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Headless bass guitars

#41
Baryonyx said:
Obviously, but then we're talking about an excellent production bass that can be had for pennies these days or a hand crafted, boutique instrument made using the finest components and construction techniques around today (imo).
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About the only thing these two basses have in common is that they have Status in the name and they are headless. It really is an apples and oranges type of comparison but they both do what they do very well. I am continually amazed by how good the Washburn sounds and plays but "real" Status basses are boutique instruments and not much compares to them at all IMO. I hope to get one some day.
 
#43
Back in the early 80's my main bass was a Kramer Duke. One of those Steinberger look-alikes, it was fretless with a graphite neck. I sure miss that bass. It was odd looking to the left and not seeing a head or tuners and between sets I was always swamped with drunks asking "What is that thing" (tearing up) I miss that bass :(
 
#45
etechstan said:
Back in the early 80's my main bass was a Kramer Duke. One of those Steinberger look-alikes, it was fretless with a graphite neck. I sure miss that bass. It was odd looking to the left and not seeing a head or tuners and between sets I was always swamped with drunks asking "What is that thing" (tearing up) I miss that bass :(
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Close. Actually, the necks were not graphite composite. They were aluminum with either a wooden overlay or inserts. I can't recall which.

Riis
 
#47
Favorite headless was a PBC 356, six string fretless. A 5A flamed quilted maple top in amber, ebony board. Incredible sound and play! Favorite bass EVER!!!!!! Still made by Bunker, just a little out of my price range right now.

Next is my Bogart 5 fretless, sitting in my lap right now. Though not exactly headless, the tuners are in the bridge. But it does have a headstock of sorts, and small keys used to lock the strings. Kinda stupid, and may be replaced with a Moses neck in the future. But it works now, and I love the tone. Second favorite ever, of all of my basses.:bassist:
 
#48
kevin newsham said:
Favorite headless was a PBC 356, six string fretless. A 5A flamed quilted maple top in amber, ebony board. Incredible sound and play! Favorite bass EVER!!!!!! Still made by Bunker, just a little out of my price range right now.

Next is my Bogart 5 fretless, sitting in my lap right now. Though not exactly headless, the tuners are in the bridge. But it does have a headstock of sorts, and small keys used to lock the strings. Kinda stupid, and may be replaced with a Moses neck in the future. But it works now, and I love the tone. Second favorite ever, of all of my basses.:bassist:
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I think I can speak for everyone here when I say," we want pics of those basses".
 
#49
A Bogart? I tried one of them in a consignment music store in the Twin Cities years ago. They had 3 of them from somehow and I really liked the fretted 4 string. I still regret not buying it. It had a composite body and and one large Bartolini pickup with a graphite neck. The tuners were at the bridge. I haven't seen one since though I've kept my eye out for them.

I'd like to see a pic also - and to play one again someday. This time I would probably buy it.
 
#51
Link Removed

The PBC was stolen 10 yrs ago in Dallas, Never recovered. I may have attached a couple of pics here, first attempt at attachments here.

I still have the Bogart, doing a little tone surgery, but still working. It has a couple controls missing, and a neck p/u missing as well. Should have the pickups figured out and dialed in for my tone preference shortly. She still sings, just changing the song a little.

I have to take some picks in it's current state of repair/ undress. Will post in a couple of minutes.

PS, these are not my PBC's, but mine looked like a fretless version of the 356 at the top.
 
#53
This is Humphry...[/ATTACH]

Yeah, a little scared up from surgery, but the best in my arsenal right now.
 

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#55
KeithPas said:
Ouch!! Sorry to hear that the PBC was stolen, that's horrible. It looked like a great bass.
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A grown man cried that week, I haven't played a bass that good since. Even Fodera's, Sadowsky's, and MTD's have not affected me like that bass. True tears of sorrow that day.

Expression-wise the closest I have come to the PBC is Humphry. But he knows he would be gone in a heartbeat if another PBC 356 fretless came along.
 
#56
KeithPas said:
Scarred up or not, that bass looks great.
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Missing pickups and controls on a bass you love, is like missing teath on a supermodel.

I am running the old neck position, deeper wound Bart soap bar in the bridge position. Plumbed into a Demeter onboard preamp, sounds incredible!

Trying to decide what to put in the front PU route hole, if anything at all. Might just fill the holes, smooth it and repaint it black.
:cool:
 
#57
The best bass I've ever owned, hands-down, was a mid-80's Steinberger XL-25W, a real-honest-to-god take-out-a-second-mortgage-and-buy-me guitar.

5 strings, narrow spaced in white. It had the kick-out leg stand, and it was late enough to have the kidney-shaped piece on the back so that the strap actually attached to the mount, and not the bass. I also had a clamp machined in Ned's factory out of brass that allowed me to use any single-ball string that I wanted to, but I eventually settled on a custom GHS set that they'd make by the case for me (.135, .105, .95, .75, .65). If you find one, you also need the matching stand, which conveniently fits in the gig-bag pocket.

It also had an XLR out on the body, superb recording instrument...just plug it into the wall and go! One of the keyboard comapnied actually sampled my bass (both with and without the mandatory GK head) for two of their midi bass voices!

I have also had an early 90's Kubicki factor with the drop-D, another great bass...you can really dig in on those things, and one of the early Status basses with the (?) walnut bodies that has a superb woody tone to go along withh the graphite advantages.

I would kill to have that 'berger back, but he ain't selling :(
 

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