 4-string player but have designed & built a couple 5-strings. Being such, I did not build them for myself, but to sell them - which I did. (the gilded one just last week) The gilded one came first - a hand sculpted body from one slab of alder focusing on balance & ergonomics. The second one has a one-slab roasted ash body that was CNC'd from SuperB 1. They both came out really good and I've used that body style/design on a couple more 4-string basses since.

(excuse the black paper "pg" - that was shot on there before the wedge/bloodwood/wenge pg was finished. Pic below)

GEO designed -

Held on with tiny rare-earth magnets - 9v underneath... pop it off, change battery, pop it on - done!

Hah! Sorry again! (black paper pg and black control plate!) Pic below shows the final finished bass including the etched brass control-plate I made for it.

Delano pu, Ibanez single string bridge, John East pre. This wedge/maple/wenge was a bit different which was deliberate.

Same with the hs plate - rockwood/brass nut, Sperzel locking tuners. I'm a big T-bird guy owning a '64 II since 1974. (crazy) ...so I designed the hs to reflect my love for those iconic Gibson & Epiphone hs's. I'm pretty critical of bass guitar hs design. (and every other part of a bass! )

Now that I don't have a 5-string in the house, I started looking for a potential 5-string project on a budget. What's that saying.., “you only realize what you’ve lost when it’s gone”... well, that's not applicable here. More like.., I should own one 5-string myself.
So I saw this on eBay (from China of course) and it checked all my boxes. Headless, 24 frets, 34" scale, fan-frets and cheap. I've wanted to try a fan-fret bass for a while, and this bass being so minimal (headless) I hope it's light-weight.
I will first assess it "as is" to see if it's worth anything. Depending on that assessment, it's cheap enough that I can modify it or even design/make a different body for it. Basically treat it as 'raw materials', as in - if I built it from scratch, I couldn't do it for what I paid. It will take a while to arrive, but once it does I'll give an update giving my thoughts on it. They sell ones with a more elaborate finish, but this 'natural' finish will be ideal if I do any further shaping. Even if it's good 'as-is' ergonomically etc, it's a good platform for gilding and I already have some idea's in that respect. See you on the other side!

It appears to be active judging by the 9v battery compartment, which is good. Both SuperB's were active basses. And a roasted maple neck! And an ash body. For that price - I'll take it!

It's funky, but it could be ergonomic... we'll see. I will judge it following my artist/designer/player requirements. I'll extrapolate once the process starts.

Strange drop-off at the neck pocket back... may require some further shaping.

 

[LFlab]

Love the gilding, really sets it off. Also recently used those bridges (on my Charlie Hunter style guitar/bass hybrid) did you manage to fit thefattest strings in there? I recall I had to do some filing (also should have filed away the big protrusion in the center, not sure what it does, I was hoping to hook the strings in from the top but that does not work).

 

[ctmullins]

I have concerns about the quality of the tuning machines on your Chinese cheapie. At the very least I would disassemble and thoroughly lubricate them.

 

[Matt Liebenau]

I have concerns about the quality of the tuning machines on your Chinese cheapie. At the very least I would disassemble and thoroughly lubricate them.

I had the guitar version that had a Teflon, I think, washer between the knob and body. If there’s no bearing there maybe try and find thrust bearings that fit.

 

[JIO]

I think this will be a fun project.

Love the gilding, really sets it off. Also recently used those bridges (on my Charlie Hunter style guitar/bass hybrid) did you manage to fit thefattest strings in there? I recall I had to do some filing (also should have filed away the big protrusion in the center, not sure what it does, I was hoping to hook the strings in from the top but that does not work).

Thanks! If you are talking about the Ibanez tuners, I don't recall it being an issue. I bought a black, chrome & gold set from the same seller years ago. If you are talking about the headless tuners - I'll find out once it arrives.

 

[JIO]

I have concerns about the quality of the tuning machines on your Chinese cheapie. At the very least I would disassemble and thoroughly lubricate them.

Thanks - I'll check them out once it arrives. I usually go through everything with a fine-tooth comb.

 

[JIO]

I had the guitar version that had a Teflon, I think, washer between the knob and body. If there’s no bearing there maybe try and find thrust bearings that fit.

Thanks Matt - I'll check it out.

 

[Gilmourisgod]

Love the Relic'd gilding! As to the Chinese Cheapie, they seem to get better and better over time, no reason they shouldn't given China's ability to manufacture good quality stuff when the mood or market makes it profitable. Same concern about the hardware, but you won't know if it's OK until it shows up. As long as it's functional, I'd just run it as-is. They usually cut corners on hardware and electronics, but the basic carpentry and fretwork is serviceable. Curious to hear your independent review.

 

[ctmullins]

Well I always apply axle grease to the very fine threads on all of my headless tuners, whether made in China (not likely), Brazil (pretty likely), Germany (not lately), or the USA (home sweet home). Those are some tiny threads, and if they're machined poorly they will need all the help they can get.

 

[Gilmourisgod]

I've been curious about the Chinese headless individual tuners, but have read mixed reviews at best. It's a simple design that works extremely well if it's made from decent materials, the bridge on my 86' Steinberger still runs like a champ after all these years, but the parts are either unobtanium or insanely expensive.

 

[JIO]

Well I always apply axle grease to the very fine threads on all of my headless tuners, whether made in China (not likely), Brazil (pretty likely), Germany (not lately), or the USA (home sweet home). Those are some tiny threads, and if they're machined poorly they will need all the help they can get.

Yes, I have gotten vintage tuners from Japan & elsewhere to work smoothly by disassembling, targeted re-alignment, cleaning and greasing moving parts. I have many different tuners from many different countries of many different levels of craftsmanship/quality and they all do as intended with a little TLC.

 

[JIO]

Love the gilding, really sets it off. Also recently used those bridges (on my Charlie Hunter style guitar/bass hybrid) did you manage to fit thefattest strings in there? I recall I had to do some filing (also should have filed away the big protrusion in the center, not sure what it does, I was hoping to hook the strings in from the top but that does not work).

Thanks! I forgot to post the backside, with a little backstory on gilding. Traditional (gold/silver leaf) gilding on ornate picture frames and furniture generally have a base of red oxide, which was my base on this bass. Gilding is uber thin so generally stabilized by a nitro clear-coat. I ran with this concept and distressed it accordingly. Pat Wilkins, who I've worked with for over 10 years did the (acrylic) clear-coat. He also incorporated a fine dusting of gold metal particles that announces itself under specific lighting. (the sun, and stage lights) Very subtle and when one becomes aware of it - magic. (very hard to photograph!)

You can kind of see it in this close-up on the red-oxide section. It's as fine as the dust on the pu, but refracts light.

 

[LFlab]

I think this will be a fun project.

Thanks! If you are talking about the Ibanez tuners, I don't recall it being an issue. I bought a black, chrome & gold set from the same seller years ago. If you are talking about the headless tuners - I'll find out once it arrives.

Sorry yeah, not clear, was talking about these, single string bridges:

the ones I bought on Aliexpress look exactly the same, are these a different brand?

 

[JIO]

Sorry yeah, not clear, was talking about these, single string bridges:

the ones I bought on Aliexpress look exactly the same, are these a different brand?

I was lead to believe they are the same as used on Ibanez basses but they are not branded. They are well made and work as they should. I know there are a lot of copycat parts out there - I once returned tuners I ordered that looked like Gotoh's but upon close inspection the casting was very crude.

 

[LFlab]

+1 on those, just do not get why that middle section is sticking out, serves no purpose imho.
But yeah well made good chrome plating and polishing.
Only needed to open the gully where the string rides in a little bit. It sat too high for my liking.

 

[JIO]

+1 on those, just do not get why that middle section is sticking out, serves no purpose imho.
But yeah well made good chrome plating and polishing.
Only needed to open the gully where the string rides in a little bit. It sat too high for my liking.

It's similar to a G&L bridge with a lower flange that anchors dynamically into the body wood. Key is drilling its cavity so it fits tight. It's shaped so the string-thru has an open diagonal channel.

 

[JIO]

Hah! I just checked to see when the bass will arrive - Wed, Nov 12 - Thu, Dec 04 - The seller is away until Oct 08, 2025. Add this item to your watchlist to keep track of it. Didn't read the small print. Oh well, luckily I'm in no rush.

 

[Mickey666]

Hah! I just checked to see when the bass will arrive - Wed, Nov 12 - Thu, Dec 04 - The seller is away until Oct 08, 2025. Add this item to your watchlist to keep track of it. Didn't read the small print. Oh well, luckily I'm in no rush.

Been burned by that a few times myself...

 

[JIO]

Been burned by that a few times myself...

If it was something I 'needed', I'd cancel the order. That one was the cheapest posted so It's ok waiting a bit longer.

 

[JIO]

It hasn't arrived yet (a few week away) but I'm considering making a body for it using all the rest of the parts. I'm not keen on the original body shape, and I have suspected something 'off' based on the full bass pic above. As we all know, the nut to 12th fret length should be the same as 12th fret to saddles length. I tested it using a post-it note and the 12th to saddles length would put the saddles hanging off the body. (positioned too short)

There was an inexpensive hollow-body bass from China I was interested in and I found the same issue measuring from their posted pics. It was short-scale and they offered to make it any scale for me. So I pointed the intonation issue out and said I was only interested if they addressed that - and that was the last I heard from them.

If this headless 5'r shows up and intones as it should, I'll be happily surprised. But I'm prepared to make this body with correct bridge positioning. This drawing was traced from the pic and doesn't compensate for the discrepancy, that will be sorted once it's in my hands.