Tuner Machine at Bridge. Anyone tried it

[Graziano Daniele]

I am thinking to build a 5 string fanned fretboard headless bass...

Anyone tried to put tuning machine (es gotoh mini) at the bottom of the bass after the bridge?

I only have found on the web an imagine "http://www.novaxguitars.com/archive/basses.html?cur=11&"

Thanks

Grazz

[Gordon Bellerose]

I went and had a look at the bass you gave us a link to.
Very nice innovative design. I would say the bridge may be a challenge, and intonation may be really tough, as it looked as though there was no adjustment mechanism. I may have missed something in the pictures though.
After that, the body is cut out and the place where the tuners are, is the same thickness as a regular headstock.
It will definitely take some very detailed planning.

[David King]

In the 1980s headless basses like this were mass produced in Asia. The only purpose was to avoid a patent conflict with Steinberger. (Steinberger's patent didn't actually cover the headless tuning system which Allen Gittler had already tried to patent years earlier).
Lane Poor's minima basses used this design.
Here's a page about Ned Steinberger's first prototype which also used traditional guitar tuners.
http://guitarz.blogspot.com/2015/04/ned ... ype-l.html

[Paul Kincaid]

I've done a few with tuners on the "wrong" end. It can work well, but there are a few issues to be aware of. If the strings are too long behind the bridge feedback can be an issue. Getting the right amount of downforce on the bridge is important; too little angle and it will be tough to keep the strings from sliding off of the bridge, too much angle and tuning issues or bridge side-load can be an issue. Be sure to allow room at the headstock for the tail wraps of the strings to be clear of the nut.