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Try your hardest to convince me to play a headless.

GwennyT

GwennyT

Nov 3, 2023
59
102
21
Knoxville, TN
#1
It's all in the title. I've never played a headless-- Why? Because I think they're gimmicky and I generally dislike their look. Not discrediting anyone who likes them. I really, REALLY want to learn to love these things, but they look like a baseball bat with a slab of meat at the end. What's so good about these things other than them being lighter?
 
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#2
I’m down to 4 basses - 3 headless, one “headed”. They’re lighter, fit in a guitar gig bag, stay in tune better, and play just as well as their “headed” counterparts. Today’s system also no longer require double ball strings so the only downside I can think is they don’t have a retro look. If that’s not important to you, you can gain a lot while losing the headstock.
 
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#4
Core Creek said:
I’m down to 4 basses - 3 headless, one “headed”. They’re lighter, fit in a guitar gig bag, stay in tune better, and play just as well as their “headed” counterparts. Today’s system also no longer require double ball strings so the only downside I can think is they don’t have a retro look. If that’s not important to you, you can gain a lot while losing the headstock.
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Well, that's certainly a few pros :bassist: Curious how they would stay in tune better though.
 
#5
Not all headless basses were created equal. I'd stay far away from inexpensive offerings...

Try a Steinberger L2 or a graphite-bodied Status and you might just get to like them. Even if you don't, you'll be closer to understanding what folks like about them.

I currently don't own a headless bass but am not opposed to them in general, having owned several during their heyday of the '80s. Might get another one someday, if I find an appealing short scale example.
 
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#6
GwennyT said:
Well, that's certainly a few pros :bassist: Curious how they would stay in tune better though.
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Every time I put a standard bass in a case the tuners get knocked. Put it against an amp, the tuners get knocked. The way my headless (Kiesel Vader) is designed it’s nearly impossible to knock the tuners and they don’t have huge paddles to easily knock. I tune at gigs but it barely goes out between shows - more an issue of weather change than knocking the tuners.
 
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#8
Removing the lumber and hardware from the headstock end of a bass does wonders for balance. The tuning machines are a higher ratio and they indeed do stay in tune longer, and no twisted strings. My headless 5 weighs 8#, is as big as a strat end to end, balances perfectly, and doesn’t look like a boat oar. Check out Kiesel and Ibanez for a new spin on headless.

The only downside that isn’t related to vanity is the lack of speaking length past the nut makes bending notes more difficult. You have to bend the strings farther than a headed bass to achieve the same bent note. Some require double ball strings, but there are adapters for standard strings.

That’s about all I can think of. They are not all created equally. You are curious, just try one out you might love it.
 
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#10
Mine is so light, and well balanced, that it is my number one.
Very comfortable on the long gigs.
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#12
They look…let’s be kind…odd. I much prefer the LOOK of a headstock. But…

I much prefer the FUNCTIONALITY of a headless bass. The one I have is a 32” scale, mini-P bodied Traveler TB-4P. It is GREAT. Sounds good, super stable neck and I LOVE not having a headstock to bang into stuff. It may look goofy, but it plays great and it’s playability is really great.

If I were to work with a builder to put together a custom, I’d like to work with someone to build a headless one. However, it would have to be someone willing to do something more than put a headless neck on their standard body. For a headless to look “better” it needs a downsized body and it wouldn’t hurt for it to be a unique design, something un-FSO like.

My $.02, take for what it’s worth. I think if you can find one that doesn’t repel you in the looks department, you would be pleasantly surprised with the playing experience. My Traveler is, hands down, the best $300 I’ve spent on anything bass related.
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#13
What is the deal with all these posts lately saying "I don't like X, change my mind."

Jaco's tone sucks, all roundwounds except Roto 66s suck, Macca sucks, picks suck, blah blah blah.

I guess it's just the tendency to use social media as a medium to complain about something, rather than add any value to any discussion. Just worthless.

You don't like headless basses, don't buy one.
 
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#18
They're shorter and more compact. I have owned a Steinberger guitar and a Kubicki bass. I still own a headless Cliff Bordwell, which I ordered specifically to fit into a guitar gig bag. I went with Hipshot hardware for the long term support if something goes wrong. Steinberger and Kubicki were lacking if I had issues down the road. The downside of Hipshot is that the bridge is much heavier than a regular bridge plus tuners.
 
#19
GwennyT said:
It's all in the title. I've never played a headless-- Why? Because I think they're gimmicky and I generally dislike their look. Not discrediting anyone who likes them. I really, REALLY want to learn to love these things, but they look like a baseball bat with a slab of meat at the end. What's so good about these things other than them being lighter?
Click to expand...
to me they’re the opposite of gimmicky, they are purely about improvements to standard headed instruments.

I think for many people, or at least for me, I prefer the look of a headed bass, but feel headless is just an improved design.

Here’s some things I love about them:

The big one is that they don’t neck dive on a strap. Perfect balance.

Another practical feature is they are smaller overall, so easier to store, transport and wield in a cramped space

Generally stay in tune better, all else being equal

Generally lighter in weight, all else being equal

Tuning at the bridge is more comfortable, at least for me, especially if one has shoulder issues, as I do

When they have the cutout for the bridge, you can lean them on an amp with no need for a stand. usually.

Sounds silly, but this is handy :)

Cons:

looks

people coming up to you literally at every show asking if your hand slips off the end, or saying “hurr durr I think your bass is missing something” and thinking it’s funny and original :)

A64BEF34-BF73-43C8-A8ED-4B2E3653F3C3.jpeg
 
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