risingson Posted February 15, 2011 Share Posted February 15, 2011 I'm not a big fan of the looks of headless basses, but that's definitely something to split people's opinions anyway. I've played a few, had a chance to have a quick go on Steve Soar's Status (that's alliteration for you!!) and although it was a lefty and I play right handed, it sounded really great. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Musky Posted February 15, 2011 Share Posted February 15, 2011 (edited) [quote name='lojo' post='1128904' date='Feb 15 2011, 09:00 PM']Sorry cant add to the thread, but just wondering, when this was first popular, was it simply a new take on the way a bass could look, or did they seriously promote the system as an improvement?[/quote] Oh they were very definitely promoted as an improvement. Steinberger and Status developed their instruments independently but came up with very similar designs (headless and the use of carbon fibre) at about the same time. I can't remember the story exactly who was first - I think one was prototyped first and the other made it to market first. 1982-ish? Anyone remember the exact details? Edit: It must have been before '82 as I can remember Bill Wyman playing a Steinberger in that year. Edited February 15, 2011 by Musky Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dood Posted February 15, 2011 Share Posted February 15, 2011 Wow! Marmite anyone? heh heh!! Quite a split in opinions eh! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fat Rich Posted February 15, 2011 Share Posted February 15, 2011 [quote name='Musky' post='1128924' date='Feb 15 2011, 09:19 PM']Oh they were very definitely promoted as an improvement. Steinberger and Status developed their instruments independently but came up with very similar designs (headless and the use of carbon fibre) at about the same time. I can't remember the story exactly who was first - I think one was prototyped first and the other made it to market first. 1982-ish? Anyone remember the exact details? Edit: It must have been before '82 as I can remember Bill Wyman playing a Steinberger in that year.[/quote] Dunno about Steinberger but the first Status was 1981, it was called the GMT Strata but the name had to be changed because Fender thought it sounded too much like Stratacaster More info here: [url="http://www.statii.com/status_cats/strata/index.html"]http://www.statii.com/status_cats/strata/index.html[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vibrating G String Posted February 15, 2011 Share Posted February 15, 2011 1979 was the first Steinberger Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lizzy Posted January 15, 2021 Share Posted January 15, 2021 I've been trying to find our more about my Hohner headless from the late 80's which has a jack on the reverse and a strap with a rotating connector so that you can spin the guitar as in ZZ Top style ( but without the fur!). Does anyone else have this? I can't find out anything about them. Luckily it has a conventional jack because it's totally impractical but fun anyway Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slappindabass Posted January 15, 2021 Share Posted January 15, 2021 On 15/02/2011 at 11:03, HMX said: Disadvantages: Ugly as sin I think its Beautiful, I am its dad though! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jus Lukin Posted January 15, 2021 Share Posted January 15, 2021 (edited) - Edited March 11, 2022 by Jus Lukin 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tauzero Posted January 16, 2021 Share Posted January 16, 2021 It has been a while, hasn't it? I had a Jack 5 then, since then the Jack 5 has gone and I've had a B2V (now gone) and a B2AV (handy backup bass), a Status 2 (now gone), a Sei Original 5 fretless (main gigging bass in the days when there were gigs), and a Sei Flamboyant 5. I do have more headed than headless basses, but I also think that headless basses are lighter, better-balanced, and more convenient than headed basses. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maude Posted January 16, 2021 Share Posted January 16, 2021 15 hours ago, Jus Lukin said: Some folks just prefer a headstock, and certainly a headless can look very out of place in certain bands, particularly of the 'vintage' variety. Whilst I totally agree with this, it just goes to show what a 'set in our ways' bunch we really are, that a design that was most popular nearly four decades ago is considered too modern. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fleabag Posted January 16, 2021 Share Posted January 16, 2021 I tried a Washburn cricket bat just the once and was thrown because the bass hung further to the right than my headed basses and i was playing 1 fret out. It wasnt nice to play, but luckily it wasnt mine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bassassin Posted January 16, 2021 Share Posted January 16, 2021 17 hours ago, Lizzy said: I've been trying to find our more about my Hohner headless from the late 80's which has a jack on the reverse and a strap with a rotating connector so that you can spin the guitar as in ZZ Top style ( but without the fur!). Does anyone else have this? I can't find out anything about them. Luckily it has a conventional jack because it's totally impractical but fun anyway Would like to see some pics of that. As far as I'm aware the 80s Hohners had a fold-out leg rest & conventional strap buttons, and a standard jack & seperate XLR on the lower body edge. At least, my 1985 first run Hohner B2A does. Is yours definitely a Hohner? 16 hours ago, Slappindabass said: I think its Beautiful, I am its dad though! In fairness, the Interceptors are ever-so-slightly Marmite, and possibly not the most graceful 80s MIJ interpretation of the headless aesthetic! However they're incredibly rare, so I'd rather like to have one standing in the corner. Possibly behind a bookcase. In other news, I have a hint of a reason to think that on Tuesday - which is my birthday - I might find myself finally in possession of a slightly more symmetrical, some might say elegant, example of mid '80s Japanese headless luthiery. More news when it becomes available... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tauzero Posted January 16, 2021 Share Posted January 16, 2021 19 hours ago, Slappindabass said: I think its Beautiful, I am its dad though! Isn't it a bit awkward having footswitches on the front? I rather like it. It's certainly distinctive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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