Headless?

[eno50]

Are headless basses used anymore?
Was it just a fad or a pain to find double ball strings , just what happens to them?

Eno

 

[khutch]

This is a curveball to your real question but the Traveler travel basses are still headless and they use regular strings. There is a metal piece where the head would be to anchor the strings (pretty sure there is a zero fret but I am not looking at them right now to verify) and the tuners are built into the body of the bass. They are pretty much standard tuners. These are medium and short scale basses but they use long scale strings because the strings go over a bridge and then around the tail of the bass and enter the tuners from the back so long scale strings fit. Traveler's reason for this odd but creative arrange ment is simply to eliminate the length of the headstock so the bass fits in overhead bins better.

 

[Maxdusty]

People still use them. It was somewhat of a craze back then - I don't think they're manufactured much these days.
I have one, pretty decent player- still pick it up every now and then.
With the strings, there is an adapter you can get so you can use regular bass strings on them- haven't tried it personally as I still have double ball strings on it.

 

[CrashClint]

Roscoe is offering a headless bass now. It is about the same length as a stratocaster, Roscoe also has a small padded bag and best of all it will fit nicely in the overhead bin of an airplane.

 

[alembicbones]

I will be taking delivery within the next week or so on a NS Design Radius Bass. It is headless. One very nice feature, though, is that it is designed to use regular strings.

Bones

 

[TolerancEJ]

Considering the Headless Club is currently on page 23 of members, I'd say there is still interest in them.

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f8/headless-club-580919/index23.html

There are a few models I would love to own:
Zon Vinny 6

Status Graphite Streamline 5
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Warwick Nobby Meidel
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Bas-Extravaganza McDonalds Balie

 

[DrDAV14]

I use Steinberger and Status basses, both headless. Have been since 1985.
I order strings online (Just strings, Big city strings and Status)to save money, so getting double ball strings is no problem at all. I prefer to use double ball strings, much easier to change and my round wounds I soak in denatured alcohol to clean them and keep them fresh. I have every type of double ball strings, flats, black nylon, pressure wound, nickel and stainless, all are available. Depending on the gig, a 3 minute string change and your up and running.
Stability and ease of use is very worth it to me. I shy away from headless basses that don't allow use of double ball strings.

 

[garmenteros]

I'm having a custom headless 5 string made and have jammed a few times on my friends custom as well. I don't see anyone here locally rocking one but I'm about to change that.

 

[eno50]

I'am thinking about trying a headless bass out a 4 string is what I will look for..
what do you guys recomend under a grand ,I really don't want to go high end on one ,I should be abe to find one used in my price range....I hope......
I know some of the steinberger's are expensive ,the total graphite ones..

 

[mmbongo]

I hope Brubaker is still planning on the headless Brutes. Should be a killer bass for well under $1000.

 

[spade2you]

Whoah. A nice sub-$1k headless 5 might be a nice game changer.

 

[Wally Malone]

Nordstrand made a headless recently and there are still a number playing Kubickis.

Wally

 

[Sid Fang]

Whoah. A nice sub-$1k headless 5 might be a nice game changer.

The Gibson "Steinberger" Synapse is available as a 5er, and up until recently sold for under $1K. They seem to have had a serious price increase recently, alas. They look a lot like the old carbon composite L/XL basses, but are mostly wood (and made in Korea).

 

[bassie12]

Still loving my Steinbergers, an L2 and a very early XL2(with lots of L2 features.) Nothing else like them.

 

[JimmyM]

I had a headless bass for a while...a really cheap copy of a Steinberger made by a company called Bradley. Turned out to be a pretty decent bass once I got rid of the duff pickups and put in DiMarzio Model J's, but I could never get used to the headless thing.

 

[loopee]

still using mine after 14 years...comes in handy on small stages

 

[DrDAV14]

I have 3 headless basses, Steinberger XL2, Status Stealth and a Wilkat/Steinberger Custom.
I rarely play a headed bass anymore, the consistency with tuning and the ergonomics of the headless is what I like.
No deadspots on the neck, and I like double ball strings, very easy on string changes.

 

[spade2you]

I'd agree that string changes are lightning fast. My Steinberger guitar was perhaps the fastest restring of all time. Calibrating the Trans Trem for transposing is another story.

 

[RDUB]

I had a headless bass for a while...a really cheap copy of a Steinberger made by a company called Bradley. Turned out to be a pretty decent bass once I got rid of the duff pickups and put in DiMarzio Model J's, but I could never get used to the headless thing.

I picked up a Washburn Bantam in about 1980. It's a wooden Steinberger copy, with Steinberger licensed hardware. Eventually I ditched the pups and put in active EMG's and a BTC pre. It's great for slap. That bass also has absolutely rock solid intonation. I play stuff up past the 12th and it's perfectly in tune.

I just broke it out last week for some practicing - my Roscoe was in for a tuneup. Neat little bass.

 

[xantometapon]

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My next bass, only that in 32" and lefty.
Absolute beauty. Takes regular and double ball strings