Harley Benton Headless Prototypes

[Randy]

Not to belabor my usual arguments, but this is less headless and more 1/4-headed guitar with bridge mounted tuners.

I'm all for workarounds to just cutting the butt off the guitar off but I think one semi-non-negotiable thing about being headless is size/weight, and this thing isn't substantially smaller or (I'm assuming) lighter and the not-a-headstock thing is embellished beyond just being big enough to fit the headpiece.

Guy in the video said it was designed by someone that's not into headless guitar for people that aren't into headless guitars and that comes across quite clearly.

 

[diagrammatiks]

Not to belabor my usual arguments, but this is less headless and more 1/4-headed guitar with bridge mounted tuners.

I'm all for workarounds to just cutting the butt off the guitar off but I think one semi-non-negotiable thing about being headless is size/weight, and this thing isn't substantially smaller or (I'm assuming) lighter and the not-a-headstock thing is embellished beyond just being big enough to fit the headpiece.

Guy in the video said it was designed by someone that's not into headless guitar for people that aren't into headless guitars and that comes across quite clearly.

and let's all agree that headless guitars with junk in the trunk behind the tuners are always bad and should be outlawed.

 

[gunch]

and let's all agree that headless guitars with junk in the trunk behind the tuners are always bad and should be outlawed.

Nah I think it kind of works for single cut designs

 

[lurè]

So they asked to a guy who doesn't like headless guitars to design one.

More like a social experiment than a new guitar line.

 

[spudmunkey]

I keep seeing the "headless guitars that aren't uncompromisingly-ergonomically-designed shouldn't exist" argument, and it seems so bizarre to me.

A new car comes out that has more power. Is it a "waste" if they also didn't make it lighter? Sure, they could remove the stereo, door handles, switch from steel to aluminum and magnesium, use a plexiglass windshield with just one wiper, stickers instead of headlights, and use non-adjustable carbon fiber seat shells...but why isn't having a car with more power just a worthwhile step? And why is having a guitar that's 2lbs lighter and is missing 6-7" of eye-poking and wall-dinging and weighty headstock not still worthwhile?

Even if they still have some "junk in the trunk", it's still almost always smaller than a "normal" guitar.

 

[Lord Voldemort]

It doesn't have a headstock: it's headless.

Are y'all gatekeeping headless?

 

[diagrammatiks]

It doesn't have a headstock: it's headless.

Are y'all gatekeeping headless?

Somebody has to. Guitarists are dumb as shit and we’ll end up with another great tremolo/vibrato switcheroo messup scandal.

 

[Lord Voldemort]

"that's not headless, it's 1/4-headed with tuners at the bridge"

Oh lawd that made me chuckle

 

[diagrammatiks]

"that's not headless, it's 1/4-headed with tuners at the bridge"

Oh lawd that made me chuckle

Come on voldewolde you just like it because it’s cheap. If they managed to put out a proper headless at this price point you’d be all over it.

 

[littlebadboy]

Eh... changed my mind... I'm looking for a budget headless and in this case, I think I'd rather go for the NK.

So... Agufish designed this?

 

[Hollowway]

It doesn't have a headstock: it's headless.

Are y'all gatekeeping headless?

I've been gatekeeping trems, customs, and ERGs since 2011. I ain't NOT gatekeeping headless!

 

[Hollowway]

I keep seeing the "headless guitars that aren't uncompromisingly-ergonomically-designed shouldn't exist" argument, and it seems so bizarre to me.

A new car comes out that has more power. Is it a "waste" if they also didn't make it lighter? Sure, they could remove the stereo, door handles, switch from steel to aluminum and magnesium, use a plexiglass windshield with just one wiper, stickers instead of headlights, and use non-adjustable carbon fiber seat shells...but why isn't having a car with more power just a worthwhile step? And why is having a guitar that's 2lbs lighter and is missing 6-7" of eye-poking and wall-dinging and weighty headstock not still worthwhile?

Even if they still have some "junk in the trunk", it's still almost always smaller than a "normal" guitar.

That's a fair point, but, for me, I happen to like import tuners, Lotus cars, etc., not American Muscle, so I'm all about lighter weight.

But, I think the real question is just why do people want headless instruments. Obviously most people want them right now because they're trendy. But, there is the compact nature of them, which suggests a little less wood behind the bridge. Lighter weight helps if portability is the main concern. And, I personally think long scale instruments (especially basses) should be headless just to prevent neck dive.

It's a shame that builders are just randomly jumping on the headless bandwagon, without really designing it from the ground up. The strandberg kind of brought headless back, and was innovative. Prior to that, the Steinberger was a cool take on "only what you really need" for the guitar. But, I'd like to see someone come up with a clever idea. Who knows, maybe there is a neat way to approach headless with a whale tail tuner section, and a body closer to the nut, or something totally different from what we're seeing.

 

[lurè]

I'm more annoyed by those 2/3 cm of wood over the nut then the too much wood behind the bridge.
If you are making an headless instrument, ffs, just cut the headstock out like kiesel/steinberger.

 

[MetalHex]

Whos gonna be the one to steer this into a tonewood debate? I sense it coming

 

[lewis]

Whos gonna be the one to steer this into a tonewood debate? I sense it coming

Hahaha
On that, where do these peoples argument still stand with Aristides???

That tone wood sounds siiiic..oh wait

Erm erm, actually it sucks where is the rosewood?

 

[Lord Voldemort]

It's technically not really an electric guitar tbh, more like some pickups and hardware on some wood

 

[MetalHex]

It's technically not really an electric guitar tbh, more like some pickups and hardware on some wood

But I think if you threw some strings on that wood you would have yourself a guitar.

 

[EchelonXIII]

I have played a few of these Indonesian made fusions, and for the money they are very very VERY good. Obviously, there is a large amount of variance within the models as QC is somewhat lowered in order to provide the low price that is has. But luckily Thomann offers amazing customer service so getting a 'new' one if one gets a lemon is no problem at all (at least, in the EU).
If these guys make it into the market with a roasted maple neck I'm totally getting one and putting the Fluence Modern set in I've got laying around.

 

[Dyster]

id happily sell my kidney for a ormsby if that actually covered the cost of importing one i wouldnt mind one of these HB`s if they are priced reasonably wich i assume it will be

 

[Boojakki]

You could pre-order those headless HB's now:

https://www.thomann.de/gb/harley_benton_dullahan_ft_bks.htm
https://www.thomann.de/gb/harley_benton_dullahan_at_tbk.htm

Well... Meh. I don't know... Probably not.