Complete - 32" Scale Headless 5 String

[benh]

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!

[TheGreek]

Love a headless bass..I'll be following this with much anticipation 

[Andyjr1515]

I like that design very much.  Very much.

[benh]

Quick question - where would you guys put the strap button?? Didn't think of that in the design...

[Si600]

On the back, directly behind the A saddle?

Edited September 18, 2022 by Si600
Wrong string. I do play a 5er, honest.

[benh]

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!

[Si600]

Nick the tuner area design from Status and have two buttons

[tauzero]

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.

[prowla]

I wouldn't have the tuners go beyond the end of the body (or strap buttons).

[TheGreek]

On my Psilos bass we used the Warwick strap locks that fit inside the body. 

No need to clash with the beautiful wood.

[benh]

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!

[Andre_Passini]

Lovely woods and awesome design Ben!

[SamIAm]

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

[benh]

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!

[benh]

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!

[SamIAm]

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

 

 

[Hellzero]

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/

[Rollo]

Yes @Hellzero, David King’s Basses are a perfect exemple of perfect headless bass design. 😊

Edited October 23, 2022 by Rollo

[Hellzero]

Nice 400 years old wooden floor on the last photo, @Rollo. 🤔😂

[Geek99]

Can I ask what sort of money your build cost ? I’m honestly curious 

 

lovely work btw 

Edited October 23, 2022 by Geek99

[Rollo]

21 minutes ago, Hellzero said:

Nice 400 years old wooden floor on the last photo, @Rollo. 🤔😂

Nice pic, @Hellzero. 🤣🐒

[Rich]

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?

 

[Hellzero]

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

 

[Rollo]

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. 👌

[benh]

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.