Seems that there has been an increase in makers of headless guitars. The Strandberg body seems pretty popular, and I've seen it as a kit elsewhere. Would that be a possibility here?
Seems that there has been an increase in makers of headless guitars. The Strandberg body seems pretty popular, and I've seen it as a kit elsewhere. Would that be a possibility here?
What Did You Play Today? ~PJS~
Build #1) KH-1 - November 2019 GOTM
One problem with headless guitars is the hardware. As you are well aware, the Overlord of Music trems that currently come with the PBG kits are pretty useless and really have to be replaced. Other stuff is obviously available, but it's not cheap.
The Strandberg guitars all have multi-scale/fanned-fret necks. It's not rocket science to do, but I think it would take a level of care and CNC tooling that the Chinese kit factories just using templated don't have/use. Possible from a Korean factory but that would probably cost a lot more. Adam has offered higher quality kits before, but people shied away from the higher prices.
You might be able to put together a Strandberg-style body (though that depends on any registered trademarks etc. ) with a single scale neck, but you still get stuck on some decent hardware, even if you go fixed bridge. I can see some headless hardware kits on Amazon USA which sell for around the US$70-$90 area, but I've no idea if they are any good. Otherwise you end up over US$200 for a Hipshot headless trem (and that's just the trem). So even if they could be sourced direct by the factory, you'd probably be looking at a kit that costs AUS$100 more than the KH-1 did (no longer listed so I've no idea of its price).
So it would probably be a relatively expensive kit, it wouldn't have a multi-scale neck as a USP, and Adam would have to order a minimum of 100. But with half-decent hardware there could be some interest, even at a higher price.
However I have just come across this finished guitar, which is rather as I described one above, and using one lot of hardware that I found on Amazon, which for the price is almost certainly Chinese made. https://www.gear4music.com/Guitar-an...waAt4NEALw_wcB
That would currently be around US$250, AUS$380. If a kit based on that could be tracked down, it probably wouldn't cost much less than the assembled price.
Last edited by Simon Barden; 27-11-2019 at 05:22 AM.
Some good points for sure, Simon. The Overlord tremolos are indeed garbage. The J-Custom replacement trem and head piece I got from HeadlessUSA were about the same price as the KH-1 kit itself.
As for the fanned (multi-scale) frets, I wouldn't be interested in that anyway. Strandberg offers their instruments either straight or multi-.
I've seen them offered under various names on eBay and Aliexpress, so I know someone is making them. Just wondering if Adam's source might be one of them.
Thought I'd throw it out there and see if there was any interest. There are already three kits available now (including the mysterious KH-1). Somebody must like them.
What Did You Play Today? ~PJS~
Build #1) KH-1 - November 2019 GOTM
Ah. I went by the pics on their site which all seemed to show fanned frets. I should have read a bit more!Originally Posted by PJSprog
mmmmm.....headlethth Multithcale youu thay?.......27" to 25.5" yeth.....interethting...VERY interethting
Marthter! Marthter! I have a terrible idea.....
FrankenLab
Hand crafting guitars, because Death Rays are expensive.
Igor can always add a head later, if necessary.
Just saw this on eBay....
https://www.ebay.com.au/i/2027050632...8aAhr5EALw_wcB
# 1 - EX-5 https://goo.gl/fQJMqh
# 2 - EX-1 https://goo.gl/KSY9W9
# 3 - Non PBG Tele https://goo.gl/W14G5g
# 4 - Non PBG J Bass https://goo.gl/FbBaFy
# 5 - TL-1AR GOTM Aug 2017 https://goo.gl/sUh14s
# 6 - MMB-4 Runner-up GOTM Oct 2018https://goo.gl/gvrPkp
# 7 - ES-1 Runner-up GOTM Aug 2018https://goo.gl/T9BEY8
The lab has an Ebay/Amazon/Gumtree/Alibaba blanket ban in effect until Feb 1st.
FrankenLab
Hand crafting guitars, because Death Rays are expensive.
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