The Downsides of Headless Guitars?

[spudmunkey]

guitar wall hangers. can't use them.

A) there are lots of wall hangers that would work for them

B) there are even add-ons so that a typical hanger can work for a headless:


Here's an interesting one. You need to remove your strap to use it (and you could even equip it with strap locks to speed up the process), but you could keep this item in the case and ypu could even hang your headless guitar from a nail, tree branch, or anything you can hook a carabiner around: https://www.uberdoofer.com/thwing-headless-guitar-hanger/

 

[Dr. Caligari]

If somebody in my band used a headless guitar I'd fire them immediately.

Don't get me wrong, I think it's great if some people get joy out of headless guitars. But those guitars look a certain way. And that doesn't work in every situation.

 

[cindarkness]

To be honest, the biggest downside is not being able to bend the string behind the nut.
I do like a well lubricated nut

 

[Pietjepieter]

If somebody in my band used a headless guitar I'd fire them immediately.

Don't get me wrong, I think it's great if some people get joy out of headless guitars. But those guitars look a certain way. And that doesn't work in every situation.

Yeah I guess that the type of persons that are willing to play in a band with this kind of open minden attitude will not buy a headless guitar..... So dont worry bro

 

[Dr. Caligari]

Yeah I guess that the type of persons that are willing to play in a band with this kind of open minden attitude will not buy a headless guitar..... So dont worry bro

I want to think I'm pretty open minded. But sometimes a tool is just wrong for the job. You wouldn't go skiing with a bicycle, would you? Headless guitars look pretty special and they have a certain vibe and associations to them. That vibe is pretty much opposite to what we do. Maybe a better analogy is, as an actor you wouldn't go to the movie set of Lord of the Rings dressed in a space-suit?

I don't mean to ruffle people's feathers here. But headless guitars just don't work for me personally. I'm sure in the same way I use some things that other people wouldn't be caught dead with. Which is totally fine. We're all different and we make different aesthetic choices.

 

[ShredmasterD]

A) there are lots of wall hangers that would work for them

B) there are even add-ons so that a typical hanger can work for a headless:
View attachment 120358

Here's an interesting one. You need to remove your strap to use it (and you could even equip it with strap locks to speed up the process), but you could keep this item in the case and ypu could even hang your headless guitar from a nail, tree branch, or anything you can hook a carabiner around: https://www.uberdoofer.com/thwing-headless-guitar-hanger/

too much work to unrack it. for me anyway. full disclosure: i do own a Keisel headless. And there is still nowhere to put a cigarette. not that i smoke anymore. that shit will kill you.

 

[Halowords]

BUT! The downside is that every headless video out there features a guy wearing pajamas on some couch with a house plant or two next to it. It just atrocious marketing.

I beg to differ! Here's Sarah Longfield playing in a room she uses for recording.


In this one Sarah's playing in front of some nice piece of architecture.


And here's Sarah covering a Jobs For a Cowboy song in a bathroom!


Tosin Abasi must have missed the memo as well. He's playing a Strandberg here, but check it out. No pajamas, couch, or house plant!

 

[spudmunkey]

. And there is still nowhere to put a cigarette. not that i smoke anymore. that shit will kill you.

It's magnetic. Should stick right on the end of the head piece.

 

[ShredmasterD]

It's magnetic. Should stick right on the end of the head piece.

ok. its all covered. i'm in

 

[Pietjepieter]

BUT! The downside is that every headless video out there features a guy wearing pajamas on some couch with a house plant or two next to it. It just atrocious marketing.

A real rockstar with a headless was Allan Holdsworth. And Per Nilson.

Also the guys from Beyond creation no pajamas



No pajamas here either



ah wait



Shameless dropping my band, cause yeah headless bass no pajama

 

[KnightBrolaire]

After owning like 11 headless guitars (3 strandbergs,1 ormsby, 7 kiesels). I still have one strandberg custom and a kiesel zeus.
Here's my list of downsides (many of which have been covered):
1. hardware quality varies wildly. The hipshot hardware on the kiesels are excellent. The strandberg hardware sucks ass (or rather it used to). It was hard to turn and much harder to adjust string intonation and action compared to the hipshot hardware.
2. Weight is not always significantly lighter than a standard guitar (really depends on the individual guitar). I had some vaders that were 4 lbs, and some that were closer to 7 or 8 lbs.
3. As mentioned before, they need specific setups if you want to use wall hangers. Some floor racks may be too tall for them to rest properly as well.
4. Strandbergs in particular have a godawful jack location, and are less stable when playing sitting down compared to a Vader or ormsby.

 

[bostjan]

I want to think I'm pretty open minded. But sometimes a tool is just wrong for the job. You wouldn't go skiing with a bicycle, would you? Headless guitars look pretty special and they have a certain vibe and associations to them. That vibe is pretty much opposite to what we do. Maybe a better analogy is, as an actor you wouldn't go to the movie set of Lord of the Rings dressed in a space-suit?

I don't mean to ruffle people's feathers here. But headless guitars just don't work for me personally. I'm sure in the same way I use some things that other people wouldn't be caught dead with. Which is totally fine. We're all different and we make different aesthetic choices.

You got something against headless and something against bicycles, bro?!