benh Posted September 15, 2022 Share Posted September 15, 2022 (edited) Another slow burn I'd imagine, but nearly completed getting all the bits together for my next build! Decided to go headless this time, with the impressive Nova headless hardware from @Andre_Passini. Specs will be as follows: 32" scale White limba/padauk through neck with zebrano fingerboard Black limba body wings with ebiara top Nova headless hardware Delano Xtender HE pickup Aguilar OBP-1 preamp Comments and criticism welcome. All the timber, electronics and hardware are here so won't be changing much at this stage. Will update as things progress! Edited January 14, 2023 by benh Finished! 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheGreek Posted September 15, 2022 Share Posted September 15, 2022 Love a headless bass..I'll be following this with much anticipation 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andyjr1515 Posted September 18, 2022 Share Posted September 18, 2022 I like that design very much. Very much. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benh Posted September 18, 2022 Author Share Posted September 18, 2022 Quick question - where would you guys put the strap button?? Didn't think of that in the design... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Si600 Posted September 18, 2022 Share Posted September 18, 2022 (edited) On the back, directly behind the A saddle? Edited September 18, 2022 by Si600 Wrong string. I do play a 5er, honest. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benh Posted September 18, 2022 Author Share Posted September 18, 2022 1 minute ago, Si600 said: On the back, directly behind the A saddle? Thanks, I wondered about putting it on the back. Will probably go with straplocks on this one though, might stick out a bit much. I also wondered about putting it above the tuners, if I can fettle the design so that that body wood under the tuners protrudes by the same amount it'd (in theory) stand up without damaging the tuners. Hmm. Undecided! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Si600 Posted September 18, 2022 Share Posted September 18, 2022 Nick the tuner area design from Status and have two buttons Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tauzero Posted September 19, 2022 Share Posted September 19, 2022 Normally a headless will have a body which extends to the end of the tuners on each side, and typically there will be a strap peg both above and below them. This means that you can stand it on end without bothering with a stand. If the tuners are exposed, you really need to use a stand. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prowla Posted September 19, 2022 Share Posted September 19, 2022 I wouldn't have the tuners go beyond the end of the body (or strap buttons). 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheGreek Posted September 19, 2022 Share Posted September 19, 2022 On my Psilos bass we used the Warwick strap locks that fit inside the body. No need to clash with the beautiful wood. 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benh Posted September 19, 2022 Author Share Posted September 19, 2022 Just now, TheGreek said: On my Psilos bass we used the Warwick strap locks that fit inside the body. No need to clash with the beautiful wood. Interesting, don't need much of an excuse to re-read an @Andyjr1515 build thread 🙂 will have a look! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andre_Passini Posted September 19, 2022 Share Posted September 19, 2022 Lovely woods and awesome design Ben! 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SamIAm Posted September 21, 2022 Share Posted September 21, 2022 Looks fab! I shall soon be starting on my second bass, 5 string headless sans frets ... I look forward to seeing how yours goes (and learning from it! lol). S'manth x 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benh Posted September 21, 2022 Author Share Posted September 21, 2022 Just now, Smanth said: Looks fab! I shall soon be starting on my second bass, 5 string headless sans frets ... I look forward to seeing how yours goes (and learning from it! lol). S'manth x Thank you - I think the learning will go the other way though, your build threads are fab! Was sorry to hear about the fire. Looking forward to seeing yours progress! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benh Posted October 23, 2022 Author Share Posted October 23, 2022 Just a small update. Cut and planed all wood to thickness, currently in the process of gluing the blanks up. Sneaky shot of the zebrano fretboard! 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SamIAm Posted October 23, 2022 Share Posted October 23, 2022 Simply gorgeous! On an earlier point about locking strap thingies. I recently got a Hohner Headless, (as per my profile pic). It would sit wonderfully level on the two strap buttons, with the tuners kept safe from floor contact. I then fitted an S-Lock, whilst the strap button on the bass is not that different from the original, when I've got the strap on the strap mechanics protrude about 12mm an the whole rig leans at a jaunty (even worrying) angle now! Not sure if any of the fully recessed strap lock systems might avois this issue. S'manth x 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hellzero Posted October 23, 2022 Share Posted October 23, 2022 Hi Ben, just look here for headless designed basses as he is still using this design today : Another headless specialist is David King as he only builds headless basses : https://www.kingbass.com/ 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rollo Posted October 23, 2022 Share Posted October 23, 2022 (edited) Yes @Hellzero, David King’s Basses are a perfect exemple of perfect headless bass design. 😊 Edited October 23, 2022 by Rollo 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hellzero Posted October 23, 2022 Share Posted October 23, 2022 Nice 400 years old wooden floor on the last photo, @Rollo. 🤔😂 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geek99 Posted October 23, 2022 Share Posted October 23, 2022 (edited) Can I ask what sort of money your build cost ? I’m honestly curious lovely work btw Edited October 23, 2022 by Geek99 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rollo Posted October 23, 2022 Share Posted October 23, 2022 21 minutes ago, Hellzero said: Nice 400 years old wooden floor on the last photo, @Rollo. 🤔😂 Nice pic, @Hellzero. 🤣🐒 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Posted October 24, 2022 Share Posted October 24, 2022 13 hours ago, Rollo said: Yes @Hellzero, David King’s Basses are a perfect exemple of perfect headless bass design. 😊 Is this the built-in tuner I've seen in some of his basses? Does he still offer it? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hellzero Posted October 24, 2022 Share Posted October 24, 2022 Yes, @Rich it's indeed a built-in tuner, and if you go down the page in the link below, you'll see that the option is still available, but David King has stopped his activities for the moment... : https://www.kingbass.com/info.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rollo Posted October 24, 2022 Share Posted October 24, 2022 8 hours ago, Rich said: Is this the built-in tuner I've seen in some of his basses? Does he still offer it? Yes, it’s a Wittman On-Board Tuner. 👌 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benh Posted October 24, 2022 Author Share Posted October 24, 2022 21 hours ago, Geek99 said: Can I ask what sort of money your build cost ? I’m honestly curious lovely work btw No worries - I'd estimate about £100-£120 for timber, £100 for the preamp and £120 for the pickup. Around £20 for the fretwire. £10 for Warwick just a nut. Pots, wire, control knobs, truss rod etc I already had so not sure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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