I could NEVER play a HEADLESS guitar.. (Plus Kiesel VS Ibanez Battle) 

Shred Club Returns Tomorrow: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-xv9HMCq0tpU.html

100% agree! I love headless guitars BUT for me there’s still the aesthetic love for the look of guitar with a headstock.

For me...the traveling aspect was the only scenario you gave. The tonal differences were minute at best. Playing them through the SUPER HIGH END equipment you have makes them sound so similar as to be almost indistinguishable IMHO!!

It’s been a long time can’t wait for the return of shred club, it will be the perfect way to spend an afternoon here shredding along with Mcrocklin maybe we can get another mini rift lesson of a song

Reason 3 was huge for me, getting my first headless 8 string was a saviour, living is such a small place I was hitting those huge headstocks everywhere, now with kiesel my 8 string zues is just as compact as any other guitar, also helps a bunch being a smaller dude

I just got my McRocklin Mcr6X headless last week. And wow game changer so fast and light and his fishman signature pickups Ouf. Next level 🤘

Great video with some key insight. I have a headless and really don’t play it much because of the extra string. I’ll be ordering an MCR6X soon. Can’t wait!

I'm one of those people thinking about going headless. Thanks for the informative video.

You touched on a number of things I dealt with immediately upon receiving my MCR6X. It's been an absolute joy to play but there were some differences between my headed guitars, obviously. It's been a smooth transition. This is my first headless and I couldn't ask for a more stable and fun model to take the plunge on. Well done McRocklin, Fishman, and Kiesel!

Cool insight!

I just got an Ibanez Q52 last week and it has been a real firestarter for me. I have been a traditional Ibanez player for the last 34 years but I absolutely love the Q52.

Well, you are a great teacher like your mentor Mr. Vai. And you are turning me into a Kiesel fan little by little with every new video ;o)

I got an headless MCR6X and it's absololutely AMAZING! Super comfortable, fast and with astonishing sound with McRocklin fishman pickups! Everyone have to try! Can't wait for next shred club stream.. Don't miss it tomorrow! 🎸🎸🎸🔥🔥🔥

Definitely gonna need to try one out sometime! Those are both beautiful guitars and I've always loved Ibanez, but you really do have me thinking about saving up for a Kiesel.

I can’t wait to order one MCR6X (grey one) for myself! It’s such an epic looking masterpiece💜

That was so awesome at the end man where you played that clean stuff ! 🎵❤🙂 Was that just delay ? Cheers from Wisconsin Bro. !

My second or 3rd guitar I ever had was a headless steinberger, I really liked it but haven't gotten one since. Ordered my first Kiesel a couple of weeks ago finally after 20 years of wanting a carvin/kiesel! Pretty excited! Maybe I'll go headless and get an Osiris or something next time. Your signature model is sweet too!

I had one of the original graphite Steinbergers with the TransTrem back in the day. One of the regrets I have when comes to selling equipment off.

The main difference that I hear between the guitars is that the headless guitar has a bit more of a treble, bright, and crisp sound whereas the normal guitar has more warmth, bass, and saturation to it. Though that may have something to do with the pickups as I'm sure they are not the same pickups along with the tone wood. I think I'm more fair comparison would be to have your signature pickups in the signature model and also the model of the regular head stock guitar. Overall a great video! I would love to see a video with both having same pickup, same strings and having a little bit more of an in-depth tone comparison 😎😎

Man that playing at the end was absolutely gorgeous.

I agree, after years of playing a lot of guitars I recently got my first headless, a Kiesel Leia. Now I don’t want to play anything else. Then again my second favorite is my old Carvin, so not sure if it’s just the quality and feel of Carvin/Kiesel. Definitely easier ergonomics with a headless and more comfortable for me personally.

Can you add the “boosh boosh” sound of you banging your headstock on the desk as a sound on your pedal board?

That vintage 💎 is awesome

I subed after you said you can't convince someone to do something I really liked how you phrased everything. Great video 👍

It probably comes down to the pickups in the comparison at the end, but the driven section I definitely prefer the Ibanez. The clean section it’s close, might take the Kiesel by a little. Overall I prefer the Ibanez. Nothing against headless guitars though, I can’t imagine they compromise the sound, just a different look and setup. If you like em, play em! Who cares what anyone else says!

I don't care what anyone says, but for me when it comes to the two best looking Jems I've ever seen, of course Vai's swirl on the cover of Passion and this McRocklin Jem.. that paint job w/ your name on it.. I always thought, that look was incredible. I'm a sucker for blue's anyway, but they way this one is done is so classy, cool and clean. I just wished it had a matching headstock.

as for tone, it has been proven before, that the guitar itself, barely if at all affects the sound of an electric guitar, the main factors are the pickups, pedals, amps, cabs. The guitar woods and all that do affect unplugged sound, but for most who are playing electric guitar, unplugged isn't really a thing they are going to or should care about. The only time unplugged will really matter is if you are playing whilst plugged into headphones, as then you won't have the resonance from the amped sound keeping your note playing.

I sure love a fast rate full depth tremolo effect. been my goto for YEARS.

I had tried every brand and model found in most guitar stores but in 2019 I got my first Kiesel and it was a game changer for me! It showed me that I had been missing something all these years with other guitars. The quality and craftsmanship were unparalleled by any other brand. Ibanez, gibson, fender just no longer felt comfortable. I now have 10 kiesels and 2 more on the way and I've become a better player and play longer because my guitar is more comfortable and easier to play. You can't beat Kiesel, you can only come close to being as good as them but still falling short in my eyes. This is just my opinion not trying to bash any other brand just stating my opinion and sharing my experience.

I’ve owned and played a lot of nice guitars in my life. But the best playing guitar I’ve ever played was my sons Strandberg. From that moment on I’ve gauged each guitar prospect on the playability of that one time I played that guitar. Before then I would never have considered a headless.

I have been playing for at least 40 years now, and have owned and played Gibsons, Fenders, Charvel, Kramer. Suhr. mostly played them all at one time or another. The older I get, the less my back can handle. I bought one of the Ibanez Q series guitars, and never looked back. I love headless guitars. Like Allan Holdsworth said, once you play a headless guitar, you cant go back. Thats where I am in life now. My back thanks me for it.

My Ibanez 5320 is always in tune, only when strings get old i have to tune it, but just a few cents, but when you record any few cents can make it strange. Otherwise always in tune, but i have made a setup that i consider perfect for my Ibanez, everything is prety dialed in, tension, action, neck straightness, floyd paralel to the fretboard. Even the string in the locking nut is perfectly setup, when you lock it does not detune. Balance. But yes, the convinience of a headless can be great in user expererience.

Only thing I dislike about the Ibanez is that the volume knob is so close to the pickup.

Steinberger's were my go to headless guitar...Trans-trem on everyone! Awesome playability!

30yrs of conventional guitars I bought a new Ibanez Q52 few days ago and im honestly BLOWN AWAY!!! Absolutely living it! Dont hesitate to try a headless! So happy i went for it,,already planning the next one

I have a strandberg that I lately haven't been totally vibing with, but i think a Kiesel would do it for me. I just realized that I dont like multiscale or the weird neck shape, but I had to own one to know it.

Not trying to have a "hot take" here, but anything that breaks the norm or challenges someone usually pisses them off, hence the haters. I used to think headless weren't as nice looking; now it's pretty much all I want. The Zeus is one of the nicest looking guitars I've seen (especially the McR6). Pick what's best for you, folks, but have an open mind and enjoy. Rock on, Thomas!

such a beautiful Ibanez Thomas! What model JEM is it?

Went from 0 to 3 headless instruments in the span of 6 months. Genuinely thinking of selling off the old ones. They haven't been played at all since the switch lol.

Fyi, if you want a good headless without spending multiple grand, you gotta do your research and know what to look for. Id say the Harley Benton Dullahan, the Eart GW2 pro (make sure it has the barrel tuners), NK (2021 versions or later 6 or 7 string but not the one off experimental designs). I have heard good things about the Latitude but tbh the bridge design worries me. Eart, NK and others have either moved on from those tuner designs or are moving on from them currently. They are mid at best imo. If you got a little bit more money, I would recommend the new Ibanez Quest series. If you got a little bit more money, then go Strandberg if you dont mind the neck shape. If you have even more money go for Kiesel. I think for those testing the waters or are unsure/hesitant about the headless class/design should dip their toes in with good budget alternatives unless money flows like water for them and 2 grand is nothin to fret about. Ive got a 2020 NK headless (updated version, 6-string with pickups replaced) and the Ibanez QX54QM. Plan for the future is to get the Donner Hush-I cause I am open minded like that and also a custom Kiesel.

I used to be an idiot too. Then I played a headless guitar and they're so much better/ lighter, balanced. Now they're my favorite. I have set. Six , seven and eight string Multi-scale headless guitars. They're my go to! I have over 40 Guitars in my studio that are all very nice but the headless multi-scale guitars are just amazing!

I need a headless “Firebird” shape

Next thing ya know you're out in the shop with a miter saw cutting heads off. Ask me how I know! Well, just a couple. I always felt like I was going to drive my fret hand right off the road...straight off the neck.

0:07 woa what was that effect?

exactly the biggest change I got with headless. The comfort ergonomics in front of the desk is enormous! haters gonna hate :p cheers 🤣🤣

own both. I prefer guitars with headstocks. I prefer the look, functionality. and i dont forget its there. My strandberg has been beaten all to hell in my year of having it. If your interested. go for it. it might be the best decision youve made guitar wise if not. you now have a high quality travel guitar and a conversation piece

The boosh boosh is definitely me. Need to get a headless.

How did you do that killswitch effect? It was great. Tx.

How would you describe the sound of a raw tone body vs a regular tung-oil or painted body?

The F#m add9 11 and the A maj 7 chord with open B string. I’m stealing it.

I just ordered my first guitar without a headstock. I don't really understand why it matters if it has a headstock or not. Only reason I ordered the new Ibanez q series is because I wanted something that was easier wielding around the studio in the living room. Other than that I could give two shits about what it's made out of. They all sound the same when they're processed anyway right, lol?

You’ve got to be cool to pull off playing a headless guitar

Kiesel makes badass guitars. I love the look of yours!

Ya know folks... you can have both if you want. It's not a bicision. Like the tube vs modeling. No rules says you can't like and use both. Personally, I'm digging the headless thing more and more lately. Might try one.

The Zeus body absolutely hugs your body, so comfortable!

Allan Holdsworth, probably the greatest electric guitar player of all time, was playing headless guitars. " But but.... they look like toys...."

As soon as I stood up with one, I knew immediately that heads were dead to me. My back still thanks me daily.

Sound comparison between a guitar with a headstock and without makes as much sense as comparing the glovebox size in a battle sedan vs SUV. They could be the same, they could be different but either way the main difference pointed out by the title-comparison has nothing to do with it. ;p

I played Jackson & Charvel exclusively for 25 years. Switched to Kiesel headless a couple of years ago, and I’ll never go back!! I have several of them now, and everything mentioned here is 100% true!! They are well-built, innovative, and modern. If you like “traditional” guitars, don’t bother. If you like to blow s*!+ up, these are for you! 🤟

These companies though should think a bit how to make it better looking... even the fact we call them "HEADless guitars" mean for everyone that something is missing or cut off . The fact that someone wants to invent something doesn't mean it has to be so boring looking . There is a reason Steinbergers in the 80s weren't really selling , despite they were the only headless company on the market .

Think I'll saw the head off my strat. Thanks! Lol 😂 😎🤓

Cool video 🔥 Cheers

Where would I put my headstock tuner? lol.

The only actual reason from the listed was the traveling since they typically are more compact. The rest had nothing to do with having no headstock. Like model specific designs, components and overall quality of the instrument.

i mean... when u factor in the fluence its not even a fair fight lol

someone PLEASE tell me what he steps on at 0:07 to get that stutter\killswitch effect.

I hurt my back and now I can’t hold the weight of a standard guitar . I can now play without the strain on my back. Oh and they do stay in tune much better .

How often does you hand come off the neck?

Are you comfortable on 7 string guitars?

Which pickups are those? (Kiesel)

At the start of the Headless to head battle, I find that the Kiesel has too much top end to my taste. The Ibanez seems to drive better that kind of heavy riffs. A better balance between low-end and top end in my opinion. In the clean section, I prefer the Kiesel by a short head. Extremely tasty.

I'm not hearing any reasons that have anything to do with whether it has a headstock or not. Kiesel guitars are just more solid than the Ibanez basswood RG, and the profiles are different. Whether or not there's a head stock makes no difference other than the way it looks. .. uh and how it fits on a guitar hanger.

Sounds good but I just can't get used to the small travel-size guitar look of those headless things. I've played a few and they were good for travel but there not inspiring or stayed in tune any better than a regular guitar. I would look ridiculous playing one on stage. I just love headstock shapes too much. 🤘🤘🤘

Do headlesa guitars come with floyd roses?

I could never play a headless guitar! 😁😆🤣😂 But seriously, I couldn't. 😆

I'd easily buy a headless les paul/RG/strat or any traditional body shapes. I hate how the headless trend is so synonymous with weird prog rock style body shapes. A headless jazz master to play some RnB would be pretty cool

What’s the effect from 13 mins? - I need this on everything!! My car, my drill, my toilet 😻

Kiesel seem cool, but I have yet to see one in a store. ^_^

Headless guitars lack sustain due to the limited string movement constricted by the lack of a head. If you're a metal guy, that's cool. But if you want the string to resonate and have a longer travel.

I would totally disagree that headless guitars are the "norm" these days. I would say you see them more than you have since that period in the 80's when Steinberger made a big push, but not the norm, not by many hundreds of miles.

Damn, that floral Jem sounds shweeeeeet

Whatever the effect you used when you slid down the neck at 8 seconds was bad a$$.. what’s that effect called?

I had no idea there was any actual differences :3 i just thought headless guitar players were fucking weirdos this entire time that just like a guitar with a headstock.... i hate it takes almost ALL of the sex appeal out of a man playing a guitar. As a woman that is my persepctive XD. and ive been playing for 20 years id totally buy one of these if it came with a fake headstock u could attach :P

Just so long as you're not legless when you play, you'll be fine

As a 40+ year veteran of the Las Vegas and L.A. music scene, here's my 10 cents... (I know; it's supposed to be 2 cents, but with "Sleepy Joe at the helm it's now 10 cents. Lol...) Seriously... YOU CAN'T GO WRONG WITH ANY, AND I MEAN ANY KIESLE GUITAR! Look guys & girls (YES, I said "guys & girls" since there are ONLY GUYS, AND ONLY GIRLS! SORRY, BUT YA GOTTA PICK ONE OR THE OTHER. If you don't think so... LEAVE ME THE *$^*^$ alone and take it up with God. Good luck with that!) Jeff will just plain and simple NOT MAKE A SUB-STANDARD GUITAR! This kid's LIFE is guitars and it shows in his products! He literally grew up on guitars. I had the Craig Chaquico model back in the day and put the V22 pickups on everything else I owned... ei: Les Pauls, Explorers, Guild X79 and Guild X82 guitars etc... (Look up the Guilds; they were cool!) But there was NOTHING that came close to the "Carvin" at the time. These guitars are truly custom guitars made one at a time right there in California! Jeff literally ran around that little guitar factory in diapers (lol). He's done everything from sweeping the floor to being the TOP DOG EXECUTIVE at an industry leading custom guitar company! He personally brought up the company to the next level NOT to show off or by a bigger house, but because he LOVES GUITARS! SO.... Please trust this "wise old guy" (lol... never thought that I'd be calling myself an old guy...) KIESLE GUITARS ARE SECOND TO NONE and their headless guitars (because Jeff has his pulse on the ever changing industry) are the UNDISPUTED LEADERS of the headless guitar phenomenon! The other thing is THE ACTION!!! You can't get any lower action as far as the closeness of the strings to the fretboard on a guitar... Like Mikey said... "Try it, you'll like it"! (If you're not old, Google it. It's funny!) Lol... And so... Like Forrest said "That's all I have to say about that." (Google it; it's funny)(if you can't tell; all we had to do was watch movies on the "tour bus" and hotel rooms sometimes on the road... lol...) and with all of that said... God bless and take care...

So you are basically saying that all details you prefer on a headless over a headstock one is everything but the headless factor itself.

Kiessel...👌

One day, when i open my amazon account and search for e guitars, results will always come up with headless guitars, coz everything is in constant evolution and the conventional e guitar that we knew, is going to be an alien instrument to everyone, or i dont even know if theres still be an amazon at that time🤣

ive always wanted a headless, but i cant afford one. which sucks. id love to be sponsored by a company but Im only 16.

I am not against headless guitars, I just can't afford £3000 to buy one LOL.

You weren't clear on what makes it physically more comfortable for you. I can see the bevel, I love my Aries, but what could possibly have an effect on pure playing comfort just because it's headless? I'm not talking about weight or the smaller length not hitting things, etc. You said it's more comfortable for you to play, and let's you play closer to your max capability. How? Also, for me, aesthetics are important in a guitar. I'm not sure why so many people discount that aspect. To my preferences, a guitar with a complete body and a headstock looks better than a headless. Not sure why that wouldn't be a valid consideration, and what's more, in fact one of the most important considerations. I want my guitars to look cool to me.

Haha 😄 "BOOSH! BOOSH!"

I'd be all for a headless, if they made a reverse headless 🤔🤔🤣🤣🤘

Hey, I know that first riff 🤘😉

I wouldn't mind having one as a studio guitar, but I'm not going to be showing my friends a headless if I ever get one lmao I think they look so ugly

Ibanez Prestige over a Kiesel anyday, Ibanez will rule the headless guitar game in the next 5 years!!!

Tone????? Just want to make sure i'm understanding, are you saying, that with all things equal, the tone is better on a headless guitar!?

They should have a fake head that you click on to look great

I absolutely dislike headless guitar

As if the head would have any influence what so ever on tone