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Looking for a new headless bass - Any recommendations?
- Thread starter Cran
- Start date
There was/is a grey NS Radius on sale on TB. Own one, and it is very versatile. Good luck with your quest.
My Bogart Blackstone:
It has a 36“ scale and the jazz style pickups are both hum cancelling (Delano JMVCs).
It has a 36“ scale and the jazz style pickups are both hum cancelling (Delano JMVCs).
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Not that model, but I do own a 5 string short scale Brice. I must say, this is a great playing/sounding bass and good build quality. Neck joint tight, no loose parts, and no finish flaws. The PU's and preamp sound good and function well, but pots are kinda cheap. It did come with a cheap set of strings I didn't care for, so changed those. Other than that, a well built solid bass. And in passive mode, works without a battery, which can be useful if bat dies at gig.
As mentioned in the title, I'm looking for a new bass, and I'm looking at making it a headless.
Now, I already own a Hohner B2, and honestly I'm tired of the paddle or shovel shaped headless basses. I'm looking for a bass with a normal body, but no headstock.
So, I've sort of gathered a "list of requirements" which I'd like for my new bass to meet, and maybe you guys have some recommendations for me. Just to clarify, I've looked at headlesses for a while, so I know the big names. Bonus points for models I don't know about.
Anyway, here's the list:
- 5 string (Multiscale would be nice, but 35" is the next best thing)
- Light (Would be appreciated)
- Active (With a passive switch preferrably)
- Soapbars or a humbucker in the bridge and a split coil in the neck
Now, ideally a bass would have all of them (While also looking awesome and sounding equally as good, but nothing's perfect in life), but I'm willing to compromise if that's necessary. If my searches have shown me anything it's that having all of those requirements also comes with a price tag heavier than the bass itself.
Which leads me to my budget. It may not seem like much, but I can probably afford to pay about $2000 USD on it. This is because I live in New Zealand and we pay for things using chocolate coins. Hopefully that's understandable.
So, hit me with it! Show me your previously unseen headless basses! Enlighten me!
(I'm also open to buying used, but right now I don't have the money on me so I'm just doing some more research. This might mean that while there's a great deal right now, I may not be able to get it immediately. Still good to know though!)
A pretty cool one just popped up in the classifieds, I'm not familiar with the builder but looks decent.
For Sale - PBC GTB 356 6-String Headless Bass - 0
(I have no affiliation with the seller or the builder)
And the Frog's look pretty nice too.
SOLD - Maruszczyk Frog Omega 5a Headless (again no affiliation, just think these look great and know another TB'er that loves his - he mentions it in that listing)
I built my own using a Steinberger bridge
For Sale - PBC GTB 356 6-String Headless Bass - 0
(I have no affiliation with the seller or the builder)
And the Frog's look pretty nice too.
SOLD - Maruszczyk Frog Omega 5a Headless (again no affiliation, just think these look great and know another TB'er that loves his - he mentions it in that listing)
I built my own using a Steinberger bridge
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Talk to Tom Clement of Clement Basses. He can build you a sweet headless bass that should be within your budget. He had made me two basses (one a headless 6) and has just started an another headless 6 for me.
There is a Clement Bass group on TB.
www.clementbass.com
There is a Clement Bass group on TB.
www.clementbass.com
Woah, there have been a lot of replies! Many thanks to everyone who replied, it's been an insightful experience .
Now, I'll try to respond to everyone, so I'll split my responses by brand/model suggestions.
I've actually played an NS Design bass before, and they're definitely very comfortable! It sounded alright, too. I didn't really ask around at the shop in terms of controls though, so I don't know its full range of tones.
Now, for all of the Kiesel suggestions. I'm not gonna quote everyone, because that would make this a way longer post than necessary.
Needless to say though, I've heard of them and was thinking about getting one before the Multiscale Zeus model came out. The only gripe I have with them is the radiused pickups, as it seems like you can't replace them with, say, a standard soapbar. Maybe I'm wrong. I've heard that you can get a custom pickup choice if you call them, but honestly calling them from here seems like a logistical nightmare, as well as expensive. Kiesel is certainly the option I'll pick if everything else falls through, though.
For now, the headless Frog from Maruszczyk. It seems like the right option for now. Don't let that stop you from suggesting anything else though (Or explaining why I'm an idiot for liking them)! I'm still open to suggestions.
.Now, I'll try to respond to everyone, so I'll split my responses by brand/model suggestions.
I've actually played an NS Design bass before, and they're definitely very comfortable! It sounded alright, too. I didn't really ask around at the shop in terms of controls though, so I don't know its full range of tones.
I've seen these Brice basses around when looking for options, but I was never sure how good they would be, particularly at that price. For that price though, it's hard to resist getting one.
Yep, the Frog headless certainly does seem like it's exactly what I'm looking for. I'm not sure how to obtain one of them, however, other than getting lucky with the classifieds on here. Certainly my favorite option so far.
I'd rather the bass I like be a headless, rather than potentially ruining a perfectly nice bass myself. I don't
That's the Mark King signature, no? I thought they didn't make 5 string versions. Also, aren't they massively expensive?
Now, for all of the Kiesel suggestions. I'm not gonna quote everyone, because that would make this a way longer post than necessary.
Needless to say though, I've heard of them and was thinking about getting one before the Multiscale Zeus model came out. The only gripe I have with them is the radiused pickups, as it seems like you can't replace them with, say, a standard soapbar. Maybe I'm wrong. I've heard that you can get a custom pickup choice if you call them, but honestly calling them from here seems like a logistical nightmare, as well as expensive. Kiesel is certainly the option I'll pick if everything else falls through, though.
For now, the headless Frog from Maruszczyk. It seems like the right option for now. Don't let that stop you from suggesting anything else though (Or explaining why I'm an idiot for liking them)! I'm still open to suggestions.
I've tried Traveler basses at a local shop, and they're just not my thing, really.
Plus, it's not 5 string
Re Maruszczyk - you can use the configurator on their website to design and price all your options and then order. 8 to 12 weeks is what they quote for a build time I believe.
I looked at that, but bizarrely I couldn't get it to go lower than $2400 USD with the options I was looking for before (Humbucker/split coil, active, 5 string, etc). Picking the cheapest options, nothing special in terms of wood, and yet it still was too expensive. I think in order to get a headless frog I'd need to wait and get lucky with the classifieds.
Messing with their configurator is one of my favorite internet pastimes so I went and built a virtual headless 5 string 5 with your pups. And yeah it looks like $2400 is about as low as you can go. Well. With VAT that is. I always get confused if everyone needs to pay that or just people in the EU.
Regardless I think you are right that a new Maruszczyk might be outside your price range if $2000 is your ceiling.
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