This is the new Bass headstock, embodying ideas that kept popping into my head these past few years. The tuners (manufactured by the Hipshot Co., aren't they beautiful?) are mounted transverse to the neck rather than through it in order to preserve the taper of the neck for purely aesthetic reasons having nothing whatever to do with tone, ease of playing or durability. This is also true of the large ornamental knot at the top (Not a Turkshead but rather a Diamond tripled with a little crowning and walling on top) which, being coated heavily with a thick lacquer will , no doubt ,show the ill-effects of being banged into walls and mike stands quite rapidly. Which is just fine with me, builder and musician should work together to help give character to an instrument.

Here's the whole thing. From the compound (10" at the nut, 16" at the 24th fret) radiused (it's not necessarily better, and it's lots more work but it's the honest thing to do) ebony fretboard through the double acting trussrod adjustable from the front between the 21st and 22nd frets and superbly effective even under full string tension (surprised me too!) and the David Schecter designed, hand built pickup system (nine preset tones from muddy fat Motown to teeth rattling treble with the obligitory .02 tone pot), Hipshot bridge and three (yes, count em, three, and maybe more later) end strap buttons to accomodate bass players who like it straight out or straight up and .............

The Brancusi inspired solid brass, nickle-plated flying strap attatchment assembly with end and side buttons and genuine yellowed plastic African trade bead (actual fossil material available for lots more $$)

Another arty shot of the strap arm. Hmm, might make a good lever for a Parsons\White string bender on a six-string. Something else to think about.

Headsock from the back w\Hipshots and low serial number

Pickups

FATGIRL basses should be available Mid-July from Westwood Music in LA and Guitars Etc. in Tucson, Az.