Brice headless multi-scaled 5 string - I had to order it!

Todd GT5

Todd GT5

Aug 7, 2008
253
130
4,571
Lewisville Texas
www.reverbnation.com
#1
I saw this mentioned in another thread and had to pull the trigger! I have the Brice Defiant 6 string multi-scale and love it. I'm hoping this will make a nice addition. I've always been intrigued with headless basses and obviously now with multi-scale. Also I'm thinking that this will take most of the common string brands so playing around with different string options will be easier than with the Defiant. It should be quite a bit lighter than the Defiant, for those days when I'm not up to lugging the 11 pounder!

I'll report back once I get it!

Todd

Brice HXB2-405 3235 RN Headless Nat Burl - RondoMusic.com
 
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#2
Todd GT5 said:
I saw this mentioned in another thread and had to pull the trigger! I have the Brice Defiant 6 string multi-scale and love it. I'm hoping this will make a nice addition. I've always been intrigued with headless basses and obviously now with multi-scale. Also I'm thinking that this will take most of the common string brands so playing around with different string options will be easier than with the Defiant. It should be quite a bit lighter than the Defiant, for those days when I'm not up to lugging the 11 pounder!

I'll report back once I get it!

Todd

Brice HXB2-405 3235 RN Headless Nat Burl - RondoMusic.com
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I was wondering when someone would jump on that! :)
 
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#4
bholder said:
I was wondering when someone would jump on that! :)
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Yeah, I look really, really hard at it, but what I really want is the Brice 6 string with the 34/37" scales which they don't have in stock right now. To me it was sort of a trade-off where the longer bass side gives you the killer fanned fret tone, but the 35" bass side lets you use standard string sets (I presume).
 
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#5
bassbenj said:
Yeah, I look really, really hard at it, but what I really want is the Brice 6 string with the 34/37" scales which they don't have in stock right now. To me it was sort of a trade-off where the longer bass side gives you the killer fanned fret tone, but the 35" bass side lets you use standard string sets (I presume).
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Same here.
I recently had to sell my seven string and I am scouting out six string candidates for tax time.
 
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#6
bassbenj said:
Yeah, I look really, really hard at it, but what I really want is the Brice 6 string with the 34/37" scales which they don't have in stock right now. To me it was sort of a trade-off where the longer bass side gives you the killer fanned fret tone, but the 35" bass side lets you use standard string sets (I presume).
Click to expand...

I hear you bassbenj! I almost went with the 34/37 5 string Defiant as a second bass to my 34/37 6 string. I really love that 37" B string. Hopefully I'll get along with the 35" B string on this.

Todd
 
#9
Todd GT5 said:
I saw this mentioned in another thread and had to pull the trigger! I have the Brice Defiant 6 string multi-scale and love it. I'm hoping this will make a nice addition. I've always been intrigued with headless basses and obviously now with multi-scale. Also I'm thinking that this will take most of the common string brands so playing around with different string options will be easier than with the Defiant. It should be quite a bit lighter than the Defiant, for those days when I'm not up to lugging the 11 pounder!

I'll report back once I get it!

Todd

Brice HXB2-405 3235 RN Headless Nat Burl - RondoMusic.com
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I'm currently scoping out the Defiant 63437 as a candidate.

HOWEVER.

If they suddenly decide to release a six string headless multi-scale version in the near future....................
 
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#11
20171103_181736_zpsv71uezym.jpg

I got to unpack it, change the strings and did a bit of set-up. I'm really liking how it plays. I'm not sure that I won't be upgrading the electronics. I'll have to spend a little time with it.

Todd
 
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#12
Todd GT5 said:
View attachment 2802965
I got to unpack it, change the strings and do a bit of set-up. I'm really liking how it plays. I'm not sure that I won't be upgrading the electronics. I'll have to spend a little time with it.

Todd
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Wow! Waiting for a more detailed review. Weight, fretwork quality, neck levelness, neck girth, tuner quality, and balance is what I'm most interested in. Electronics can be changed relatively easy.
 
#14
Temcat said:
Wow! Waiting for a more detailed review. Weight, fretwork quality, neck levelness, neck girth, tuner quality, and balance is what I'm most interested in. Electronics can be changed relatively easy.
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Temcat,
Weight is 9.3LBS per bathroom scale. Fretwork is excellent, no sharp edges or sprout and I was able to lower the action right where I like it. Neck is pretty level came with a little relief(OK for me). It seems that the neck would need to be removed to tweek the truss rod. As far as neck girth, I would say it's nice and moderate. Keep in mind I like thicker rather than thin necks and I also prefer wider fret boards to narrow. Tuners work great! it was really easy to change the strings also. I did need to pull the little saddle plates out and grind them down to allow setting the action as low as I like. I also did that on my Defiant 63734. Balance and comfort are the best part of this bass, it sits effortlessly where I want it. One other comment, the B string to G string measurement is 3 1/16" do the outsides of the strings(Rondo sight said 2 5/8"). The spacing at the bridge is clearly wider than my 63734.

Temcat said:
The finish is a bit strange. There are dark spots in it that look like they don't really belong there.
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The finish looks better in person, the spots are probably an attempt to look natural. I'm thinking it's a photo finish top, not a real veneer.
Todd

I'll add more information as I spend more time with it.
 
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#16
Todd GT5 said:
Temcat,
Weight is 9.3LBS per bathroom scale. Fretwork is excellent, no sharp edges or sprout and I was able to lower the action right where I like it. Neck is pretty level came with a little relief(OK for me). It seems that the neck would need to be removed to tweek the truss rod. As far as neck girth, I would say it's nice and moderate. Keep in mind I like thicker rather than thin necks and I also prefer wider fret boards to narrow. Tuners work great! it was really easy to change the strings also. I did need to pull the little saddle plates out and grind them down to allow setting the action as low as I like. I also did that on my Defiant 63734. Balance and comfort are the best part of this bass, it sits effortlessly where I want it. One other comment, the B string to G string measurement is 3 1/16" do the outsides of the strings(Rondo sight said 2 5/8"). The spacing at the bridge is clearly wider than my 63734.

The finish looks better in person, the spots are probably an attempt to look natural. I'm thinking it's a photo finish top, not a real veneer.
Todd

I'll add more information as I spend more time with it.
Click to expand...

Thank you so much, Todd! Very informative, and a great help to the interested folks.
 
#17
Other points of interest for me are possible dead spots and tone & volume balance between strings. I know the former shouldn't exist on a headless, but who knows. The latter is one of the reasons to have a multiscale, now it's time to see how the bass scores in that respect.
 
#18
Temcat said:
Other points of interest for me are possible dead spots and tone & volume balance between strings. I know the former shouldn't exist on a headless, but who knows. The latter is one of the reasons to have a multiscale, now it's time to see how the bass scores in that respect.
Click to expand...

I haven't noticed any dead spots and the volume between strings is good after I fine tuned the pick-up height. I do feel a difference from the 37" B string however the 35" B string is excellent on this and with the shorter scale I'm feeling fast and creative!

Todd
 
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