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Headless hardware

#21
kittywithabanjo said:
The ETS is very good i was able to get one from Adrien at Public Peace but that was some years ago, I also have the Nova on my S Martyn and it seems good but its still brand new, just had it set up so will see later today what the tech has to say about it.
Click to expand...

My now-gone Frog had the ETS hardware...the newer Cazpar has the WSC retainer and tuner / monorails or so sayeth the build sheet. As I've mentioned elsewhere, the newer Nova tuners are a vast improvement over the originals...they were a deal-killer for me.

Riis
 
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#23
I have a current build that the customer requested the guyker headless system that utilizes seperate bridge/tuners for each string. They seem decent, especially for the price. The installation is pretty simple as well.

The set came with a headpiece, but the client asked for one of my custom made units.

www.ebay.com

Guyker 4PCS Single String Fan Bass Bridge – Headless Fixed Fanned Bridges | eBay

Introducing the Guyker 4PCS Single String Fan Bass Bridge - Headless Fixed Fanned Bridges. This high-quality bridge is perfect for any bass guitar and is made of durable metal material in classic black color. It is designed to provide a comfortable and secure fit for your guitar, ensuring...
www.ebay.com

I use Hipshot products, their headless units are realy nice (like all of Hipshot's stuff). I also have a 5 string NOVA set that I picked up awhile back.

I am interested in trying out te Riviera systems.
 
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#24
Water buffalo said:
I have a current build that the customer requested the guyker headless system that utilizes seperate bridge/tuners for each string. They seem decent, especially for the price. The installation is pretty simple as well.
Click to expand...
The Guykers don't have thrust bearings, just a nylon washer, so I found the knobs very difficult to turn under tension but then I have arthritic thumbs. You can't substitute bearings for the nylon washer as the thread is about 1/2" diameter. Most similar bridge/tuners (Nova, for instance) do have bearings.
 
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#28
Headless bridges are effectively the cost of a tuner plus a bridge piece, so they are expensive yes, but overall pretty comparable to a tuner/bridge combo. Ibanez sells most of their catalog parts and have for years, but they have minimum orders that are beyond what a typical end user would need. Solo's got the bandwidth for their minimum orders, and the customer base to make it worth their while. :thumbsup:
 
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#29
Here's my current plan for headless hardware, though I'm not far enough in my build to have tested it yet. The string will pull up on the bearings at end of the bolt (m5) on the back of the body so technically the bolt is floating up top. You wouldn't need to have it in a bridge at all if you had saddles worked out. The string holder is a modified t-nut. The idea is based off of the riviera style tuners. I am using a modified nova bridge for the saddles and wire rope clips for the string retainer at the head(less)stock. Tuning action is backwards because I couldn't source left hand threaded for the parameters I wanted. I might build some or try sourcing again later.
 

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#30
dazmond said:
Here's my current plan for headless hardware, though I'm not far enough in my build to have tested it yet. The string will pull up on the bearings at end of the bolt (m5) on the back of the body so technically the bolt is floating up top. You wouldn't need to have it in a bridge at all if you had saddles worked out. The string holder is a modified t-nut. The idea is based off of the riviera style tuners. I am using a modified nova bridge for the saddles and wire rope clips for the string retainer at the head(less)stock. Tuning action is backwards because I couldn't source left hand threaded for the parameters I wanted. I might build some or try sourcing again later.
Click to expand...
Dude that's awesome! :woot:
 
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#31
dazmond said:
Here's my current plan for headless hardware, though I'm not far enough in my build to have tested it yet. The string will pull up on the bearings at end of the bolt (m5) on the back of the body so technically the bolt is floating up top. You wouldn't need to have it in a bridge at all if you had saddles worked out. The string holder is a modified t-nut. The idea is based off of the riviera style tuners. I am using a modified nova bridge for the saddles and wire rope clips for the string retainer at the head(less)stock. Tuning action is backwards because I couldn't source left hand threaded for the parameters I wanted. I might build some or try sourcing again later.
Click to expand...

What goes between the knob and black anodized bridge...another thrust bearing?

Riis
 
#32
I'm just using an air bearing there. Once the string has some tension it will pull the bolt up and so it won't actually be touching the top of the bridge. So long as my measurements are correct and the bolt is long enough. I could always use a deeper forstner hole on the back of the body. The bridge may provide some lateral movement strength, but unsure how much of that there will be.
Zooberwerx said:
What goes between the knob and black anodized bridge...another thrust bearing?

Riis
Click to expand...
 
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#33
dazmond said:
Here's my current plan for headless hardware, though I'm not far enough in my build to have tested it yet. The string will pull up on the bearings at end of the bolt (m5) on the back of the body so technically the bolt is floating up top. You wouldn't need to have it in a bridge at all if you had saddles worked out. The string holder is a modified t-nut. The idea is based off of the riviera style tuners. I am using a modified nova bridge for the saddles and wire rope clips for the string retainer at the head(less)stock. Tuning action is backwards because I couldn't source left hand threaded for the parameters I wanted. I might build some or try sourcing again later.
Click to expand...


Definitely an interesting idea, I'm looking forward to watching this evolve and the results !
 
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#35
SomewhatHarmles said:
Just bumping this....been wanting to do a headless 32" bass for my office, to play in between patient notes.

Any recommendations for a not very skilled builder to use on a personal project?
Click to expand...
This was one of my prototypes for a boutique travel bass that I build. The body is simple; 1 1/2" thick, 3/8" roundover with no contours. The neck on this one is a 25.5" scale, bolt on guitar neck.
20250825_214812 (1).jpg

Please excuse the way it looks, I recently discovered it stuck away in a corner of my wood shop.
 
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#36
dazmond said:
Here's my current plan for headless hardware, though I'm not far enough in my build to have tested it yet. The string will pull up on the bearings at end of the bolt (m5) on the back of the body so technically the bolt is floating up top. You wouldn't need to have it in a bridge at all if you had saddles worked out. The string holder is a modified t-nut. The idea is based off of the riviera style tuners. I am using a modified nova bridge for the saddles and wire rope clips for the string retainer at the head(less)stock. Tuning action is backwards because I couldn't source left hand threaded for the parameters I wanted. I might build some or try sourcing again later.
Click to expand...

How do you plan to prevent the string claw from turning with the adjusting screw? Riviera has two rods that prevent turning.
 
#37
MPU said:
How do you plan to prevent the string claw from turning with the adjusting screw? Riviera has two rods that prevent turning.
Click to expand...
The body route will be a channel just long and wide enough to fit the claw, it won't have space to turn. I don't think it would turn anyway though as the string tension pulls the string forward/up. To me it looks like rods on Riviera's design are more to take forward pressure off of the adjusting screw.
 
#39
Water buffalo said:
I have a current build that the customer requested the guyker headless system that utilizes seperate bridge/tuners for each string. They seem decent, especially for the price. The installation is pretty simple as well.

The set came with a headpiece, but the client asked for one of my custom made units.

www.ebay.com

Guyker 4PCS Single String Fan Bass Bridge – Headless Fixed Fanned Bridges | eBay

Introducing the Guyker 4PCS Single String Fan Bass Bridge - Headless Fixed Fanned Bridges. This high-quality bridge is perfect for any bass guitar and is made of durable metal material in classic black color. It is designed to provide a comfortable and secure fit for your guitar, ensuring...
www.ebay.com

I use Hipshot products, their headless units are realy nice (like all of Hipshot's stuff). I also have a 5 string NOVA set that I picked up awhile back.

I am interested in trying out te Riviera systems.
Click to expand...
Have you had a chance to use the NOVA set? What do you think if so? Is their product available domestically (US)?
 
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