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Headless bass guitars

#21
I have an old Washburn Bantam headless...has a couple of soapbars in it...all wood construction.

In all honesty, it's not a bad bass....the electronics leave something to be desired, but I can't find replacement pickups for it (odd shaped) other than that, plays well, uses normal strings (string through some holes in the back of the "headstock") stays in tune, has a locking jack..

My biggest issue with it is that I have to wear it different than my normal basses because it just plays weird unless I wear it lower than I like.


Mostly use it for travel though...fits in an overhead pefectly. I was able to tour Cali with that bass, a couple cables, a big muff, and a messenger bag filled with extra clothes. Forget checking bags.
 
#23
TimWilson said:
I sold off ALL my other basses to get my Kubicki and I'll be buried with it. The best bass I've ever played.
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At 16, a 1989 original Kubicki was my first real high end bass. It just blew me away. I really dug it, it had such a great tone and was so playable. The only thing that bothered me about it was that it took a few tries to really get the knack or changing the strings quickly. However, that was a minor complaint when I think of all the things I loved about that bass!


Jay Terrien said:
Get your hands on a Status Graphite headless bass. You will not be disappointed!!!! :) :hyper::hyper:

Jay
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Despite the fact that both of the Status basses I have owned (a Stealth 6 string which I sold and a 4 String Matrix Series I which I now own) being headed, IMO Status make the best "true" headless basses around!
 
#24
ehque said:
Another disadvantage of headless guitars - not all guitar stands work like they should.
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Wow...I can't believe I forgot to mention that!

I've owned 3 headless basses over the years (I've still got an '88 Steinberger XM-2). My single biggest "pet peeve" with them is that I can't hang them on my wall using regular guitar hangers. I prefer to keep my basses off the floor, so most racks/stands don't work for me.
 
#27
I've got an '82' Steinberger L2 serial #340 that was my workhorse bass from '82'-'89', never failed me once and has amazing tone. Engineers in the studios back then loved it. I would record with a Precision Bass and Steinberger all those years in the '80's. The Steiny never went out of tune and I was able to get strings for it at any time, it was one hell of a bass in it's hey day, though it's retired now.
 
#29
i'd have a headless tomoro as i do travel every now n then and it would be ideal to have a nice compact bass to travel with so i can jam in a hotel room or at my aunts house in italy

but they dont make double ball roto flats (50-110) which are a big part of my sound
 
#30
I have a Spirit 5, but would like a Vinny.

Another problem with these is where they hang due to the location of the strap-button on the upper-horn (or whatever you call on some of these)....the end of the neck gets to be way out there. I like when the upper-horn extends at least to the 12th fret.

Maybe Joe would make a Vinny 5 with a longer upper-horn!
 
#31
AndroWal said:
I have a Spirit 5, but would like a Vinny.

Another problem with these is where they hang due to the location of the strap-button on the upper-horn (or whatever you call on some of these)....the end of the neck gets to be way out there. I like when the upper-horn extends at least to the 12th fret.

Maybe Joe would make a Vinny 5 with a longer upper-horn!
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Yep, looks like the strap button / upper horn reaches the 14th fret. Given that its 34" scale, it might not be so bad. Maybe some Vinny owners will chime in on this one.

Riis
 
#34
Diogenes said:
Why is that? I've never dealt with Ed and probably will never need to... just curious.
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Let's just say that TBer's have varying opinions about his business conduct and character. Calls for a search on your part. I needn't say more.

On another note: I'd like to see more offerings in the mid-priced range, $900 -1400. I'm not a huge fan of the Steinberger Spirit / Hohner lines and the quality stuff starts coming in well over $2000 (new, that is).

Riis
 
#35
Zooberwerx said:
Let's just say that TBer's have varying opinions about his business conduct and character. Calls for a search on your part. I needn't say more.

On another note: I'd like to see more offerings in the mid-priced range, $900 -1400. I'm not a huge fan of the Steinberger Spirit / Hohner lines and the quality stuff starts coming in well over $2000 (new, that is).

Riis
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I'm doing that right now LMAO!

Planet Boulder said:
He's a ten-foot tall beast man, who showers in vodka, and feeds his baby shrimp scampi.
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#36
Zooberwerx said:
o see more offerings in the mid-priced range, $900 -1400. I'm not a huge fan of the Steinberger Spirit / Hohner lines and the quality stuff starts coming in well over $2000 (new, that is).
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I guess that is down to the fact that companies like Status/Kubicki etc etc who pioneered their respective technology are still making their basses today. It has always been their intent to make their product the best it can be. Even Rob Green admits that Status "lost their way" a bit when they started making basses with wood necks! But as I say, the guys who built this stuff in the first place are basically boutique builders. And no one really seems interested in mass-manufacturing such a "niche" product!


strummin said:
For what it's worth, on the Pulse DVD of the Pink Floyd concert from the 90's, the bass player does use a headless. Don't remember if it is on all songs but it does get used.
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Whatever you think of Pink Floyd's music (I hate it), you have to admit Guy Pratt and Roger Waters had good taste in basses. Guy used a Status and Roger used a Kubicki!
 
#37
I won a Washburn Status Series 1000 and I think it is a great bass. The hardware, pickups and preamp are all proprietary from Status and the tone and playability are very good for a mid priced bass. I owned a Hondo "Alien" bass (like a Kramer "Duke")a long time ago and that was a bit of a disappointment.
 

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