Missed out a huge Pro - no banging your headstock on drum kits, tables, singer's eye sockets, etc. They fit on stage so well.
@buzz6775
Күн бұрын
The exact reason I play one. Plus they are usually lighter.
@Visionism
Күн бұрын
Although there are singers who could use a P-Bass headstock to the eye socket once in a while.
@trippy325
Күн бұрын
THIS. I swear I could use the headstock of my Bongo bass to play hockey.
@trippy325
Күн бұрын
THIS right here! I swear I could use the headstock on my Bongo bass to play hockey if I ever wanted to.
@christopherweise438
Күн бұрын
@@Visionism - Agreed
@nuldorvamoysenor2091
Күн бұрын
Headless basses are way cooler than people think, the bridges tend to be top notch, and the engineering behind them is just inspiring.
@CneyTMS
Күн бұрын
And knowing all of this I still find them horrendous and unfinished.
@NotThatOneThisOne
Күн бұрын
Brother used to have a Hohner Jack. Most stable tuning ever. Think it's down to the straight pull. Would hope the NS Design bridges are just as good.
@chrisliddiard725
Күн бұрын
Yep. I had a Hohner Jack, humbuckers, active pups, sold it, then bought another just like it. "Never gonna give you up...."
@chrisliddiard725
Күн бұрын
@@NotThatOneThisOne I think i got spoilt on the Jack. After that bass, i could not get use to the flat C profile necks of the 'modern bass'. I had to put layers of tape on the back of the neck to build it up. Not a pretty look but it worked. In the end, I had to get the Jack back. Wa
@BlackRootsAcademyOfSoul
Күн бұрын
💯✅
@BlackRootsAcademyOfSoul
Күн бұрын
I'm shocked an entire show on Headless Basses doesn't mention the quintessential Headless Bass, Status Graphite Basses, made in England! Mark King, Guy Pratt, Chris Wholesome (sp) etc etc I EXCLUSIVELY play Status Graphite S2 Classic 5 Strings Headless Basses. Unmatched tone 👌🏿👌🏿 Greetings from Uganda 🇺🇬👊🏿🖤
@PjRjHj
Күн бұрын
To some it's the OG Steinberger, to others it's the Kubicki, or the Status
@bassiclymike
Күн бұрын
I saw John Entwistle in 1995 with his solo band, and for Success Story and Trick Of The Light he played a headless Status 8-string! Immensely cool bass. Of course, the Buzzard he was using then was one of his Status-made examples, before Warwick sued them.
@Rootzilla
22 сағат бұрын
Status Streamline is such a bad-ass sci-fi design, would love to get my mitts on one!
@fourortwelvestrings
9 сағат бұрын
sorry but I had to chuckle at "Chris Wholesome" that actually took me a moment
@BlackRootsAcademyOfSoul
7 сағат бұрын
@@fourortwelvestrings 😄😄
@newportsinthebox
Күн бұрын
“Guys at the blues jam tease me about having the cricket bat” is funny as hell.
@chiasson65
Күн бұрын
I have a 1987 Steinberger XL2-A. I played this bass on the road for a number of years back in the 80's. I'm the original owner and still have this bass in my small fleet of basses. Unlike most people, I instantly fell in love with the look, feel, and ergonomics of the bass. It was impervious to temperature and humidity changes. It was super sleek, shiny and at the forefront of bass tech........no truss rod either! Fast forward many years, I'm now an airline pilot and I drag the XL on the road with me sometimes......it's great for travel. The only thing I didn't like about this bass was the fact that you had to use double ball end strings......until I found out that there was a normal string adapter one could purchase from Steinberger. great channel Scott. cheers, kev ps. the string adapter from steinberger requires no modification to the original machined "metal neck nut" piece.....it just stays in place due to string tension.
@Kunibert_Knatter
Күн бұрын
I got this adapter too (likely not Steinberger, but other brand), but it didn't work well for me. 8-( When you attach the strings, you have to drill a screw through the string. Like a garotte. and then cut the overstanding strings with a plyer. Once I got all 4 strings attached, I noticed that the very first one did not sit right. One half-tone too low. No chance to loosen / re-tight that string. Glad it works for you, I will not pursue that path anytime soon.
@chiasson65
Күн бұрын
@@Kunibert_Knatter mmmmm. Weird……mine works great.
@Sammybrxby
Күн бұрын
No mention of Mark King or Status? Crazy!! 😂
@BlackRootsAcademyOfSoul
Күн бұрын
I'm in shock too. I only play Status Graphite Basses 👌🏿
@l.e.bassdesign
Күн бұрын
Was looking for this comment. I was like “Mark King, anybody????”
@paulb.9302
2 сағат бұрын
@@Sammybrxby it’s crazy, I think they don’t like the guy. It’s a shame.
@michaelprokopeck1941
Күн бұрын
The only Headless Bass that I always visually really liked are Status. Always loved them.
@jaketheasshole
Күн бұрын
Kubicki?
@GFJDean35
Күн бұрын
Soooooooo glad to hear you shout out Protest the Hero! Some incredibly underrated bass playing!
@viperx220racing3
Күн бұрын
Love my Status S2 headless 5 string. Never goes out of tune & the balance of bass is awesome 🤪👍
@deniswoods6856
Күн бұрын
Curt Smith of Tears For Fears used a Steinberger on "Head Over Heels". An absolute genius of a bass line
@crowlogic9081
Күн бұрын
My '82 fretless Steinberger (with flats) sounded like a cross between an acoustic upright bass and a grand piano. A bit tricky to play (no arm rest) which is why I sold it. But it never went out of tune. Someone once said he accidentally backed his truck up over one and it didn't even go out of tune. Also, once while walking down the street with it in its gig bag, I got stopped by police, who thought it was a rifle. And BTW, restringing was a snap (with double-ball end). Hats off to Ned for his amazing engineering.
@Kunibert_Knatter
Күн бұрын
Do you have flatwound double-ball strings on your Bass? Where can I get those???? I am looking for so long now with no success! Thank you in advance for any hint!
@Kunibert_Knatter
Күн бұрын
In the past I was looking on websites of music dealers and string producers, never found any flatwounds. Now, after this video and writing my question to you, I did another look in Bing. And now I found flatwounds on the big A. Never expected to find anything like that on their marketplace. Seems I have some luck now.... thx - and you can ignore me now ;-)
@thedaydrinkingbassist
Күн бұрын
While I didn't have an actual Steinberger, I had the Hohner B2A, a copy with active PUs (even a little red light so you knew they were one)! LOL. NGL, wish I still had it; although it would be nigh invisible with my beer gut!!! Good to see you back on the behs, Scott!
@geeclef42
Күн бұрын
I've had a strandberg Boden Prog 5 since they first came out. Fantastic instrument! I rarely play my others live any more. It's so light and so comfortable. I'm older with bursitis in my shoulders, and arthrits in my hands, and I swear that the endurneck is adding years to my playing career. It almost forces you to play with correct hand position. I wasn't a fan of the darkglass, and considered getting the Fishman setup, but I opted to install an Audere Pro Z. What a perfect combination. It tamed the bass enough to play almost any genre, while still being anble to get gnarly. And nobody scoffs at the weirdness. They just comment on how cool it looks and how great it sounds ;-)
@jeffpatterson5126
Күн бұрын
Lookin great today boys! Scott, that denim buttoned up looks super sharp mate, and Ian matching the gloss black steinberger to his hat did not go unnoticed.
@Rootzilla
Күн бұрын
Changing strings on a Steinberg is super-fast IF you have the double-ball strings. You could go from rounds to flats in like less than 10 minutes in studio if the need arises. The disorientation on Steinberger is - I believe - a function of both the neck joint and pickup position being different from the traditional designs. The neck joint is at fret 22, combine that with the missing upper horn and it is visually confusing. BUT the Steinberger pivot plate is a great ergonomic design.
@stanigeorgiev3648
Күн бұрын
I can not believe you did not mention Status and Mark King...most unEnglish video from the UK :)
@pandamonium71
20 сағат бұрын
I’ve noticed these guys aren’t fans of MK or the instruments he plays. When u talking headless bass today day, no one has been more influential or flown the flag for headless bass than Mark King and Status, and yes both from the UK!! What’s with these guys???
@TenFalconsMusic
18 сағат бұрын
*It's either a case of extreme jealousy, a snubbing from MK or a bit of both.* *Scott probably worshiped Mark, begged him for an interview and was turned down.*
@waysinwaves
Күн бұрын
When this vid started I said out loud “ah man I hope they show Arif” and you DID 👏 that arrow shot has been ingrained in my brain since high school, lol
@IanMartinAllison
Күн бұрын
The COOLEST
@MrCloud254
Күн бұрын
ICONIC
@pminneker1790
Күн бұрын
I love my Status S2 4 string headless and there are only pros. You can lay the bass on the ground and the is no risk of detune, the heasstock can´t broke (as there is no one), a full set of strings can be changed in 5 minutes, you can also use single ball strings if you like, on small stages the missing headstock is an advantage. OK, the look is your personal decision but from technical point it is for me TOPPPPPPPPP
@BlackRootsAcademyOfSoul
Күн бұрын
Thank you so much Status Graphite is incredible. I play S2's exclusively 😎
@markmallinder7618
15 сағат бұрын
Exactly! I loved my Status. I would love to get another.
@2008spoonman
Күн бұрын
Once owned a Status 4 string headless. Awesome bass. But above all, very very practical on stage. Never out of tune and never had to worry about banging against a mic standard or cymbals of the drummer’s kit. 👍🏼
@markmallinder7618
15 сағат бұрын
I agree. I would go from gig to gig over several weeks and it was always still in tune. It I did ever need to tune it, then tuning is so much more convenient at the bridge end of the bass than at the headstock end, especially if you have short-ish arms like me.
@adamlee442
Күн бұрын
I met Arif when they were in Manchester, UK touring this album, he's such a cool guy. I remember waiting for that section of Sequoia Throne, but this time he improvised a mime of rolling a joint. Great show, great musician!
@ed_on_bass
Күн бұрын
Bought my first Steinberger in 1984. Sold almost every bass I had to pay for it including a ‘61 Precision and a first run Aria SB1000 which was getting most of my gigs at the time. No regrets. The L2 was my workhorse bass for about 9 years 5 of which I was a full time player. It was used on every gig and every recording no matter who I was working for. Never had a comment other than “that bass sounds amazing” Even did a tour playing for the late, great Ben E King and Ben never batted an eyelid lol. Re strings, with double ball strings you can change the whole set in five minutes and I have changed a broken string while playing on stage ready to go before the next song started. Amongst a load of basses and Chapman Sticks I’ve got 4 Steinbergers now and to this day it’s likely that either my fretted or fretless bass on a gig will be a Steinberger. Ned is a bona fide genius.
@gazfunk
Күн бұрын
Curt Smith from Tears for Fears played some great basses lines on headless basses. He used Steinbergers and Status basses
@robertjohn8726
Күн бұрын
My friend found me a Steinberger spirit bass for $8 at goodwill. It was banged up and needed a new bridge for about $50. Last remote recording session I had, we were debating what bass I should use, and I did a triple blind test with the producer; my Warwick, my MusicMan, and my Steinberger. Steinberger won out! It's been my go-to recording bass ever since. The best part is that it's the ultimate travel/couch bass, and if you're recording in cramped spot, no headstock banging. Super solid tuning too! That is all to say, I didn't watch this episode yet, but can't wait to dive in later.
@gatekeeper65
Күн бұрын
I love the Factor bass, it's just so beautiful. I had a Cort Steinberger knockoff back in the Eighties that was surprisingly not bad. A friend had his Steinberger stolen many, many years ago, and it was found and returned to him not long ago. It was in rough shape, so he got me to restore it, and I put so much care into doing it because I've always loved that thing. Made it like new again. I believe Leland Sklar used one too way back with Phil Collins in the early days.
@fenderjazz6213
Күн бұрын
I bought a Steinberger XL2A in 83 because of Geddy Lee..still have it..$1250 bucks then..the EMG's are great..one thing you didn't discuss is the incredible gear ratios of Ned's tuners..not much turning needed and they are incredibly precise..😁
@bacongl
Күн бұрын
After 30 years of playing heavy 5 and 6 strings, I switched to headless specifically for the weight reduction. I especially love how I don't have to worry about whacking headstocks while in the control room or tight spaces. I still bust out the old favorites for playing shows. But for practicing and most other things, they really are convenient.
@godinflt555
Күн бұрын
I think Ian missed Scott’s cheeky joke: “… you’ve got to put the ball-end into the little LEGO hand”. Or maybe my mind just operates differently. Lol
@Snibborwocky
Күн бұрын
Not a huge fan of headless basses and never have been BUT, the Kubicki Ex Factor 4 is definitely one of my FAVORITE basses of all-time thanks to Stu Hamm. ;)
@WeaponsRemorse
Күн бұрын
I found a Steinberger on Facebook marketplace for 200 dollars. It was a five string and some asshole bought it before I could buy it. I am pissed.
@AtomizedSound
Күн бұрын
Don’t worry your chance can come again
@WeaponsRemorse
Күн бұрын
@@AtomizedSound yeah In the meantime, I’ll just work on my five string 51 styled, hollow body bass… Complete with 51 five string pick up
@guitarfox8316
Күн бұрын
Damn whoever got that got a top notch instrument for practically free
@Rootzilla
Күн бұрын
Most likely a Spirit, a newer, cheaper iteration, no carbon fiber, all wood and bolt-on, About 450€ at Thomann. Not the same as the carbon fiber originals by a long shot, but some people seem to like them, at least for the price.
@WeaponsRemorse
Күн бұрын
@@Rootzilla ohhh yeah thats what it was
@elementlord8228
Күн бұрын
First time I saw a Steinberger was on a reggae festival. Wicked Dub Division played after us, and their bassist (King Claudio) carried it onstage. Big man, small bass, but a massive sound. I think my gut still hears it to this day :D
@grindguz
Күн бұрын
Mee too, a reggae night, bass amp was svr 8x10 and the sound was massive and super deep and precise tone, really great!
@johncooper1971
Күн бұрын
Nice video, but I can’t believe you never once mentioned Status Graphite - awesome basses and players 👍🏻
@robertmessing6846
Күн бұрын
The 1st time I ever saw a Steinberger it was Tony Levin playing a fretless version with Peter Gabriel on the Melt tour 80 he used it on the song Family Snapshot. My own experience with the XL2 goes back to recording our album at Bearsville in Woodstock NY. The first day of basic tracks once under the microscope of the studio my bases clearly needed some work. In order to not lose time the studio staff reached out around the local community for a loaner and I was given the chance to play one and it instantly made the engineer and myself happy. The next morning I reached out to my good friend who worked in a store that carried them and I bought the one they had over the phone. I had my dad drive the 2 hours up to deliver it to me in the studio which was a thrill for him to see us at work. While the design may be dated and is so often ridiculed I could care less because they sound and record fantastic. I still have and love my XL2 but the gig bag is in rough shape.
@sherlock4791
Күн бұрын
For sound comparison theres this channel called Petrek Guitars where he mod a headstock bass to headless, and compare the sound before & after
@williamfra1
Күн бұрын
I bought my first steinbergerXL2 in 1982. Still have it and still play it regularly. In 1990 got sponsored by steinberger and received another "elite" version. Elite version is not as durable as the original although it sounds a little more lively. 2 tuning claws broke on the new one and had to replace them. They're fantastic for playing long shows. They never go out of tune. Regularly people come up and ask " what's that?"
@keytronek
Күн бұрын
I had (2) Kramer Duke headless 4-string basses (fretted/fretless) in 1982. They were a super light wood and cost way less than the Steinberger at that time. I think it was the first headless bass to have a cutaway so you could reach every fret comfortably.
@HIPCHIP
Күн бұрын
In the late 80's/early 90's the Steinberger was a WANTED guitar! Sounded sweet!
@ynot6473
Күн бұрын
what Scott is alluding to is resonance. the longer structure of a headed neck will give a different resonance to the instrument, whether bass or lead.
@RobMLyon
Күн бұрын
I went to a completely headless bass setup. A Kiesel Vader 5 with radial J’s. Also the Ibanez 1005 with a roasted maple as a backup Smaller setup to transport and they play and sound incredible
@chrisggoodwin777
Күн бұрын
I was looking at a Vader for my next headless 😁 I got a Vader guitar in the Becker run and would like the bass version. GAS is real 😂
@RobMLyon
10 сағат бұрын
@@chrisggoodwin777 I owns several different basses, and this is my Swiss Army Knife!! we have several different versions of songs from disco to Billy Joel and beyond. The covers everything during any given night with very little adjustment.
@chrisggoodwin777
9 сағат бұрын
@@RobMLyon the same can be said for the the Zeus. I have the radium humbuckers and make little to no adjustments to cover multiple genres. Playing music is awesome, but so is geeking out on gear lol
@RobMLyon
8 сағат бұрын
@@chrisggoodwin777 lol very true
@danielcorrigan8805
Күн бұрын
A point for tuning issues on a headstock bass, the body is a giant slab of usually pretty dense wood, the neck has a metal truss rod and a super dense and hard fingerboard. The headstock on most instruments has NO reinforcement, and if the wood is pretty young it can a lot more susceptible to moving, and knocking out of tune.
@WutipongWongsakuldej
Күн бұрын
I bought my Sprit by Steinberger (a cheap guitar version of that Steinberger) GT-Pro from Japan back in 2014 I think. It was on sale back then. When I broght it back home, I asked a flight crew nicely and they let me put this on the overhead bin. I don't have to load this, nor have to ask the crew to place it in their closet (unlike my Strat I bought earlier from Canada). I don't know if they would let you put your bass guitar in the bin or not though. So uh if you're travelling by airplane, headless might be a better bet than says a '59 Les Paul. You can keep it with you in the passenger area. The risk of writting another 'United Breaks Guitar' will be way less. As a plus you can take it out and play it while waiting for boarding time (especially if you have amplug device like the Katana GO). PS. That white bass is also Spirit by Steinberger. A cheaper, made in Korea model by Steinberger (when it's already part of the Gibson company then). Spirit guitars are made with wood instead of synthetic material.
@richardsego
Күн бұрын
I grew up playing a Hohner copy of the Steinberger and an Ibanez Axstar, so I am totally in camp "futuristic" and have none of the vintage bias against these basses. I think the reduced weight, balance, and compact design are great, and I think my next bass may be a headless... (especially if I win that Strandberg!)
@richardfittonperkins1926
Күн бұрын
Ooh, guys, guys… Your video title alone today was pure bait for me! I’ve been a professional bass player for more decades than I care to remember. My main stay apart from my ‘63 Jazz has always been a Status Series 2, followed by a Status S2-Classic. Headless basses have superior balance, superior tuning and often superior sustain (with the graphite through necks, anyway!). I’ve recently picked up a Cort Space Bass 5 with the Mark Bass preamp and again, it is effortless to play and balances perfectly, and has a beautifully clean sound. Headless basses rule!
@NotThatOneThisOne
Күн бұрын
Should mention the modern Ned Steinbergers for stringing. Ball end goes at the head and the other end goes over the bridge and into the body. The bridge locks on and allows you to tune with no double ball strings or pointy ends.
@JamesKingBass
Күн бұрын
I have an Ibanez EHB1506 6 string multiscale heaadless bass, its crazy for me to be able to have a 6 string bass with a 35" low B that fits in a guitar gig bag and weighs less than any other bass own
@EpicBassTime_
Күн бұрын
Scott! Welcome back!
@Rootzilla
Күн бұрын
The bass in the Protest the Hero vid is most likely a Steinberger Spirit 5-string. A later, cheaper, all-wood, bolt-on construction. Looks like it has the "Spirit" logo under the neck PU.
@TFEnright5
Күн бұрын
I agree that it probably is a Spirit, but they are not bolt on. They are neck through construction.
@Rootzilla
Күн бұрын
@@TFEnright5 You're absolutely right The old XPs being bolt-on got mixed with Spirits in my mind.
@paulsayer426
Күн бұрын
Had a Status for thirty plus years , sounds amazing , never goes out of tune , never had any trouble getting double ball end strings , love the Steinberger , no mention of Status ????
@ArchieOnEarth
Күн бұрын
Gibson would sell a lot more of those Steinberger Spirit basses if they came with the strap pivot of the original model. Without the strap pivot, it doesn’t sit or balance like a normal bass.
@jamesscott3263
Күн бұрын
30” scale custom headless made by Chris Stambaugh for me about 5-6 years back. Hipshot bridge. EMG P/J set. Spalted top, maple neck thru, black limba wings. 5.5 lbs. Played hundreds of gigs with it and my back has thanked me. Sounds great on stage through my Fractal AX8 direct to the board, no amp.
@jimneumann6099
Күн бұрын
it's nice to see you back, Scott! ❤😊
@greghwong
Күн бұрын
I had a Steinberger and now the Strandberg Boden Prog and can confirm that only the Steinberger plays 2 frets higher at the ‘normal position’. Thanks for the video guys
@edhornby4885
Күн бұрын
Tears for Fears, all those great tunes on Songs From The Big Chair is on a Steinberger
@gitarboi6760
Күн бұрын
Jamaldeen Tacuma is the first person I saw with a steinberger
@andyhightides
Күн бұрын
My first online purchase was a Spirit by Steinberger XT-25. I would leave it behind the seat of my truck for months, and it would still be in tune.
@JanVanderKuylen
Күн бұрын
I own a black Westone Quantum headless 4-string passive bass made in 1984. It's a Matsumoku product made in Japan. I love it, the sound is great and it's very portable. cheers Jan from Belgium.
@threebbass
6 сағат бұрын
I got my Steinberger XL2 in 1983 ... I've always loved the sound and playability. One of the other key things I find great is the ergonomic design that comes from the swivel strap. It means that you can move the bass into any position, depending on where you're playing on the neck etc. as Scott says, balance is amazing! Ned Steinberger is a genius ... long time fan!!
@lockharthorsburgh8601
Күн бұрын
Great to see Scott with his arm round a bass again, instead of in a sling. I hope the recovery has gone smoothly. I tried an Ibanez EHB 5-string a couple of years ago, and it felt really easy to play, but I wasn't too impressed with the tone from the pickups (with the benefit of hindsight, I might have been happier trying one with Nordstrands), so i eventually wound up with a Dingwall instead. Watching the early stages of this, i have Strandberg envy . . .
@steverolfeca
Күн бұрын
Tilt EQ is great- so intuitive. I have it on my Diamond BCP-1 compressor, and a Barber SR LTD overdrive. Both are keepers.
@irajamestech
Күн бұрын
i love my headless bass. i got a Cort Artisan Space 5 for my birthday and I find myself playing it more than my other basses.
@leiferickson3183
Күн бұрын
THe 80's were all about Steinbergers and Hartke amps and Hartke 4x10 and 1x15's
@richshields6692
Күн бұрын
I have an Ibanez EHB1005. Replaced the barts with aguilar pickups . Nice sounding.
@RobMLyon
Күн бұрын
I have been thinking of doing the same.i see u like the upgrade
@ascellaovale
Күн бұрын
I buy one today (4 strings). Can I use flatwounds?
@Waggel86
Күн бұрын
@@ascellaovaleI've seen people have issues with flatwound strings unwinding. Issue seems more common on flats with round cores. Clamping down on the silks works. But I've seen people use a bit of heat shrink as well. No personal experience though
@Vezoth
3 сағат бұрын
@@ascellaovaleThey can slip and not set well if you don't bend them over. I've got two EHB and I've got flats on my 1006. I slipped a string (the D) and messed up the binding. Second time, I bent the tops over on themselves BEFORE I snipped it. I just left a little hook at the top. Like a "J". That did the trick and theyve held up. Looks kinda neat too, while helping to prevent the core and wrap from slipping.
@andreirlmeier
20 сағат бұрын
i missed the word "Status" in this video
@bobmazzola6089
Күн бұрын
I have 2 Hohner copies of the Steinberger. One with active humbuckers, one with single coil/split pickup at the treble position. Used it in a CARS tribute band for many years here in California. It also had something called "Emg select" pickups. I found these are awesome! The EMG rep at a NAMM show said these are made in Korea, very similar to the American made EMGs. Fun to play, especially on a crowded club stage! I now have a headless Ibanez 5 string fanned fret bass which is awesome too!
@Bob-of-Zoid
Күн бұрын
As a guitar builder/repair guy, as much as I love the advantages of headless instruments, I too am afflicted by the "It just looks like something is missing" syndrome!
@Hiei999
Күн бұрын
Everything you mentioned are features and not cons. All part of the learning curve, like you mentioned, you have no frame of reference since the landmark that is the headstock is missing. Fans get easier to play with and are more comfortable. Stringing is a cake walk and takes less time too. Not to mention the bass is sub 7 lbs (that's 3kg). With no headstock and a lighter body, the bass doesn't "fight" you when playing, for lack of a better way to describe it.
@ArthurPerez-t2e
Күн бұрын
That steinberger sounds amazing. EVH played those in the studio when he played bass.
@chrisbrenner4598
Күн бұрын
With my hopeful year end bonus, I am planning on getting a 5 string and the Cort Space 5 is on my short list
@ronckr1
Күн бұрын
Got an Ibanez EHB a couple of years back, the string mechanism has moved on a lot, great wee bass.
@SudsRegal
21 сағат бұрын
A very entertaining and interesting video on the pros and cons of the headless bass. Well done guys! So glad you gave Simon Grove some airtime and praise. He is an absolute beast of a bass player, one of my favorite modern bassists and an exceptional sound engineer.
@chrisblood7395
16 сағат бұрын
Yes, Steinberger's headless bass is that old. They'd been a thing for several years, when Kramer made my 1982 "The Duke" Special. An aluminum-necked "copy" of the XL-2, with a Schaller BD-4 roller bridge mounted backwards at the tail; Schaller guitar tuners on the tail (which work great); and a Schaller "Twin-J" pickup. Lot of fun to play, and sounds great, too...
@michaelgrossenbacher7435
10 сағат бұрын
I'm still playing my Warwick Nobby Meidl since 1984 with the number 132!! It's the bass i've made the moste progress in playing bass and it was certainly by that too it was so uncomplicated to have him with you all the time.
@Graystaff
Күн бұрын
When I was 15 I met Sting during the Ghost in the Machine tour. He had one and was wowed by it.
@firemarshal2629
15 сағат бұрын
I gigged and toured from '08 to '15 using a Gibson Thunderbird. After an extended hiatus my band decided to get back together but instead of 45 minute gigs we now do 3-4 hour cover sets. The first couple of gigs I used the Gibby and my shoulder just killed me. I felt like I was using a boat anchor. Add in the fact that 40 is staring me in the face and I found my self researching light weight basses. Ended up purchasing an Ibanez EHB1500 and absolutely love it. Sounds amazing, weights like 6 pounds which is insane for a 5 string. Plus for as much as I worried what my bandmates and others would think, I have gotten nothing but compliments on how it looks.
@neondreams57
14 сағат бұрын
I played a Steinberger XL2A in the late 80’s/early 90’s and have primarily played headless basses ever since. At one point I sent the bass back to Steinberger and had them install a TransTrem bridge, which was a whammy bar that actually locked the bass into different tunings. By dropping the whammy all the way down my EADG quickly became BEAD so I could cover 5-string parts without changing basses. It was pretty cool, but there were a lot of complicated adjustments to make every time I changed strings. All in all a super dependable bass that was always in tune, with a neck that never needed adjustment in Florida’s heat and humidity.
@homewithj1
Күн бұрын
I have a 1982 Steinberger L2 that was once own by Pete Fardon of the Pretenders. Also if you look closely at the Nut on your Steinberger you see where it has threads where you can use an Allen screw for regular strings (maybe just on the early ones) . Ned thought of everything. Ive had mine for over 30 years . Normally I play fender basses , so the missing head stock can be a little disorienting. Also they stay in tune for a long time because they have a higher tuning ratio because stings are pull instead wound Steinberger is 40:1 . I also use to own a Philip Kubicki Factor Bass. Which is what John Taylor of Duran Duran played. he may have played Steinberger for a short time. But the Kubicki has an 80:1 tuning ratio because of the huge wheel and ratchet system. I never needed to be tuned. Fenders are 20:1 tuning ratio.
@CC-hg9un
Күн бұрын
The first time I ever played a Steinberger I was amazed at the punch and sustain. Holy sh*t...
@SinclairHugh
15 сағат бұрын
I LOVE MY STEINBERGER 5 STRING!! It stays tuned better than any headed bass I have played, and the tone is great for it being so small.
@saanzacs
Күн бұрын
Keep rocking that headless, Mr Allison!!!
@staranjell
Күн бұрын
What about the Westone Rail Bass?
@tiltil9442
Күн бұрын
Yeah, good one!
@Marekki2202
Күн бұрын
Built myself a headless multiscale 5 string P Bass based on an Ibanez EHB neck. The body is designed around it but it looks kinda classic with a black pickguard, single P pickup and all passive Vol/Tone knobs. Really appreciate the ease of traveling with it in a Fusion guitar gigbag and the tuning stability. But I do miss my fave Flats, the Thomastik Jazz flats, which would just unravel and break if I clamped them down at the headstock, I mean at the end of the neck.
@paulellison1539
8 сағат бұрын
The NS Radius Bass gets past the string problem. It takes standard bass strings but uses them the other way around. Ball at the top of the neck and the other end goes through the body and is caught by the revolutionary new system. Changing strings is super quick and easy. Brilliant.
@FiveJayGaming
15 сағат бұрын
You guys should check out the Traveler Guitars’ TB-4 bass! Headless, but the strings have extra travel around the bottom of the bass and up to the body so it has that “after length”. It has a P-bass shape, and a Duncan-designed Mustang p-pickup. It has a volume and knob, but it’s active and pushing the tone knob applies a boost, overdrive, or distortion. It has a headphone out as well as an aux in, so no headphone amp required. The scale length is 32” so it’s not quite full scale but it’s not a short scale either. The neck is actually pretty wide, too, with a satin finish. And other overall size is TINY; it’s overall only 35”, despite the 32” scale length! It is the ULTIMATE travel bass and even though it’s going to look itty bitty on you two tall lads, it will be SO easy to travel with that you might just find it worth the excessive tininess. Any bassists that wish it were easier to take their instrument on trips should be aware of this amazing little instrument! I hope they make a TB-5 with the B string because I would definitely get one…
@KirillAfonin
22 сағат бұрын
The moment I wanted to get a headless bass was when I saw Luc Besson's "Subway". There's a scene where Eric Serra, the composer for the movie, plays a 5 string Steinberger. A 15yo me was very impressed by this futuristic design. Unfortunately, this was a classic "never meet your heroes" case. Many years later I got to try out a 5 string Steinberger that a friend of mine owned. That was a complete disappointment: while the bass sounded really good, the neck was too narrow and thick like a baseball bat, everything was shifted to the left (as Ian mentioned) and overall it was pretty uncomfortable to play.
@zygmuntzarzecki
Күн бұрын
Mark King with headless bass
@DokterRekt
Күн бұрын
But also on the note of strings, a perk of headless basses that are shorter scale and have the modern string installation like the Strandberg is that you could use any string you like at any size. Because you're just gonna trim the string off as opposed to placing it into the tuning peg, which is not the case with any bass with a headstock. Those require a string that matches its scale.
@tylerbell5162
Күн бұрын
I like headless basses. But I agree it feels like you need to reach more. I think it is due to the extra hardware at the tail shifting the scale length out to the left.
@woodmanscollections9319
Күн бұрын
Loved the show and the info, the camaraderie, a lot of fun. For some reason the first band that comes to mind for this type of bass would be DEVO, it just fits their look. They have a very tight playing sound that was pretty profound. Thanks for a fun show!
@keefos66
Күн бұрын
Graham Maby was a prominent and awesome player of the Steinberger. Another nice feature of headless basses is that you can tune live while fretting and not have to wait for a long open-string note.
@grhnbass
Күн бұрын
I've been using a headless bass for over a year now, and while I agree that changing strings can be a bit of a hassle, how often do you really have to deal with that? On the flip side, the stability and lighter weight are huge advantages that I appreciate every single day. In the end, it is just a matter of taste.🤘
@andrewpinner3181
6 сағат бұрын
Thanks Scott & lan, fun review (as always). Had never tried a Hohner 'Jack' but was always curious. I imagine this video is pre-op Scott, so l hope the recovery is going well. ❤
@Leo_Gunn
Күн бұрын
Great video guys! I've always wondered about headless basses (especially the Steinberg!) Thanks so much for this review!!
@kcseabass4454
23 сағат бұрын
I carry my old XL2 as a spare to get me out of trouble. Being a short-arse, the headless designs definitely help out, so over the years I’ve picked up FL Status 2000, Empathy 4 and. Sei Flambouyant 5. Love them all just as much as a P, J or G&L.
@jimredraptor01
18 сағат бұрын
Another pro is, usually they are flat at the tuning bridge (like the little Steinberger) so you can lean the guitar on anything without them falling over. I love double ball end strings. You can change them really quickly if you break a string during a gig. And I completely agree about the balance. That's the biggest pro.
@potsos1
Күн бұрын
Bought a Steinberger in 1983 when I saw Sting playing one. Super freaking expensive most money I ever spent on a bass. I played it in a cover band for a few years sounded killer most indestructible bass ever made. you said though about when you’re playing it it seems like we are in a different position than a regular base. It’s a little weird to get used to.
@mxolisik
Күн бұрын
I have XL2 and in here South Africa I tried to get a set of double ball strings and it's been a nightmare. a friend of mine broke a D string now i had to take a single ball string and made a knot for it to fit the guitar.
@chrisggoodwin777
Күн бұрын
I bought my first headless bass last year - a Kiesel Zeus 6 string multiscale. The only con I have is, I have to use a guitar stand with a base for the body. Standard Hercules style headstock stands and wall hangers are out. Other than that, I love it. The Kiesel is super easy to restring. Its well-balanced, and there was no learning curve for the headless or the multiscale. I really enjoy playing higher up rhe neck on the multiscale too. Feels great. I just jumped in to playing it. It's great for gigging and traveling. I'm not going headless exclusively, but I definitely like what I have and would buy another
@blairjones8231
Күн бұрын
Mark King always seemed to play headless basses!
@andreabovo274
9 сағат бұрын
I own a red steinberger Q4 v1 from 90. I m really proud of have it. I will never change it.
@antechguitarandampcare4954
17 сағат бұрын
As a regular headless player on the local pub/club circuit, I am always getting the 'how do you tune it/where's the headstock' questions but it does mean I'm less likely to knock someone's pint out of their hand if it's busy :)
@daveinitely3204
14 сағат бұрын
I own an Ibanez EHB1006 and am about to sell it. It's pretty much the only headless bass i ever played. Not exactly a huge sample size. So take my comments with a grain of salt. That being said: Most of the things that i hate about the EHB1006 are related to it being multi-scale: 1. I want a 6-string bass because i want to be able to play chords in 3-7 voicings across 4 stings above the 12th fret. On the EHB1006 it's next to impossible to play chords above 17th fret, due to the frets being skewed and the narrow spaces between the frets. In terms of playing chords above 12th fret, i regret selling my cheap Ibanez SR306eb. 2. Fanned frets are supposed to balance out string tension. However, what they don't seem to balance is sound and feel across the strings: I've never played an instrument that sound and feels so inconsistent. At times the EHB1006 feels like 6 different instruments. Which makes playing across the strings in one position (rather than up an down the neck) much less fun than it should be on a 6-string bass. 3. Fanned frets seem to cause issues with pickup placement on the body. Especially, since they tend to come in combination with 24-fret necks and truss-rod access below the highest fret. In case of the EHB1006, the bridge pickup is completely useless. It outputs way less volume than neck pickup. Which is a pitty, because it renders the pickup blend control pretty much useless in terms of compensating for the thunderous neck pickup. 4. As bass players we are used to think from the low E on the open E string upwards. I will never forget the feeling of playing melodies on my Ibanez GVB36, starting somewhere around the 12th fret on the C string. That bass taught me to also think downwards from the upper register of the instrument. I sold it because of its tiny string spacing. On the EHB1006, the G and C strings are just not happening. It's a shame. My guess is that this is because, amongst other things, 5. headless basses tend to come without a head stock. Which is fine in terms of overall weight and avoiding neck dive. But it seems to turn the resonance of the instrument as a whole into a complete , at least with respect to certain frequencies. I assume that some of the issues mentioned above can be dealt with (and are in fact already being dealt with) by boutique brands, who handcraft their instruments. In case of mass-produced medium-priced instruments we're not there yet, i guess.
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