Guitars and basses with no heads (headless bass guitar) aren’t a new concept. They have been around since the 1980s. Ned Steinberger was the father of these unusual guitars.
Imagine how they were regarded in the 1980s if you think they are strange. Well, they are back, “bigger” and better than ever before, whether you like them or not. If you don’t know much about the headless bass guitar and you are curious about it then keep reading this article because we will answer the most frequently asked questions regarding this masterpiece.
Headless bass guitars are more stable and easy to tune than basses with the headstocks, and they stay in tune for longer. They are also lighter than regular headless basses, making them more convenient to transport. They are also preferred by some bassists due to their distinct appearance. Thumbscrews for tuning are found at the bridge of a headless bass guitar. The strings are held in place by nuts behind the top of the neck on headless basses because there are no headstocks.
Due to the lower string strength and the use of pegs at the bridge to tune strings, headless bass guitar has been popular. Furthermore, the absence of a headstock allows the fretting hand extra room at the lower frets.
Why to select a headless bass guitar
There are numerous reasons why one should choose a headless bass guitar. Few benefits are mentioned below:
Stability
Headless basses stay in tune longer due to the lower string length and locking mechanism. It is also convenient to have tuning knobs on the bridge in case you accidentally strike your bass.
Balance
Some traditional basses have an unbalanced sound. When the bass is strung onto you, the neck of the bass falls further down than your ideal playing posture. This is usually caused by a too-heavy headstock. Headless bass, on the other hand, will stay put against your body.
Tuning
Tuning the bass at the bridge is often seen to be easier than tuning the headstock with the machine heads. This makes tuning a headless bass easier and faster.
How does headless bass work?
On the ‘head,’ the tuning pegs are attached. A headless bass reverses this by fixing the strings slightly beyond the nut, eliminating the need for a head. The strings then cross over the nut, go up the neck, across the bridge, and into the body’s tuners.
Do headless guitars stay in tune better?
Yes, the headless bass guitar stays in tune better. The absence of tuning pegs is the first and most important factor. This implies they don’t twist and turn as a result of banging against things. The other reason is that the strings on a headless guitar are fastened in two spots. The strings are secured on the bridge and connected to the headstock via the string post and tuning pegs in a classic guitar.
Excessive tension between the bridge and the headstock, on the other hand, may cause the bridge to draw on the strings slowly and gradually, rotating the tuning pegs in increments. As a result, the strings relax and go out of tune.
A headless bass, on the other hand, has two anchors, one on the nut and one on the bridge, as previously described. They are substantially more sturdy and provide less tension on the strings due to the removal of surplus string length after the nut.
How do you tune a headless guitar?
Well, this is the most asked question “how do you tune a headless bass guitar that doesn’t have tuning pegs?” It does not have tuning pegs, but it does have tuning knobs. These knobs are on the opposite end of the guitar, immediately behind the bridge, opposite the nut or where the headstock is intended to be.
The tuning knobs on different types and brands of headless bass guitars will have varied designs. However, they all work in the same way in theory. Here’s how to re-tune and restring your headless bass guitar.
- Lock the ball end.
- Attach the other end of the string.
- Tighten the nut.
- Cut the string.
- Turn the tuning knob.
Conclusion
A headless bass guitar is only one of the numerous unusual guitar kinds and designs that have evolved over time. With all of its benefits, you might be tempted to acquire one for yourself. We have shared the procedures in the article above to ensure you understand how to tune headless bass. We have also mentioned the benefits or why one should choose a headless bass guitar. Hope you find this article helpful.
