Headless Club???

[Barticus]

I am tempted to try this on my Headless bridge.

What’s the hesitation?
It’s a cheap $10 upgrade and makes the tuners very smooth.

 

[hihat]

@Barticus
so the 4mm ID X 10mm OD X 4mm will fit on my XL2?

 

[J Posega]

@Barticus
so the 4mm ID X 10mm OD X 4mm will fit on my XL2?

Considering he said that all Steinberger bridges use the same size screws already, he's already addressed this.

 

[J Posega]

These fit pretty well 4mm ID X 10mm OD X 4mm thick, they’re pretty thick so I’m removing the original washer so there’s a smidge more on the threads of the tuner, otherwise it’s close.

And they came in a five pack instead of a four pack which helps.

Uxcell F4-10M Thrust Ball Bearings 4mm x 10mm x 4mm Chrome Steel Single Direction 5pcs https://a.co/d/c8oW4YG
View attachment 4747360
View attachment 4747397

Glad these ones fit. I ordered a set as well.

I did take my Hohner's bridge apart, cleaned everything up, and scraped some pencil lead (graphite) all over the points of friction and it tunes much more easily than before.

I also found a single-ball adapter from HeadlessUSA in my parts box (I'd previously bought and then immediately returned an utterly crap Spirit, but ordered the adapter before the bass had arrived). So, I went ahead and installed a new set of D'addario balanced strings with the adapter.

That said, my headpiece from Matt in Ireland finally shipped (he was down and out with The Virus last week). Once it arrives, I'll probably just give away the HeadlessUSA adapter because I'll have no need for it.

One thing I've learned using the HeadlessUSA adapter is to leave more slack in the string than you'd think is necessary so the bridge tuners can pull the ball end under the cover.

When I install the new all-in-one headpiece, I think I have a decent idea of how to hide the trimmed ends of the strings so they don't stick out. I'll post details if it works!

 

[mikewalker]

Can I get a club number, please?

Actually been playing my Duke headless almost exclusively the past couple years, so probably should have asked for one earlier

I have to say that the ETS tuners are very smooth... much better than the (ABM?) ones that came with my Status Streamline, and the Miller em4. These probably don't really need the ball-bearing thrust washers, but I will try installing them anyway, since I have a bunch on standby here ...

 

[Spidey2112]

Can I get a club number, please?
View attachment 4748523 View attachment 4748524 View attachment 4748525

Actually been playing my Duke headless almost exclusively the past couple years, so probably should have asked for one earlier

I have to say that the ETS tuners are very smooth... much better than the (ABM?) ones that came with my Status Streamline, and the Miller em4. These probably don't really need the ball-bearing thrust washers, but I will try installing them anyway, since I have a bunch on standby here ...

Good Lord, that's nice... I don't care if that's what she said, or not.

 

[Barticus]

Can I get a club number, please?
View attachment 4748523 View attachment 4748524 View attachment 4748525

Actually been playing my Duke headless almost exclusively the past couple years, so probably should have asked for one earlier

I have to say that the ETS tuners are very smooth... much better than the (ABM?) ones that came with my Status Streamline, and the Miller em4. These probably don't really need the ball-bearing thrust washers, but I will try installing them anyway, since I have a bunch on standby here ...

Wow we need a full review on that one! I talked to Heiko 20yrs ago about a 5 but never proceeded, that one looks amazing!!!

 

[mikewalker]

THRUST-BEARING UPDATE:

From eBay, very nice little thrust bearing sets. Sprayed them with a little nano lubricant and installed, and now the tuners turn smoother than ever! Good little upgrade.

 

[Barticus]

THRUST-BEARING UPDATE:
View attachment 4749882
From eBay, very nice little thrust bearing sets. Sprayed them with a little nano lubricant and installed, and now the tuners turn smoother than ever! Good little upgrade.

That’s nice… Yeah I ordered 5 more sets, I’m putting them on all of my headless basses now (well not my Streamline but all of the others)

 

[Barticus]

I just put my Maruszczyk Frog 5 up in the classifieds, since my other Maruszczyk Paddock custom order is due to ship to me next week. I already received my other custom headless from them about a month ago, so those 2 are replacements for this one.
For Sale - Maruszczyk Frog 5 headless with 4-band preamp

 

[TrustRod]

A little cheaper and lighter than thrust bearings, these nylon washers help a lot. They're about 1/2 inch wide with an 1/8 hole. It made a big difference on my Hohner bridge.

 

[J Posega]

Made some upgrades to the old Hohner B2A that I got a couple weeks ago.

I previously disassembled the bridge and cleaned it up, used some graphite lubricant where metal parts were touch. Today, I put on the headpiece I got from Matt in Ireland on eBay, along with a set of D'addario XL nickel balanced strings 95-40. Lighter, balanced tension is just so good.

The headpiece is incredibly well made, and got to me in Los Angeles in a matter of a few days once it was shipped. Much more elegant solution than the HeadlessUSA version (which Matt sells an improved version of.

My only gripe is that I need a set of flush cutters because I can just imagine catching someone with the tips of those strings.

I also added thrust bearings to the bridge, 4mm ID x 10mm OD x 4mm thick. The bass is much easier to tune, now. I used these: https://a.co/d/c8oW4YG

Thanks to @Barticus for getting Matt to make some high quality parts and for finding the right size thrust bearings.

The bass is playing much better with some good, fresh strings, but needs a bit of fretwork.

The sound is a tad lackluster due to the stock electronics and EMG Select pickups. I'm looking into replacing these elements next.

 

[Barticus]

Made some upgrades to the old Hohner B2A that I got a couple weeks ago.

I previously disassembled the bridge and cleaned it up, used some graphite lubricant where metal parts were touch. Today, I put on the headpiece I got from Matt in Ireland on eBay, along with a set of D'addario XL nickel balanced strings 95-40. Lighter, balanced tension is just so good.

View attachment 4752160
The headpiece is incredibly well made, and got to me in Los Angeles in a matter of a few days once it was shipped. Much more elegant solution than the HeadlessUSA version (which Matt sells an improved version of.

The other way to get a clean snip is to cut the strings and then pull them back through a bit so the cut ends don’t protrude past the end of the headpiece, then tighten the screws.

My only gripe is that I need a set of flush cutters because I can just imagine catching someone with the tips of those strings.

I also added thrust bearings to the bridge, 4mm ID x 10mm OD x 4mm thick. The bass is much easier to tune, now. I used these: https://a.co/d/c8oW4YG

View attachment 4752159

Thanks to @Barticus for getting Matt to make some high quality parts and for finding the right size thrust bearings.

The bass is playing much better with some good, fresh strings, but needs a bit of fretwork.

The sound is a tad lackluster due to the stock electronics and EMG Select pickups. I'm looking into replacing these elements next.

Looks great, nice upgrades!

Yeah that headpiece is definitely nice and an upgrade from the USA adapter (which I used as well).

I started with just upgrading to the EMG BTC with current pickups which made a big difference to start… Then I progressed to upgrading the pickups to DC40s with the BTC (2 band), then evolved to the BQC (3 band). Every step along the way was a good improvement and all sounded good.

 

[Barticus]

Made some upgrades to the old Hohner B2A that I got a couple weeks ago.

I previously disassembled the bridge and cleaned it up, used some graphite lubricant where metal parts were touch. Today, I put on the headpiece I got from Matt in Ireland on eBay, along with a set of D'addario XL nickel balanced strings 95-40. Lighter, balanced tension is just so good.

View attachment 4752160
The headpiece is incredibly well made, and got to me in Los Angeles in a matter of a few days once it was shipped. Much more elegant solution than the HeadlessUSA version (which Matt sells an improved version of.

My only gripe is that I need a set of flush cutters because I can just imagine catching someone with the tips of those strings.

I also added thrust bearings to the bridge, 4mm ID x 10mm OD x 4mm thick. The bass is much easier to tune, now. I used these: https://a.co/d/c8oW4YG

View attachment 4752159

Thanks to @Barticus for getting Matt to make some high quality parts and for finding the right size thrust bearings.

The bass is playing much better with some good, fresh strings, but needs a bit of fretwork.

The sound is a tad lackluster due to the stock electronics and EMG Select pickups. I'm looking into replacing these elements next.

Oh and the other way to have a clean end is to cut the strings to length and then pull them back a bit so they don’t protrude out through the end of the headpiece before tightening the screws. I usually do this unless I get in a hurry

like this

 

[markanini]

The sound is a tad lackluster due to the stock electronics and EMG Select pickups. I'm looking into replacing these elements next.

I personally regret getting rid of the EMG selects in my Hohner Jack. IDK if your's are different. Anyway if you do change them be aware that most dual coils suck out out a lot of mids when two pickups are fully up. I think this guys upgrade demonstrates the effect: EMG pickups vs Bartolini on a Steinberger Spirit bass - YouTube

 

[ctmullins]

I personally regret getting rid of the EMG selects in my Hohner Jack. IDK if your's are different. Anyway if you do change them be aware that most dual coils suck out out a lot of mids when two pickups are fully up. I think this guys upgrade demonstrates the effect: EMG pickups vs Bartolini on a Steinberger Spirit bass - YouTube

That video only demonstrates the tone differences between his EMG Selects and his Bartolinis.

The cancellation of mid frequencies will happen any time two passive pickups are combined passively. It has nothing to do with whether or not they are dual coils. Single coils will exhibit this same behavior. It’s called “insertion loss”, and has to do with each pickup loading the other one. The cure is an active buffered blend, such as an EMG ABC.

 

[markanini]

That video only demonstrates the tone differences between his EMG Selects and his Bartolinis.

The cancellation of mid frequencies will happen any time two passive pickups are combined passively. It has nothing to do with whether or not they are dual coils. Single coils will exhibit this same behavior. It’s called “insertion loss”, and has to do with each pickup loading the other one. The cure is an active buffered blend, such as an EMG ABC.

There's a difference between two coils and four coils. Insertion loss is a separate issue.
You can experiment with this model:
Guitar Pickup Response Demonstration
Add four coils at approximate position of an HH setup and you will see that many frequencies have been notched out. Next start over and add two coils like in the original pickups and you will see that less frequencies have been notched out.
Now go back to the EMG vs Bartolini comparison and you see why the two sets sound differently when two pickup are combined, despite being fairly close while soloed.

 

[ctmullins]

Are the dual coils wired series or parallel? Series will emphasize the mids, not cancel them.

Still, I do see your point with four coils versus two.

Lately I’ve been using a buffered blend, and/or a three-band preamp, to overcome.

 

[markanini]

Lately I’ve been using a buffered blend, and/or a three-band preamp, to overcome.

That's what EMGs do. I'm sure it plays part in how DC's stay articulate when combined. Other HH sets are rarely seen without split controls on factory basses. That's two popular ways of combing dual coil sets that's worth considering.

 

[Barticus]

This bad boy finally showed up today!
NBD post here with all of the details.