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Nordstrand Headless bass :D

#24
WJGreer said:
Dig. Don't think he'll sell many of them though. It's got sort of a late '80s vibe at a time when traditional P and J designs are ruling the day.

I'd rock one though. I bet it would sound great on some heavy Mark King action.
Click to expand...

I'd agree he won't sell a whole lot. I'm going to argue a small point that this one shouldn't sound different like a Steinberger. With a wood neck and Nordstrand pickups, I'd be willing to bet that the difference between a normal Nordstrand and a headless Nordstrand are going to be much less apparent.

These could potentially fit in a guitar case. Definitely should allow for a significantly shorter case or gig bag.
 
#25
I'm not a "headless fan, nor a headless shopper," and this quite likely isn't in my future.

However, I think it's dead sexy, and I'm glad to see Carey -doing what he wants- and doing a fine job of it.
 
#26
maurilio said:
the neck isn't just straight flat in the back, there's actually a volute (which it is also serve as a reinforcement for the head piece and nut).

M
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Ah! You beat me to it. Good thing I read from the beginning.

The thing about this headless bass is that if you close your eyes, you don't really feel a headless bass. I played it on my knee only. I didn't have a strap, so I can't comment on that.
However, the neck felt like a luscious, warm, shapely neck, that I very much liked the feel of.
I've found most of Carey's highest end basses to be some of the easiest basses to play I've ever felt. This bass is the same. Easy! The body had a substancial feel and a warm look.
Possibly just a touch on the smaller side, although it might have been just a feeling. Its a very elegant bass.

I would have to say. If this bass is your "voice", there isn't a reason I can think of not to want it. oh...er...price....maybe?
 
#28
Two Rock Fists Up!
I dig it.

nordheadless.jpg
 
#36
Good luck to nordstrand with this.
As is, I'd put this one back one the drawing table and do some serious and thorough work on it.

To my eye many builders do much, much better looking than that.
So can Carey Nordstrand, I would guess.
BUt then of course...it's only looks.


Edited! :)
 
#38
If there's one thing I've learned about headless basses over the last week it's that they are quite polarizing. Not much middle ground with them. Love em or hate em.

Personally, I love them and have always wanted one. I started playing bass right at the end of the headless popularity phase that started in the 80's. My teacher had an Ibanez Axstar and I thought it was the coolest thing ever.

So when I was tweaking my NJ shape recently I thought why not see how it looks as a headless. I thought it looked pretty great and I just started to roll with the idea. This bass is the result.

I don't plan to make too many of these, but who knows?
There were a few things I was trying with this design. I wanted to stick will all solid woods for tonal reasons. With my Nordy basses I always thought the solid wood basses had a more complex rich tone with a lot of character. I wanted to try that on a completely different style of bass to see how it worked, so the neck is solid maple with a truss rod stripe on the front, and the body is roasted poplar. I also wanted to revisit the 33.5" scale that I had used (and loved) on some of my earlier custom basses. It's a very fat sounding scale length and it allows very easy playability while still putting a nice tight B string in the mix. It's got 24 frets and a 2 band preamp. 9" to 16" compound radius.

I think it sounds wonderful. It has a LOT of natural low end and punch and is full of character and warm rich tones.

Overall, it was a lot of fun to build. It's fun now to watch the reactions it gets, both visually and as it gets played.
 
#40
Carey said:
If there's one thing I've learned about headless basses over the last week it's that they are quite polarizing. Not much middle ground with them. Love em or hate em.

Personally, I love them and have always wanted one. I started playing bass right at the end of the headless popularity phase that started in the 80's. My teacher had an Ibanez Axstar and I thought it was the coolest thing ever.

So when I was tweaking my NJ shape recently I thought why not see how it looks as a headless. I thought it looked pretty great and I just started to roll with the idea. This bass is the result.

I don't plan to make too many of these, but who knows?
There were a few things I was trying with this design. I wanted to stick will all solid woods for tonal reasons. With my Nordy basses I always thought the solid wood basses had a more complex rich tone with a lot of character. I wanted to try that on a completely different style of bass to see how it worked, so the neck is solid maple with a truss rod stripe on the front, and the body is roasted poplar. I also wanted to revisit the 33.5" scale that I had used (and loved) on some of my earlier custom basses. It's a very fat sounding scale length and it allows very easy playability while still putting a nice tight B string in the mix. It's got 24 frets and a 2 band preamp. 9" to 16" compound radius.

I think it sounds wonderful. It has a LOT of natural low end and punch and is full of character and warm rich tones.

Overall, it was a lot of fun to build. It's fun now to watch the reactions it gets, both visually and as it gets played.
Click to expand...

+1
 

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