More Headless Models - Click Here!

The Jeff Hallsten Headless Custom Guitar


This beauty was made for Jeff Hallsten and features construction of a bookmatched African Black Limba (Korina family) top, swamp ash back, with matching control cover, and a walnut interlayer sandwiched between the top and the back. The neck is a Steinberger Graphite headless, and the ever reliable Steinberger S-Trem bridge provides stable quick tuning and stays in tune once set.

The pickups are active EMG, and these babies really get the job done clean or snarly!

Jeff sent me his GL model guitar, and took everything apart, and made the new body he asked for, which was based on a Modulus Graphite shape that he loved. Custom body designs like this have to be worked out on the drawing board, but most of the time, it seems every concept can come to fruition, and this one worked out extremely well. The only thing missing here in these photos, are the tremolo arm, and the flush mounted strap locking buttons.

Smashing good looks, and superb access to the 24th fret!

The Danish oiled finish provides a satiny smooth soft luster that brings out the beauty of wood grain, and provides protection and appealing good looks. High gloss finishes are nice, but
nothing compliments fine wood as well as an oiled finish! The back also features a matching swamp ash cavity control cover -- death to plastic!

The weight of this instrument is medium and well balanced by the combination of the woods
selected, and results in an extremely comfortable guitar with wonderful tone, and sustain.
The Black Limba top provides warmth and clarity and is well coupled with the swamp ash.

---

Jeff's Reviews:

Bill,

The guitar is beautiful.

You did a perfect job on the body design.

I honestly think that this is the best look headless design I have ever seen.

The problem with most headless guitars is the balance.

You have to extend the front horn to get the guitar to hang right.

This body looks normal even with the extended horn. Great job.I can’t wait to play it.

< style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">

I’ve printed all of your progress photos and made a album out of them.

It’s big fun to see the progress through the photos.

Your customer service is unsurpassed.

There are a few builders out there that could take some lessons from  you.

Both quality and service.

Thanks again!

Jeff

_______________________________________________________________________

Bill,

I finally got a chance to sit down and play this past long weekend.

I love the guitar.

The balance is perfect. That was my concern.

The small Steinberger body was terrible. This is perfect.

The craftsmanship speaks for itself.

I’m still fooling around with the EMG pickups.

The settings I use for my Tele are completely different.

It’s going to take a bunch of fooling around.

I just bought the new small Zoom stomp box that I intend to play through a Mackie 450.

I’m going to focus on dialing in this guitar with the new setup.

You’re right about the screaming part. The sustain is really good for a bolt on neck.

The setup is perfect.

I’ll email again when I’ve had a little more time with the entire rig.

I haven’t played with the guitar with the band yet. I want to sort everything out.

Thanks again.

I have an idea for another one.

<>Jeff Hallsten

Bill's Reply:
Man, I don't know what to say -- seems I must have a horse shoe somewhere that helps me get things right, and that sure is appreciated. I always do the best that I can to make people a part of the process, and to produce the type of guitar that I hope they will enjoy and cherish. It's hard for me to part with them afterwards, but knowing that they are being enjoyed so much later, I can easily live with that! :)

Notes: EMG, Modulus Graphite, and Steinberger, etc. are registered trade names of the manufacturers and are not affiliated with Wilkat Guitars in any way.

Special Thanks to Ned Steinberger for his words of wisdom, & for creating the "original" Steinberger guitars, tuners, and bridges. His ingenious designs will live on!