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Headless Club???

#2,461
_Obra_ said:
I had a chance to play a Spirit to, and You are absolutely right.
Click to expand...
Oh, I don’t know ;)
I bought mine new, and gigged the crap out of it for 5-6yrs. But then started traveling for work and the Spirit body was a little too large for me for travel so I replaced it with my own and a fresh set of EMGs years ago. I’ve had this neck and bridge for over 20 years, it’s traveled with me on airplanes for over 500k miles and I’ve been pretty darn happy with it. Super stable neck with zero fret and really low action that rarely needs adjusted. And it rarely needs to be tuned after landing somewhere. :woot:
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#2,462
ronin614 said:
Anyone have any suggestions for getting a precision(ish) tone from a Kiesel Vader VB5 with humbuckers?

Same question for a Hohner Jack with humbuckers?
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Neck pickup only, cut low bass and treble with EQ, perhaps boost low mids.
 
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#2,469
MovinTarget said:
Don't see too many headless RSOs (Rick shaped objects). Interesting to mix the Nova and ABM hardware...
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Thanks! I really like the ABM stuff, except for those single-string headpieces. :meh: The Nova one-piece headpiece is strong, it's light, it has larger set screws which means less tightening force needed and less strain on the threads and the strings getting clamped. I've actually ordered a few extra headpieces from Andre.
 
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#2,470
ctmullins said:
Thanks! I really like the ABM stuff, except for those single-string headpieces. :meh: The Nova one-piece headpiece is strong, it's light, it has larger set screws which means less tightening force needed and less strain on the threads and the strings getting clamped. I've actually ordered a few extra headpieces from Andre.
Click to expand...

Andre does have some single piece designs in the pipeline... I was inquiring during one of my make-my-own-NS Stick fantasies...

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#2,473
Cran said:
The body shape isn't for me personally but that finish is absolutely stunning. You're going to have a bass and a half once that's done!
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Thanks! The shape is really function of necessity. I'm trying to create an uber-compact bass that is barely longer than its 27" scale. It needed to balance and rest on my knee, but be as slim as possible for travel.
 
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#2,475
ctmullins said:
Thanks! I really like the ABM stuff, except for those single-string headpieces. :meh: The Nova one-piece headpiece is strong, it's light, it has larger set screws which means less tightening force needed and less strain on the threads and the strings getting clamped. I've actually ordered a few extra headpieces from Andre.
Click to expand...
Does the Nova function the same way as the Hipshot headpiece?

I have a headless on order with Martin Keith, and he was planning on using the ABM single pieces. What don't you like about them?
 
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#2,476
emjazz said:
Does the Nova function the same way as the Hipshot headpiece?

I have a headless on order with Martin Keith, and he was planning on using the ABM single pieces. What don't you like about them?
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The Nova headpiece has you clamping the string in place is a pretty large threaded "screw" using an Allen key. (pic is from before drilling the holes to anchor it)
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I think the individual pieces operate similarly, but you are dealing with a much smaller clamping screw.
 
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#2,477
New build starting, just finished my body new design and cut my acrylic template, so I’m ready to start routing.

I’m using a Steinberger 5 bridge (I have 2 of them) and I bought a couple of the Nova head pieces, although I’m not sure I’m sold on the idea of a surface mount headpiece vs a solid end-cap mount with Zero fret (which ALL of my headless basses have + 0 fret). At minimum if I use one, I’ll end up adding an additional brass block for better resonance.
 
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#2,478
emjazz said:
Does the Nova function the same way as the Hipshot headpiece?
Click to expand...

No; the Hipshot has a 90 degree bend in the string before the clamping screws, while the Nova is in-line.

I have a headless on order with Martin Keith, and he was planning on using the ABM single pieces. What don't you like about them?
Click to expand...

They are made well, but they are so small that they seem fragile. There is a single tiny (tiny) screw that mounts it to the neck, with a small pin to keep it from rotating when the string is being clamped. They work fine, they just seem pretty fragile. If you were to really crank down on the clamping screw, it feels as though you could easily tear the whole little thing off.
 
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#2,479
Barticus said:
New build starting, just finished my body new design and cut my acrylic template, so I’m ready to start routing.

I’m using a Steinberger 5 bridge (I have 2 of them) and I bought a couple of the Nova head pieces, although I’m not sure I’m sold on the idea of a surface mount headpiece vs a solid end-cap mount with Zero fret (which ALL of my headless basses have + 0 fret). At minimum if I use one, I’ll end up adding an additional brass block for better resonance.
Click to expand...

What exactly makes you think you’ll need “better resonance”?
 
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#2,480
ctmullins said:
What exactly makes you think you’ll need “better resonance”?
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Mostly just my experience with a bunch of different headless systems that I’ve owned and my preference to have a headpiece that is mounted to the end of the neck, not surface mounted with some wood screws.

It seems that the head systems that are mounted to the end of the neck have worked the best and provide the best resonance. But by far, the best that I’ve experienced has been with brass on both ends… just like my Warwicks (brass nut and brass bridge).

On my custom, I have a Steinberger bridge and headpiece along with a brass block and that setup has amazing resonance and sustain. Harmonics just sing all over the neck, and it just sounds amazing. It just has a mojo to it. I’m replacing the body in that one and building a fretless twin with a new neck and plan to prototype some other innovations with wood and LEDs. ;)

So, I have considered using the Nova and adding a brass block as well since I already have 2 of them. An alternative would be for me to just get a block of brass and mill my own.

Custom with Steinberger hardware (and brass block)
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Maruszczyk (ETS)
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Status
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