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Show us your Martin Keith Basses
- Thread starter 77stingray
- Start date
I have a friend nearby with two headless basses with the same Hipshot bridge. I was shocked that they were so smooth. Easier to get in tune than a standard tuner.
I've had a headless Zon for a few years. I'd love to get a headless Keith!
I wouldn't say the rollers on my Zon bridge (also Hipshot) are super smooth, but they turn easily enough. I'm glad they aren't too smooth, because I wouldn't want to accidentally turn an adjacent roller (i.e. not the target roller). Rollers are different from standard tuning keys, for sure... the inner ones can be somewhat tricky, but anyone should get the hang soon enough.
One nice advantage to bridge rollers is that they aren't prone to getting accidentally turned during transport. My Zon is usually perfectly in tune when I remove it from its case. OTOH, standard keys can be bumped significantly off (that can depend on bass, case, etc).
I wouldn't say the rollers on my Zon bridge (also Hipshot) are super smooth, but they turn easily enough. I'm glad they aren't too smooth, because I wouldn't want to accidentally turn an adjacent roller (i.e. not the target roller). Rollers are different from standard tuning keys, for sure... the inner ones can be somewhat tricky, but anyone should get the hang soon enough.
One nice advantage to bridge rollers is that they aren't prone to getting accidentally turned during transport. My Zon is usually perfectly in tune when I remove it from its case. OTOH, standard keys can be bumped significantly off (that can depend on bass, case, etc).
From a fun gig last night...
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I have it on good authority that something with 5 strings is heading my way very, very soon...
Oh man...haven't spoken to Martin much as of late. I was hoping that was out the door soon. Congrats!
Thanks! Martin is going to send me a photo of the "headstock" end of things. I'll post it here when I receive it.
I just my own photo from Martin today of the acoustic-style neck in progress, but it shows some proprietary construction techniques so I can’t share it! Hope to have some pics of the curly mahogany-bound ebony fretboard and headstock to share soon, though!
Also heard that the pickup is on its way from Nordstrand, and Martin is working on some bridge prototypes, so things are definitely coming together!
Also heard that the pickup is on its way from Nordstrand, and Martin is working on some bridge prototypes, so things are definitely coming together!
That neck sounds interesting!
Looking forward to seeing progress photos when you can!
Those necks came out of his time with the brilliant Ken Parker many years ago. There's just nothing else like them. It'll give you more dynamic range out of an "electric" bass than you've ever experienced before.
I remember a page about them on his site when he first started experimenting, but it was really cool to see an in-progress photo. I’m really excited to see how it works on a (largely) acoustic instrument!
Just trying to figure out from the picture how the clamping works on this headpiece. You don’t have it in person yet, right?
It's just the screws pressing down on the strings. I may be wrong but I believe Martin's still mulling these over, and he may adjust the head system a bit.
I have the same neck construction on my MK basses. Lighter weight, more resonance with added strength, and more dynamic range.
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