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Show us your Martin Keith Basses
- Thread starter 77stingray
- Start date
We have a custom 6-string width Zen Blade (to accommodate the 20mm spacing) coming from Nordstrand.
And now for something completely different
I got a quick peek at the headstock from Martin. The shape is slightly changed from his standard bass headstock to accommodate the binding, but I dig it! Can’t wait to see what it looks like with a finish…
View attachment 4682108
That looks very nice!
Thank you! I have just begun to play it, but I can definitely tell you that this bass is very nice! While I have never played any of Martin's instruments until this one, his headless design is well executed.
...and it sounds awesome! I am so glad that I went with the BigRig pickups with this wood combination. So far, I am favoring the neck pickup in parallel with the bridge in series.
Yeah, those BigRig pickups are so great! I just went through trying some other pickups that I was curious about, and ended right back at the BigRigs. I have mine hard wired in series. Wonderful pickups.
Headless update:
This thing never needs tuning! OK, that's not entirely true...I think I have tuned it once since receiving it. Seriously. Yes, I have played it a good bit since then, and I am very keen on accurate tuning. I have never experienced this before on any instruments with tuning machines at the headstock end.
I'm also having fun just playing the neck pickup switched to parallel and having the tone knob wide open. I didn't expect to be enjoying this setting as much as I do.
This thing never needs tuning! OK, that's not entirely true...I think I have tuned it once since receiving it. Seriously. Yes, I have played it a good bit since then, and I am very keen on accurate tuning. I have never experienced this before on any instruments with tuning machines at the headstock end.
I'm also having fun just playing the neck pickup switched to parallel and having the tone knob wide open. I didn't expect to be enjoying this setting as much as I do.
Yeah, I noticed the same with the tuning on a friend's headless basses. Really amazing.
Confession time...Martin has a one piece blank of alder set aside for me, and a top that I chose and sent to him for a second headless 6 string in the future. Not sure when I'll be able to afford it, but would like a more "traditional" sounding 6 for certain gigs, with the convenience of having a headless, as well as my preffered bass type that I'm most comfortable with. Once you play a reeeally well made instrument, it's impossible to go back to anything less.
The BigRig makes for one of my favorite neck pickups ever. It's really special.
it really is amazing. It feels odd to take it out of the case and it's ready to be played...all in tune!
@TapyTap that has been my experience with the handful of headless basses I’ve owned, as well. The other really striking thing was the balance and the way they hung. Are you also finding that?
@emjazz that’s the thing about discovering a builder whose work you really appreciate—there is always another instrument in your head waiting to be brought to life!
@emjazz that’s the thing about discovering a builder whose work you really appreciate—there is always another instrument in your head waiting to be brought to life!
Definitely! I really like the balance and weight distribution being shifted toward the bridge! A wider bridge spacing or an instrument with even more strings would really benefit from Martin's headless design. Of course, there are other factors at play that can help with these variables on an instrument with tuning machines on a traditional headstock, but this headless 5-string is just awesome.
...of course, I haven't had to change strings yet on a headless, so that will be interesting.
Maybe Martin took some photos that he can post here. My lame cellphone won't do it justice.
It's especially easy with Martin because he keeps working on new ideas. It's been such an incredible gift to have someone who's been so open to my own ideas as well. Many builders just do what they do, but Martin is always up for another challenge.
Just saw on Facebook. So excited for you! Man....why am I so amped about these headless basses?!? LOL. I guess each one of you that gets yours means that mine is inching closer!
