Headless Guitars: Why are they so popular?

Headless guitars and basses aren’t a new concept. They’ve been around since the eighties; first conceptualised and brought to life by innovator Ned Steinberger. If you think they’re still a bit of a weird idea today, just imagine how they were perceived last century. It’s safe to say no one predicted them to feature so prominently in music three decades after their swift rise and fall in popularity.

But they’re back. Bigger and better than ever before, like them or not. Just a few of the names pioneering this futuristic shape include Ola Strandberg’s innovative guitars Strandberg, Japanese behemoths Ibanez, and even originators Steinberger are still proudly flying the headless flag. Joining these giants in the headless world are newcomer brand HILS!

A Few Major Benefits of Headless Guitars

• They’re light and well balanced. Less pressure on your back while playing standing up.
• Ergonomics – With light body shapes with ergonomic body carves, and some guitars having fanned frets work together to create a truly ergonomic playing experience.
• Restringing is quicker and simpler.
• Smaller body = less wood. More environmentally friendly and easy to take travelling.
• Effortless pitch fine-tuning.

What is a Headless Guitar?

The difference between a headless guitar and what we’d consider a ‘standard’ guitar, is the lack of a headstock. Instead, they relocate all tuning hardware to the bridge area. This grants an even weight distribution across the guitar – you won’t find a headless guitar neck diving any time soon. To string a headless guitar, simply slide the string through the bridge up to the stump end of the fretboard, screw into place at both ends and tune up. So easy anyone could do it.

Headless guitars are usually found in the hands of prog rock and metal players in need of optimal playing comfort and a wide array of tones. Notable headless guitar virtuosos include Plini, Ichika Nito, and Charlie Griffiths & Richard Henshall of prog metal band Haken all favour their versatility.

But it’s not just a millennial thing. Legendary musicians Mark Knopfler, Allan Holdsworth, Eddie Van Halen and Sting have all dabbled with the extreme design over the years.

Benefits of a Headless Guitar

Let’s address the elephant in the room. It’s true, headless guitars might not suit your stylistic tastes. You might think they’re a little hard to love. But if you’re into the latest modern designs like Super Strats, and prefer a contemporary playing experience over that of a vintage guitar, then you’ll feel right at home.

Ergonomic Construction

Almost every headless guitar manufacturer adopts a series of ergonomic construction techniques. The common chambering method cuts out unnecessary amounts of body wood to make the instrument even lighter. So you’re basically saving the planet when you buy headless. That’s probably a good enough reason as any, but you’re likely after other advantages as well.

Strandberg guitars are known for their unique body shape, which have been meticulously designed to rest well against your body and picking arm. They certainly won’t strain your back muscles like a heavy Les Paul. Both Ibanez and Strandberg also make use of fanned frets (another modern Marmite design concept) to shore up on intonation and fretting comfort.

Neck dive is a real problem when playing standing up with some guitars – yes we’re looking at you, SGs. A headless guitar stays exactly where you want it. You only have to focus on what you’re playing, rather than holding the neck up at the same time.

The headless guitar is a lot shorter than your average axe without that pesky headstock. It has more of a dynamic feel and close extension from your body. We reckon if headless guitars were around when Angus Young started playing, he’d be their biggest fan right now jumping around the stage. In most circumstances, you’ll get a special fit case to house your new instrument. It’s relatively compact and easy to pack in the back of a car or at the airport when you’re out travelling, especially in comparison to bulkier guitars.

Hardware

Do you ever notice how a note sounds different when you play it on a fret compared to an open string? Every type of headless guitar eradicates this problem.

The strings on a standard headstock guitar are tightened across what is usually a bone or plastic nut, as opposed to the rest of the notes pushed down to a nickel or steel fret. Headless guitars use a zero fret metal ‘nut’ just like a normal fret to play open notes, providing a more consistent sound and subsequently eliminating fret buzz across the fretboard.

Notable Headless Guitar Brands

HILS

HILS Guitars – part of renowned Korean guitar maker HEX – use innovative manufacturing methods that enable them to build a diverse range of affordable, high-quality instruments without compromise. Their range of headless guitars combine carefully-calculated body curves with premium features like Roasted Maple necks and ceramic pickups with push-pull circuitry. This guarantees a versatile tonal range that’s perfect for everything from your go-to performance guitar to the ultimate practice companion.

Strandberg

Strandberg stands for the fact that not just the sound of your guitar, or how it feels to play are important components, but also how it makes you feel. Strandberg design innovative headless guitars which push the boundaries of guitar creation, and due to their lightweight ergonomic design with modern features, they are highly regarded as one of best playing experiences out there, especially thanks to the signature Endurneck.

The Strandberg Essential is the more affordable range which covers all musical styles for the open-minded musician. Representing the core of Strandberg’s ranges is the Boden & Standard. The Boden & Standard push the boundaries of guitar innovation, while the Metal & Prog range is for players who need crushing impactful tone with a solid playing experience.

The Sälen is thoughtful synthesis of the retro-classic and cutting-edge design. Classic tonewoods and construction techniques with modern design and radical features meld cohesively together into a seamless whole.

Headless Guitars at Andertons

Conclusion

You don’t need to sacrifice optional bits of hardware when you pick up a headless guitar. They’re fully capable of mounting floating bridge systems, any pickup configuration and also bear 7 or 8 strings. There really aren’t any tangible downsides in comparison to a standard guitar.

Every design detail found on a regular guitar can be inherited by a headless one: neck-through body builds, semi-hollow bodies, single or double cutaways, different scale lengths – whatever you desire from an electric guitar. It’s just up to you whether you like the looks…

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