Headless Basses and Max String Gauge

[swallace]

Hello! I've reached out to customer support a while ago but I haven't heard back, so figured I'd try here.

I haven't seen any official specs on the max string gauge you could use on Kiesel's headless basses, but I saw mention of something like .130 max on a 5 string.

Does anyone happen to know what the max string gauge is or confirm they've used strings over .130 on headless basses?


Thanks!

[spudmunkey]

Yeah, without un-winding or smushing wth a hammer, the largest seems to be .130...and not all .130, either.

[swallace]

That's unfortunate. Thanks!

[Tasty Funk Shakes]

Hello! I've reached out to customer support a while ago but I haven't heard back, so figured I'd try here.

I haven't seen any official specs on the max string gauge you could use on Kiesel's headless basses, but I saw mention of something like .130 max on a 5 string.

Does anyone happen to know what the max string gauge is or confirm they've used strings over .130 on headless basses?


Thanks!

I use a .135 on my Osiris. The slot measures .142 wide so you should be able to at least use a .140.

[HarlowTheFish]

I don't have a bass, but I used to run a .64 on guitar, and it's just kinda finicky to get a heavy string into the hole and sometimes I just had to back the screw out all the way before it would actually go in.

[clayyton]

As far as I know, Hugo from Beyond Creation uses .135 elixirs on his VB6 with no issue. I run .80 (8th string) and .68 (7th string) elixirs on my VM8 which comes with .74 (8th) and .64 (7th) Elixirs standard from Kiesel. While it takes a little finagling to get the .80’s ball end to line up correctly in the bridge, It does fit just fine. I’m sure the .5 difference in your case will be fine!

[spudmunkey]

Hello! I've reached out to customer support a while ago but I haven't heard back, so figured I'd try here.

I haven't seen any official specs on the max string gauge you could use on Kiesel's headless basses, but I saw mention of something like .130 max on a 5 string.

Does anyone happen to know what the max string gauge is or confirm they've used strings over .130 on headless basses?


Thanks!

I use a .135 on my Osiris. The slot measures .142 wide so you should be able to at least use a .140.

what specific strings are you using? It seems like the specific brands and models have different tapers and types of winds that can be problematic, or helpful.

[Tasty Funk Shakes]

Hello! I've reached out to customer support a while ago but I haven't heard back, so figured I'd try here.

I haven't seen any official specs on the max string gauge you could use on Kiesel's headless basses, but I saw mention of something like .130 max on a 5 string.

Does anyone happen to know what the max string gauge is or confirm they've used strings over .130 on headless basses?


Thanks!

I use a .135 on my Osiris. The slot measures .142 wide so you should be able to at least use a .140.

what specific strings are you using? It seems like the specific brands and models have different tapers and types of winds that can be problematic, or helpful.

So far I've used D'Addario XL, Fodera, Elixir, and Kalium (.136) with no problems. However, the Dunlop Super Bright Nickel .130 has been the best sounding.

[Jack'O'Licious]

Can you file it down? What material are they? Ive never noticed. I don't own a Kiesel headless bass or guitar (Vader due to be finished in March) but I have a Dingwall NG2. It's not headless but I filed the ivory nut down to get a .180 in the low B slot for drop E tuning. Its not too difficult, I used a file I bought at a local welding shop.

[swallace]

Hello! I've reached out to customer support a while ago but I haven't heard back, so figured I'd try here.

I haven't seen any official specs on the max string gauge you could use on Kiesel's headless basses, but I saw mention of something like .130 max on a 5 string.

Does anyone happen to know what the max string gauge is or confirm they've used strings over .130 on headless basses?


Thanks!

I use a .135 on my Osiris. The slot measures .142 wide so you should be able to at least use a .140.

what specific strings are you using? It seems like the specific brands and models have different tapers and types of winds that can be problematic, or helpful.

I use Payson or Kalium strings, somewhere in the realm of .145 for a low A string, but that was for 37" scale length, so I may have to use something a bit thicker for the shorter scale length on a Kiesel.

[ThaTroll]

To benefit anyone searching this topic in the future (like I did a little while ago before making a purchase), I was able to just barely fit a GHS Bass Boomer .140 in the headstock of a five-string Osiris bass. That appears to be the max from my perspective. A Boomer .135 fits easily. This is using strings with no taper and no modification of the string itself (smashing, unwinding, etc.).

Edit: As a follow up, I have also experimented with unwinding strings so that heavier gauges are an option, and it works very well. There does not appear to be any discernible negative impact on string integrity, tone, or security in the headpiece.