• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Headless Club???

#2,482
PeaveyPlayer said:
Something is making me want another headless now
Click to expand...
Yeah, me too :woot:

I have 2 customs on order from Maruszczyk and building this new one now… might be a bit of an obsession :woot:
3D7D616B-FE23-4AA0-B453-7F227440C147.jpeg

BA9ADB11-61AF-4C29-AF4B-B8A08583A7A2.jpeg
 
  • Like
Reactions: jafp, dannster, mikewalker and 3 others
#2,483
Barticus said:
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.

[ ... snip ... ]

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.
Click to expand...

All I can tell you is: My surface-mounted Nova headpiece, without a brass block under it, doesn't seem to have any negative impact on what you call "resonance".
 
  • Like
Reactions: mikewalker, MovinTarget, BassToGoGo and 1 other person
#2,485
Just popping in to say hello and that I was once of the club and now will be joining in a few months. My first headless was a borrowed Hohner The Jack that I loved. If I had a use for another 4-string, I would buy one. Then I got into touch guitar because of a hand condition: 8 strings, tuned Bb0FCGDADF (top 4 strings are plain steel). I bought an NS Stick as my first instrument. Brilliant in a lot of ways but I didn't like the totally flat radius. Now I'm having Martin Keith make me one. Currently hoping to get bridge hardware from a place in ... Ukraine. Amazingly, he's still in business. Good for him.
 
  • Like
Reactions: mikewalker, MovinTarget, Starthief and 3 others
#2,486
ctmullins said:
Thanks! I really like the ABM stuff, except for those single-string headpieces. :meh:
Click to expand...

I guess I'll find out personally...Martin Keith 5-string headless with Hipshot bridge and ABM individual headpieces nearing completion:

headless1.jpeg



JES said:
Then I got into touch guitar because of a hand condition: 8 strings, tuned Bb0FCGDADF (top 4 strings are plain steel). I bought an NS Stick as my first instrument. Brilliant in a lot of ways but I didn't like the totally flat radius.
Click to expand...

I once owned an SB8 Stick Bass, but realized that tapping was not my thing. I am really a finger-style player at heart, and came to electric bass by way of classical guitar... I do love a flat fingerboard and will have one on the Martin Keith bass. I look forward to seeing how Martin builds your new instrument.
 
  • Like
Reactions: mikewalker, 5fingerfrenzy, MovinTarget and 5 others
#2,487
TapyTap said:
I once owned an SB8 Stick Bass, but realized that tapping was not my thing.
Click to expand...

Lol, username does not check out! But seriously, I didn't think it was my thing but it's a less painful way for me to play, and I've learned a different approach from the Chapman two hands method--it's more like my hands are one big hand. I wouldn't say it sounds exactly the same as bass and guitar playing, but it has less of the "ka-thunk" of the stick.

TapyTap said:
I look forward to seeing how Martin builds your new instrument.
Click to expand...

Me too!
 
  • Like
Reactions: mikewalker, MovinTarget and Reedt2000
#2,488
JES said:
Lol, username does not check out!
Click to expand...

Good point! I signed up for TalkBass back in the SB8 days. :laugh:


JES said:
But seriously, I didn't think it was my thing but it's a less painful way for me to play, and I've learned a different approach from the Chapman two hands method--it's more like my hands are one big hand. I wouldn't say it sounds exactly the same as bass and guitar playing, but it has less of the "ka-thunk" of the stick.
Click to expand...

Sounds interesting. That's nice you have developed a style of playing that works for you.


JES said:
Me too!
Click to expand...

Martin is a great person to work with on a custom instrument build.
 
  • Like
Reactions: mikewalker, JES, MovinTarget and 1 other person
#2,489
TapyTap said:
I guess I'll find out personally...Martin Keith 5-string headless with Hipshot bridge and ABM individual headpieces nearing completion:

View attachment 4638146




I once owned an SB8 Stick Bass, but realized that tapping was not my thing. I am really a finger-style player at heart, and came to electric bass by way of classical guitar... I do love a flat fingerboard and will have one on the Martin Keith bass. I look forward to seeing how Martin builds your new instrument.
Click to expand...
That sure looks pretty awesome :thumbsup:

I've found the Hipshot bridge benefits greatly from some tiny thrust bearings. They don't use up enough space in the string travel to cause problems coming up to pitch and they make tuning super smooth and easy. You can buy em on ebay for a small price and install them yourself by backing the tuning screw all the way out and replacing the flat washer with a thrust bearing.

Polish_20210109_150638363.jpg
 
  • Like
Reactions: mikewalker, Barticus, yberwaffe and 4 others
#2,490
Reedt2000 said:
That sure looks pretty awesome :thumbsup:

I've found the Hipshot bridge benefits greatly from some tiny thrust bearings. They don't use up enough space in the string travel to cause problems coming up to pitch and they make tuning super smooth and easy. You can buy em on ebay for a small price and install them yourself by backing the tuning screw all the way out and replacing the flat washer with a thrust bearing.

View attachment 4638265
Click to expand...

Thanks for the tip! I'll definitely keep this in mind when I receive the instrument.
 
  • Like
Reactions: MovinTarget and Reedt2000
#2,491
TapyTap said:
I guess I'll find out personally...Martin Keith 5-string headless with Hipshot bridge and ABM individual headpieces nearing completion:

View attachment 4638146




I once owned an SB8 Stick Bass, but realized that tapping was not my thing. I am really a finger-style player at heart, and came to electric bass by way of classical guitar... I do love a flat fingerboard and will have one on the Martin Keith bass. I look forward to seeing how Martin builds your new instrument.
Click to expand...
That’s going to be amazing, beautiful top!
 
  • Like
Reactions: MovinTarget
#2,493
TapyTap said:
I guess I'll find out personally...Martin Keith 5-string headless with Hipshot bridge and ABM individual headpieces nearing completion:

View attachment 4638146




I once owned an SB8 Stick Bass, but realized that tapping was not my thing. I am really a finger-style player at heart, and came to electric bass by way of classical guitar... I do love a flat fingerboard and will have one on the Martin Keith bass. I look forward to seeing how Martin builds your new instrument.
Click to expand...


I'm not a fan of the regular Sticks... but have you seen the Steinberger ones??? Headless *AND* you are supposed to be able to play it like a conventional bass as well! :D

Don-Schiff-300x200.jpg
 
  • Like
Reactions: Eli_Kyiv, kittywithabanjo and Reedt2000
#2,498
Naigewron said:
That was actually pretty enjoyable, as new Steve Vai tracks go. I guess that because he's doing all that multitasking, he doesn't have time to noodly-noodly as much as he normally does.
Click to expand...

He might be bored with the "noodly-noodly" (and I don't know that it has the same following it used to), but yes, since he is working all 3 necks he certainly lets the notes breathe...
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Nuage420

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back