Headless basses - why or why not?

[Koeda]

Other than "I love the look" or "I hate the look":
If you play a headless bass - what do and don't you like about it?
If you have played headless basses and prefer traditional basses with headstocks - why?
If you've never played a headless bass because you don't like the way they look - I already understand that perspective, no need to post just to say so. Thanks!

I play a headless - mainly because they come in cool colors:

But seriously - these are short scale (kinder to my shoulder tendinitus) and very easy to port around, so size is a plus. Very easy to play (standing that is). Look is unique so always a subject of conversation. Never thought about the tuning - don't need to mess with much, but having the tuners on the body does make the job easier. I just like basses and enjoy playing the Fenders equally as much.

 

[RickC]

Alper, those look great. I love the simple design of each bass.

Gotta agree Andy; so clean and classic. Hey Alper, got any sound samples?

/rick

 

[emjazz]

Well, we were not sure if it would work or not. I am not a big fan of the low B sound on most basses. So we did not want to take the risk. But, I am sure now that it would have worked fine...

...sounds like a new bass down the line....

 

[emjazz]

The shorter scale B-strings are an interesting point. I can't vouch for other brands, but I had a Status KingBass V with the 32" scale & bendwell option & it had a fantastic B-string. No complaints on any of the Status basses with the B-string.

It's the rigidity of the neck that helps with that.

 

[loopee]

Yes, I can't figure out why they would think their hand would slip off the neck either.......it never crossed my mind and certainly never happened to me.......I can use regular strings on mine......

You're the second or third person to mention this and I really don't get it. Not only has this never happened to me, it's never even felt like a possibility. An evil suspicious part of me thinks that this might be people trying to find a way to justify their knee jerk dislike of something different.

In response to the OP: the only real negative would be string selection, which doesn't apply to all headless basses, as some can use 'regular' strings.

Matt.

 

[Munjibunga]

You're the second or third person to mention this and I really don't get it. Not only has this never happened to me, it's never even felt like a possibility. An evil suspicious part of me thinks that this might be people trying to find a way to justify their knee jerk dislike of something different.

In response to the OP: the only real negative would be string selection, which doesn't apply to all headless basses, as some can use 'regular' strings.

Matt.

Hey, I SEEN it, man! We were playing Black Magic Woman at a gig, and the lead guitarist was playing his Steiny. When he got to the end of the intro solo, he does this big gliss right at the last note and, SURE ENOUGH ... his hand just shoots RIGHT OFF THE END of the neck. It was pathetic. I think I may even have some video of it.

 

[Alper Yilmaz]

Hi Rick,

I recently released my second album "Over the Clouds." On that album I used the fretted 5-string. CDBaby.com, digstation.com and iTunes both have samples of my tunes from that album. Sorry, I have not uploaded any samples yet to my website, but I will do at some point. Particularly, on one of the tunes titled "Cagdas' Tune," I used 7 layers of bass looped which definitely gives a great idea about the tone of the bass. Also, the intro to "Straight Up" is an extended bass solo.

FYI, we recorded the bass 3 channels:

- D.I. from Millennia TD-1 in 5 of the songs and D.I. from REDDI in 3 of the songs;

- a Wunder Audio CM-7 mic (and Neumann D01 in a few songs) in front of Bergantino IP112 fed by Millennia TD-1 preamp;

- a EV RE20 mic in front of Bergantino HT112 used as extension cabinet to IP112.

Best,

Alper

Gotta agree Andy; so clean and classic. Hey Alper, got any sound samples?

/rick

 

[higgi]

I have a cort headless. Best bass I have ever owned.

Advantages:
Balance
Weight
Sustain
Growl
Strong low b

Disadvantages:
Finding strings you like at a good price. I want daddario flat chromes.
Those string adapters let your strings unravel sometimes.
People ask lots of questions about it. I should be more social.
My hand has slid off the end several times. I just act like I meant to do that.

 

[RickC]

Hi Rick,

I recently released my second album "Over the Clouds." On that album I used the fretted 5-string. CDBaby.com, digstation.com and iTunes both have samples of my tunes from that album. Sorry, I have not uploaded any samples yet to my website, but I will do at some point. Particularly, on one of the tunes titled "Cagdas' Tune," I used 7 layers of bass looped which definitely gives a great idea about the tone of the bass. Also, the intro to "Straight Up" is an extended bass solo.

FYI, we recorded the bass 3 channels:

- D.I. from Millennia TD-1 in 5 of the songs and D.I. from REDDI in 3 of the songs;

- a Wunder Audio CM-7 mic (and Neumann D01 in a few songs) in front of Bergantino IP112 fed by Millennia TD-1 preamp;

- a EV RE20 mic in front of Bergantino HT112 used as extension cabinet to IP112.

Best,

Alper

Checking it out right now. Bass sounds great. So do you!

 

[Alper Yilmaz]

Thanks for the kind words, Rick.

Best,

Alper

Checking it out right now. Bass sounds great. So do you!

 

[emjazz]

Alper...man...the new disc sounds incredible. Dave Binney and Nir Felder???? Whoa. I'll be sure to buy it.....man, Nir sounds incredible right???!!!!!

I was just listening to the clips on cd baby so only snippets, but your compositions sound great.

....and to stay on track, everyone check out Alper's new disc where he's playing his headless bass!

Hi Rick,

I recently released my second album "Over the Clouds." On that album I used the fretted 5-string. CDBaby.com, digstation.com and iTunes both have samples of my tunes from that album. Sorry, I have not uploaded any samples yet to my website, but I will do at some point. Particularly, on one of the tunes titled "Cagdas' Tune," I used 7 layers of bass looped which definitely gives a great idea about the tone of the bass. Also, the intro to "Straight Up" is an extended bass solo.

FYI, we recorded the bass 3 channels:

- D.I. from Millennia TD-1 in 5 of the songs and D.I. from REDDI in 3 of the songs;

- a Wunder Audio CM-7 mic (and Neumann D01 in a few songs) in front of Bergantino IP112 fed by Millennia TD-1 preamp;

- a EV RE20 mic in front of Bergantino HT112 used as extension cabinet to IP112.

Best,

Alper

 

[Alper Yilmaz]

Thanks for the kind words, emjazz!

Dave and Nir are definitely amazing; it is a great pleasure to play with them! Also, check out the drummers on the album, though; Bodek Janke, who recently moved from NYC to Germany, and Volkan Oktem, the top session drummer from Istanbul!

Best,

Alper

Alper...man...the new disc sounds incredible. Dave Binney and Nir Felder???? Whoa. I'll be sure to buy it.....man, Nir sounds incredible right???!!!!!

I was just listening to the clips on cd baby so only snippets, but your compositions sound great.

....and to stay on track, everyone check out Alper's new disc where he's playing his headless bass!

 

[scowboy]

...i am waiting for my Status Kingbass to show up later this week. I will chime on the whole "sliding of the end of the neck" thing. But for now I am very excited to have a sub 7.5 lb instrument and a composite neck!

 

[Alper Yilmaz]

I am sure you will love the light weight and the convenience of traveling (even) overseas and seeing the tuning has not changed at all! Status' hardware is very high quality!

"Sliding of the end of the neck" never made much sense to me. I usually try to play on the fretboard, not out of it!

Cheers,

A.

...i am waiting for my Status Kingbass to show up later this week. I will chime on the whole "sliding of the end of the neck" thing. But for now I am very excited to have a sub 7.5 lb instrument and a composite neck!

 

[scowboy]

I am guessing the "sliding" won't be a problem for me I am not that wild! But yes I am excited to say the least. Saying goodbye to my Warwick Thumb NT is something that I am not looking forward to but but that's how it goes.

I am sure you will love the light weight and the convenience of traveling (even) overseas and seeing the tuning has not changed at all! Status' hardware is very high quality!

"Sliding of the end of the neck" never made much sense to me. I usually try to play on the fretboard, not out of it!

Cheers,

A.

 

[ric stave]

I sold my Warwick Thumb 6 NT (and a Steinberger 5 string) to be able to buy a Status Stealth Headless 6 - best bass I have ever owned or played!

The Status have a contoured bump at the very end of the neck, kinda like the flair you get on basses with a headstock. The Hohner Steinberger copies I used to own had more of a 'straight to nothingness' neck to them, but the bigger thing to get used to on those was that because of the strap pin position it actually put the neck out FURTHER than usual - when I 1st started playing them and slid down to an F, I'd end up on the F# before I got used to the difference.

I'd love to pick up a Status Streamline 5'r someday.

 

[KarateKid25]

I've never played one myself, but think they are pretty cool

Would love to give one a go eventually

 

[lomo]

In design terms, having tuners at the bridge makes a lot of sense, especially for balance. My Basslab has a headstock purely for esthetic reasons, without tuner pegs, because it's a visual clone of a jazz and I wanted to preserve the look.

 

[scowboy]

Thanks Ric. I will take that as encouragement. Waiting for the Status and having the Thumb around to play does not help.

So your saying your Horner's were kind of like the Thumb. It always feels like the first fret is about a mile away. Admittedly, I'm 5'7" and have short limbs! Brilliant minds think alike I'd love to have a Streamline as well. Already scheming that one in my mind ;-)

Here is what I am waiting for. Found it on eBay of all places in Australia. Basically a KB Standard with a lacquer finish. Should be here by about Monday.

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I sold my Warwick Thumb 6 NT (and a Steinberger 5 string) to be able to buy a Status Stealth Headless 6 - best bass I have ever owned or played!

The Status have a contoured bump at the very end of the neck, kinda like the flair you get on basses with a headstock. The Hohner Steinberger copies I used to own had more of a 'straight to nothingness' neck to them, but the bigger thing to get used to on those was that because of the strap pin position it actually put the neck out FURTHER than usual - when I 1st started playing them and slid down to an F, I'd end up on the F# before I got used to the difference.

I'd love to pick up a Status Streamline 5'r someday.

 

[RDUB]

Good thread. I've been playing a Washburn Bantam ever since I bought it in 1982 or 83. It's a four string, uses regular strings clamped at the neck end. The bridge/tuners section is exactly like the original Steinbergers. I played the original Stein's and found them pretty sterile sounding. This bass is made of wood, and sounds much more natural. I've replaced the original electronics with active EMG's and active preamp.

This is my main bass, and I play out generally once or twice a week, at least. It has never let me down. The spacing is narrower than most basses, and it has a great feel. I don't know how hard you guys are trying to crank your neck, or whatever, or what lube you're using, but my hand has never flown off the top!

It stays in tune better than any instrument I've ever played, and the intonation is nothing short of amazing. It has a two octave neck, and I play up in the second octave regularly. Chords up there are clean and clear. I can play an open D with the third on the 23rd fret of the G string, and it's perfectly in tune.

I keep playing every bass I can get my hands on to see if there's something to replace it/back it up, and I haven't found one yet. I haven't tried a Status, though...