The Downsides of Headless Guitars?

[Emperoff]

They are both great! But, I find the headless convenient in my tight space.

That actually makes a lot of sense considering most of the dings on my guitars were done at home precisely because of that.

When playing live the bass player is on the other side so I can only hit singers if they come to close. In fact, the pointier the headstock, the better to keep them away!

 

[CanserDYI]

Hey y’all!

Thanks so much so far for all the feedback!! I’m enjoying the robust and comical replies!

Anyways, to the point that they look bad lol that’s not really helpful anymore, because it’s been said so much. I def get it!! I’m looking for more like technical issues. For instance, I’m realizing I won’t be able to use a snark to tune it.

If anyone cares, I like how they look. If I look like a dork in my apartment and only my boyfriend sees, that point is moot, neither of us care too mich. To expand on that, you know, on stage I’m a vocalist, so I don’t really play out with my guitars, if I did, though, I wouldn’t mind rockin a headless. Someone already trashed the rest of what I wear on stage anyways (leather pants and the like), so I’m already a lost cause as is ^.~ So yeah, the looks aren’t a downside to me, but respect and understand those who don’t like it!!

I've said it already but the only downside I can think of is the right hand tuning, other than that, most things are pretty good in the headless world.

 

[Mathemagician]

The look dorky AF bro. But they weigh less and that’s a nice pro column check mark.

 

[spudmunkey]

Ugly? Fine. That's a pro: less likely to be stolen. 😂

 

[Emperoff]

Ugly? Fine. That's a pro: less likely to be stolen. 😂

They're also lighter. Which makes them easier to steal!

 

[spudmunkey]

They're also lighter. Which makes them easier to steal!

Schodinger's stolen guitar?

 

[wheresthefbomb]

Headless guitars are just better, full stop. It's funny seeing all you insecure metal bros clutching pearls about how you'll look holding one. Give your balls a tug.

I think you misunderstood me. I'm not worried about how I'll look, because I don't own one. You're the one who looks like a dork, nerd.

edit: Also I don't play metal. That stuff's for dorks.

 

[Mathemagician]

I would def consider a headless for an 8 though. Those guitars can be massive.

 

[Shask]

I have always wondered if the lack of body wood would give them a smaller, less resonant sound.

 

[gunch]

tuning stability is about on par with fixed bridge and locking tuners or a blocked trem if the hardware is working and setup correctly

 

[HoneyNut]

Hey y’all!

Thanks so much so far for all the feedback!! I’m enjoying the robust and comical replies!

Anyways, to the point that they look bad lol that’s not really helpful anymore, because it’s been said so much. I def get it!! I’m looking for more like technical issues. For instance, I’m realizing I won’t be able to use a snark to tune it.

If anyone cares, I like how they look. If I look like a dork in my apartment and only my boyfriend sees, that point is moot, neither of us care too mich. To expand on that, you know, on stage I’m a vocalist, so I don’t really play out with my guitars, if I did, though, I wouldn’t mind rockin a headless. Someone already trashed the rest of what I wear on stage anyways (leather pants and the like), so I’m already a lost cause as is ^.~ So yeah, the looks aren’t a downside to me, but respect and understand those who don’t like it!!

You do you in regards to your taste in what you wear. Im sure you wearing leather pants suits you just awesome. I really didnt mean to sound like an ahole to you. The other guitar player in our band actually has the look of a stereotypical nerd, with thick glasses, skinny, plaid shirt and khakis, dorkier than napoleon dynamite with his much receded hairline - but totally rocks a fluroscent yellow guitar.

Leather pants, nor a yellow fluroscent guitar suits me with my belly, no matter how much i like it. Of course context is key.

 

[Discoqueen]

You do you in regards to your taste in what you wear. Im sure you wearing leather pants suits you just awesome. I really didnt mean to sound like an ahole to you. The other guitar player in our band actually has the look of a stereotypical nerd, with thick glasses, skinny, plaid shirt and khakis, dorkier than napoleon dynamite with his much receded hairline - but totally rocks a fluroscent yellow guitar.

Leather pants, nor a yellow fluroscent guitar suits me with my belly, no matter how much i like it. Of course context is

Totally get it! I agree, not much suits everyone. I didn’t mean to single you out cuz I thought you were an ahole, just being a little cheeky! Probably should have been more conscientious how how that might have come across.

 

[spudmunkey]

Leather pants, nor a yellow fluroscent guitar suits me with my belly, no matter how much i like it.

 

[guitaardvark]

I just bought a Strandberg Prog 7 today after owning a Salen Jazz for year and a half. Obviously, I like headless guitars and think that the benefits outweigh the cons, but here are some objective downsides ranging from mildly annoying to very significant:

- Some manufacturers, such as Strandberg, use proprietary hardware, so if something breaks or goes missing, your tech almost certainly won't have one in stock. The quality and design of the hardware will also vary widely, and there are fewer aftermarket options for hardware.
- There's a very slight learning curve with tuning. It's kind of awkward to pick with your right hand, then reach your left hand over to the bridge and tune.
- If you aren't careful when restringing, you can bottom out the tuners, meaning you'd have to unscrew the tuner fully, unclamp the string at the end of the neck, pull it through the clamp, then retune.
- You'll need tools to restring. It's not as annoying as a double locking trem, but it's still worth noting and slightly more time consuming than just pulling a string through a tuner and turning it.

Other than that, it's a guitar. If your tech can't figure out how to adjust the truss rod and raise/lower/intonate the saddles, I'd suggest a different tech.

Hope this helps!

 

[sezna]

I use this string swing for my headlesses and I have no issues.

"String swing wall stand" could be one option. I think it can come in slat wall mount, too. A slight tilt back, so it's like a regular stand you can't trip over.

View attachment 120246 View attachment 120247

I don't own a headless. And in fact my next guitar likely won't be...but would like to some day.

Right now, if I wanted to put a guitar case in my trunk, it has to go in at an angle, effectively taking up the entire trunk unless you're only taking small things with it. A headless case fits straight across nicely. A headless case is much more likely to fit into an airliner overhead compartment. No matter how much one can cite legislation or argue about what's "allowed", you're still at the mercy of geometry. With a normal guitar case with backpack straps, I have to awkwardly duck under doorways...not with a headless case.

A Strat is, what, 40"? A headless 25.5" scale guitar could be under 30"...that 25% reduction in length just feels so different in-hand.

 

[spudmunkey]

I use this string swing for my headlesses and I have no issues.

It does stick out pretty far, though, right? Like almost a foot and a half? Basically as much as a floor standing stand would?

 

[sezna]

It does stick out pretty far, though, right? Like almost a foot and a half? Basically as much as a floor standing stand would?

not a foot and a half but it does stick out. It's not the best stand ever but it works and is secure. I can measure it later and take some pics

 

[spudmunkey]

In that second photo I posted they have it sort of mounted in a corner, and I think that's the best case scenario for that item.

 

[ShredmasterD]

guitar wall hangers. can't use them. and there's nowhere to put your cigarette.

 

[Discoqueen]

I just bought a Strandberg Prog 7 today after owning a Salen Jazz for year and a half. Obviously, I like headless guitars and think that the benefits outweigh the cons, but here are some objective downsides ranging from mildly annoying to very significant:

- Some manufacturers, such as Strandberg, use proprietary hardware, so if something breaks or goes missing, your tech almost certainly won't have one in stock. The quality and design of the hardware will also vary widely, and there are fewer aftermarket options for hardware.
- There's a very slight learning curve with tuning. It's kind of awkward to pick with your right hand, then reach your left hand over to the bridge and tune.
- If you aren't careful when restringing, you can bottom out the tuners, meaning you'd have to unscrew the tuner fully, unclamp the string at the end of the neck, pull it through the clamp, then retune.
- You'll need tools to restring. It's not as annoying as a double locking trem, but it's still worth noting and slightly more time consuming than just pulling a string through a tuner and turning it.

Other than that, it's a guitar. If your tech can't figure out how to adjust the truss rod and raise/lower/intonate the saddles, I'd suggest a different tech.

Hope this helps!

Yes, very helpful, thank you!