NBD: Cort Space 4

[HeadlessBassist]

After taking myself outside for a good talking to, I decided that letting my Cort Space 5 go was a mistake, and I missed having it around as a backup/teaching bass that mostly lived in the boot of the car. I liked everything about it, apart that I had to have a 5-string at the time, so I traded the pretty bitsa Jazz bass with the EMGs, as I've got two working and earning Jazz basses which are both permanent fixtures on the fleet, and got an as new Space 4. Simples. 🤔

 

So overall, it's a break even deal and all I've lost is a 5th string. Hopefully the last NBD for a while. (He said!)

 

Pictured here with it's SoloKing brethren.

 

 

 

 

[tauzero]

Done the thrust bearing mod yet?

[HeadlessBassist]

1 minute ago, tauzero said:

Done the thrust bearing mod yet?

 

Whassat, then..?. 🤔

[tauzero]

22 minutes ago, HeadlessBassist said:

 

Whassat, then..?. 🤔

 

 

Well worth it.

[HeadlessBassist]

Thanks for that, Tauzero - I'll have a look at that. I've been using headless tuning systems for over 35 years now, and I've never had one fail. But the smooth motion is very appealing, as they do stick a bit from time to time. 

[crazycloud]

14 hours ago, HeadlessBassist said:

and all I've lost is a 5th string.

Now it just looks odd to me...

 

9 hours ago, HeadlessBassist said:

I'll have a look at that. I've been using headless tuning systems for over 35 years now, and I've never had one fail. But the smooth motion is very appealing, as they do stick a bit from time to time. 

I've done it on all my Steinbergers and clones for many years, especially as it's so simple and cheap to do.

[Delberthot]

I've been waiting for the 4 string to come along so finally went for it last night.

 

Ever since I lost weight, I have struggled to get any of my basses to sit right. Maybe something to do with the angle that they sat against my stomach that they don't anymore. I've tried all of the usual routes - grippy strap, Ultralites, even my own version of the double strap but it's just not comfortable and after a couple of songs I start moving the bass around for the rest of the gig and end up with a sore shoulder.

 

Hopefully the headless bass is the answer.

 

Having never owned a headless bass before, if I do the mod with the thrust bearings, is it simply a matter of fitting or do I need to grease them as well?

[HeadlessBassist]

41 minutes ago, Delberthot said:

I've been waiting for the 4 string to come along so finally went for it last night.

 

Ever since I lost weight, I have struggled to get any of my basses to sit right. Maybe something to do with the angle that they sat against my stomach that they don't anymore. I've tried all of the usual routes - grippy strap, Ultralites, even my own version of the double strap but it's just not comfortable and after a couple of songs I start moving the bass around for the rest of the gig and end up with a sore shoulder.

 

Hopefully the headless bass is the answer.

 

Well I can tell you the 5-string version was very light, and this is obviously a little lighter again. They sit on the strap at a similar angle to a Status S2 design. Very central and perfect balance.

 

I will say that the narrower neck is even faster to whizz around on than the five, which was already very fast. 

[crazycloud]

56 minutes ago, Delberthot said:

Having never owned a headless bass before, if I do the mod with the thrust bearings, is it simply a matter of fitting or do I need to grease them as well?

I've never bothered greasing them.

 

15 minutes ago, HeadlessBassist said:

They sit on the strap at a similar angle to a Status S2 design. Very central and perfect balance.

So similar to my S2000. Interesting...

[HeadlessBassist]

45 minutes ago, crazycloud said:

So similar to my S2000. Interesting...

 

That's the other application for me - A near-Status when I don't want to take a Status to a particular venue.

 

Again, my only complaint with the Space Basses is the output is a little low - about equal to a passive Jazz bass, but that's sortable by turning up the gain.  

Edited April 29 by HeadlessBassist

[Delberthot]

Got mine this afternoon and I think we have a winner. Sits more or less exactly where I want it to be on a strap without touching it so I'll be taking it out this weekend

[HeadlessBassist]

2 hours ago, Delberthot said:

Got mine this afternoon and I think we have a winner. Sits more or less exactly where I want it to be on a strap without touching it so I'll be taking it out this weekend

 

Hope you enjoy it. They're supremely fast and great sounding basses for the money.

 

 

[tauzero]

17 hours ago, Delberthot said:

Having never owned a headless bass before, if I do the mod with the thrust bearings, is it simply a matter of fitting or do I need to grease them as well?

 

I didn't bother. They're not going to be travelling very far over the lifetime of the bass, after all, when compared with the normal applications for thrust bearings.

[Delberthot]

Thrust bearings received today. Is it obvious when you unscrew everything how to fit them?

[tauzero]

Yes, just screw the knurled knob out until it comes off and then thread the thrust bearing on, then screw it back in.

[Delberthot]

Perfect I'll get them fitted tomorrow. 👍

[Delberthot]

Well that was pretty straightforward.  With the exception of the low E, I was able to fit the others without loosening the string at the headstock? Stumpstock?

 

I just removed the original washer to fit them.

 

[HeadlessBassist]

I'm liking "Stumpstock". I like it a lot.

[geofio]

Got mine today, The setup was a bit of a mess out the box, went to tune up,  the A string just gave up, I thought the tuner mech had given up at first, but restrung the bass no problem, the saddles were all over the place, you have to physically have to press them down with your finger the first time you adjust them, fitted the thrust washers today, they do a fantastic job,  well worth doing,

Just had to adjust the neck the action was a bit high from the factory set up !! I went over all the screws nuts etc make sure everything was tight, construction seems very good, excellent wood choices, 7 ply neck should be pretty solid I am sure, hope the string clamp at the top holds up over time it is basically a big grub screw directly over the string, after all that, I must say it is a lovely bass to play it balances so well , I fitted strap locks, playability is excellent, I basically have the action where I want it , I tried it through a few different pre amps, it actually sounded fantastic through Head Rush MX5 , I downloaded some custom bass presets for that unit and wow, really nice sound just enough grunt behind the preamp models to do the job, very pleased with that , I also tried it through a Dark glass alpha /omega going into a dug Pinnick tech 21 preamp, that again was fantastic,   a bit more growl from the bass with that setup, I love playing this bass it sounds very decent, I am normally a Ric/Spector player, for the money it is awesome,  solid once set up. 

[HeadlessBassist]

3 minutes ago, geofio said:

Got mine today, The setup was a bit of a mess out the box, went to tune up,  the A string just gave up, I thought the tuner mech had given up at first, but restrung the bass no problem, the saddles were all over the place, you have to physically have to press them down with your finger the first time you adjust them, fitted the thrust washers today, they do a fantastic job,  well worth doing,

Just had to adjust the neck the action was a bit high from the factory set up !! I went over all the screws nuts etc make sure everything was tight, construction seems very good, excellent wood choices, 7 ply neck should be pretty solid I am sure, hope the string clamp at the top holds up over time it is basically a big grub screw directly over the string, after all that, I must say it is a lovely bass to play it balances so well , I fitted strap locks, playability is excellent, I basically have the action where I want it , I tried it through a few different pre amps, it actually sounded fantastic through Head Rush MX5 , I downloaded some custom bass presets for that unit and wow, really nice sound just enough grunt behind the preamp models to do the job, very pleased with that , I also tried it through a Dark glass alpha /omega going into a dug Pinnick tech 21 preamp, that again was fantastic,   a bit more growl from the bass with that setup, I love playing this bass it sounds very decent, I am normally a Ric/Spector player, for the money it is awesome,  solid once set up. 

 

Congrats George! Looks lovely  Does your preamp have a weak bass boost? I find I have to boost the bass on mine nearly all the way, while treble is merely a smidge over the centre detent.