It’s been a bit of a scavenger hunt.
- Bought Spirit new (2000?) played the crap out of it and finally replaced body
- Found on eBay 4 yrs ago
- Bought donor Spirit on Reverb (need to sell off the rest of the parts now)
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New headless build… might be a long thread :-)
- Thread starter Barticus
- Start date
I’m new to headless hardware. This is on eBay. Thoughts?
I’m looking at it because this is incoming:
I’m looking at it because this is incoming:
That bridge looks more like cast pot metal (zinc) than cast brass. In addition, there appears to be a gear missing:
Ooph that is a shame it looks like solid design just poorly executed and cheap materials
Thanks folks! No need to struggle with crappy hardware. I’d rather spend a bit more for something that won’t break. Suggestions?
Just looking at that on eBay. I better wait until the bass comes in to confirm the width at the nut.
There aren't too many headless hardware suppliers available sadly you have Hipshot, strandberg, steinberger/ns designs, ABM, Ets, Nova and maybe a few other lesser known brands at most I'd personally put nova at the top of the heap as far as price to quality is concerned. I got a mix of individual nova bridges and ABM string clamps for my 7 string build project because Nova only did solid one piece string clamps at the time I ordered and I was looking into doing a multi scale build and didn't want to have a gap behind my zero fret or nut on the build.
Well, there are several mfgs but there are several factors to consider as well.
I had difficulty finding an end mounted headpiece that was 45mm wide versus 48. I got one from ABM but it was 48 which is not gonna work for any of my builds. So I ended up providing the dimensions and had someone build the headpieces for me, I’m super happy with them as they look and function great.
I’m also not really crazy about any of the current bridge designs, so I’m working on those to be built as well.
- Do you want mono or one piece?
- Do you want the head piece to be clamped to the top of the neck or the end of the neck?
- Like Nova, ETS, ABM, Hipshot, other
- What material do you want, brass or aluminum?
I had difficulty finding an end mounted headpiece that was 45mm wide versus 48. I got one from ABM but it was 48 which is not gonna work for any of my builds. So I ended up providing the dimensions and had someone build the headpieces for me, I’m super happy with them as they look and function great.
I’m also not really crazy about any of the current bridge designs, so I’m working on those to be built as well.
I’ve been playing this neck for several hours a day and I kept feeling like the first through the seventh frets could be thinner
So I carved it down significantly and resprayed. Wow, super happy with the neck profile now because it’s super thin and asymmetrically shaped. Definitely the most comfortable neck I’ve ever played.
So 45mins later…
And of course I did the same to the SC fretless version and refinished it already too.
So I carved it down significantly and resprayed. Wow, super happy with the neck profile now because it’s super thin and asymmetrically shaped. Definitely the most comfortable neck I’ve ever played.
So 45mins later…
And of course I did the same to the SC fretless version and refinished it already too.
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Is there going to be room for your fingers to work the tuning knobs? It's the reason why tuner bridges usually hang off the end of the body.
@Passini
Try Andre at Nova bridges in Brazil. TBer and very nice hardware from all accounts. Several here have used it in builds and I will be in a couple of mine in the future.
It’s probably worth moving your build questions to a new thread since you are definitely gonna have some issues outfitting that instrument with both a headpieces and a bridge.
First of all, you cannot use an “on top”headpiece like the nice one Nova provides (as being recommended by Snert) or many of the others since they require part of the headpiece to be partially left in tact to mount to the top. You will have to use one that bolts to the end of the neck since you have no headstock at all.
The other issue you’re gonna have is with that body, and where the current bridge is mounted if that is to scale which I’m assuming it is, you are going to have to route into the body to leave room for the tuners so you could actually use them.
You may even consider altering the back end of the body to open it up quite a bit so you could use a headless bridge.
Again, this should be on its own thread.
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I doubt that bridge is licensed in any fashion. I haven’t used those but I also haven’t read anything good about them. I’ll cast another vote for Nova. @Passini is a member here . Good hardware. You can pick individual bridges or several individual units on a plate.
Keep in mind you need room under the back of the bridge to get your fingers around the tuning knob and rotate it. You’ll have to route behind the bridge for clearance or keep the current bridge where it is and move the tuners to the end of the body and let the knobs hang off and run the strings through the bridge to the tuners.
Thanks! At this point I’m just gathering info and looking at options. I haven’t received the bass yet, and it may require the neck to be reset.
The end of the neck will need to be cut back for a scarf joint whether I replace the peghead or go headless.
I assumed I would need to alter the back of the body for the bridge. It is a 34 inch scale.
If I do go the headless route, agreed it’s worth a dedicated thread.
Thanks, that’s something I was thinking about - putting tuners behind the bridge.
Looks like those used guitar tuners. I see that there is a reissued Kluson banjo/bass tuner available - like on an early Gibson EB bass. Might be a way to go.
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