Reeve Headless Rebuild

[FlatEric]

Having read with interest, the restoration that Norris featured on his Rebuild of the SB1000 and following Dom's headless creation, I thought I would share this feature that I have done on a Custom Reeve Headless bass.

The strip-down started some time ago and I have only just recently found the time to "crack on " with it.

The above pic is as it came to me.

This is where I am, so far.




To follow the story in date order (as it's a blog is sort of goes backwards!) click on the links bellow.
If anyone knows of a Reeve instrument or may even have one, I would love to hear from you.

[url="http://flatericbassandguitar.blogspot.co.uk/2015/04/bass-restoration-reeve-hadless-bass.html"]http://flatericbassa...dless-bass.html[/url]

[url="http://flatericbassandguitar.blogspot.co.uk/2015/05/bass-restoration-reeve-electronics.html"]http://flatericbassa...lectronics.html[/url]

[url="http://flatericbassandguitar.blogspot.co.uk/2015/06/bass-restoration-pick-ups.html"]http://flatericbassa...n-pick-ups.html[/url]

[url="http://flatericbassandguitar.blogspot.co.uk/2015/06/bass-strip-down-reeve-headless.html"]http://flatericbassa...e-headless.html[/url]

[url="http://flatericbassandguitar.blogspot.co.uk/2015/06/bass-restoration-kent-armstrong.html"]http://flatericbassa...-armstrong.html[/url]

[url="http://flatericbassandguitar.blogspot.co.uk/2015/07/more-reeve-and-nick-smith.html"]http://flatericbassa...nick-smith.html[/url]

[url="http://flatericbassandguitar.blogspot.co.uk/2015/12/reeve-headless-re-build-continues.html"]http://flatericbassa...-continues.html[/url]

[url="http://flatericbassandguitar.blogspot.co.uk/2015/12/reeve-headless-bass-nearly-there.html"]http://flatericbassa...arly-there.html[/url]

The final part should be up soon.

Cheers. Edited December 28, 2015 by FlatEric

[FlatEric]

Bit of an update. . . . .

I was fortunate enough to meet Val Reeve, the other day - wife of Ges Reeve, guitar and bass builder.

She had kept a mountain of stuff from their heydays, including a lot of names associated with the instruments in the pictures.

I [i]think [/i]I have found the original owner of my headless bass, that started the big feature I am doing on Reeve.

[i]If [/i]it is him. . . . a famous session player who has played for many famous artists.

I'm just a little bit excited. . . . . .

[scojack]

That's a pretty special guitar, truly handcrafted and a fantastic blog.
I have a set of those KA pickups myself from an old Manson.
Can't wait to hear the rest of the story .......

[Andyjr1515]

I agree with Scojack - will watch with interest.

There are some nice features on the bass. The bridge is intriguing - how do you adjust the intonation?

[MoonBassAlpha]

Looks like the Hohner Steinberger system. You slide the saddle under string tension then lock all the saddles with sideways force using that grub screw visible at the side of the bridge.

[Andyjr1515]

[quote name='MoonBassAlpha' timestamp='1470521927' post='3106570']
Looks like the Hohner Steinberger system. You slide the saddle under string tension then lock all the saddles with sideways force using that grub screw visible at the side of the bridge.
[/quote]
Ah...OK, that makes sense. Thanks

[FlatEric]

[quote name='MoonBassAlpha' timestamp='1470521927' post='3106570']
Looks like the Hohner Steinberger system. You slide the saddle under string tension then lock all the saddles with sideways force using that grub screw visible at the side of the bridge.
[/quote]

Correct!

It is all fully floating, you make the adjustments you want and then lock it off.

Reeve make all their own hardware, in the same workshop as all the woodwork, which when you look at them close up, you realise how much work went into them.

During my trip to see Val, I found a full tuner set, bridge and nut end retainer, which I now have.
Will put up pics to illustrate.

Cheers.