Riverhead Unicorn ?

[morrow]

One popped up on the local kijiji . It was up before , I looked and for some reason passed on it . Popped up again and I might go for it this time around .
Definitely a guilty pleasure bass , they're said to be reasonably well made . Apparently they never resurfaced after the factory burned down . Fairly rare now .
Not expensive .

[morrow]

Damn , looks like it's 34 , I initially thought they were shorter .
More of a shortscale fan these days .

[Basvarken]

Reminds me very much of the Burns Flyte bass. Which I think is very cool 

[morrow]

Yup, that's definitely the inspiration for the Unicorn . The headless design works nicely with that shape , and there's no mistaking the era that birthed it .
I was thinking if that blues thing doesn't pan out I could always hook up with a new wave band ...

[morrow]

Oh my , it looks like the Unicorn might well be heading my way after all . My friend , that picked it up , has just bought another headless bass and says there's just room in the stable for one . I'll be able to pick it up for what he paid !
I have an internet buddy in Quebec that has one , and would like to pick it up if I'm not crazy about it . I'm like a black hole though , unlikely to sell .
Might be the weekend before I can pick it up .

[morrow]

It landed ! Slightly lowered the bridge , relief was excellent . Grimey , but it should clean up reasonably well . I'll probably oil the fingerboard and polish the frets . It has some odd black roundwounds on it , they have a good thump . Probably leave them on .
It's a strange thing , but I like it ...

[morrow]

Mine , unfortunately , did not come with a case . They originally came with a very funky soft leather bag . Happy to discover it just fits in the Les Paul case I picked up for the DC Jr .
All I need now is some wristbands , a baggy pastel suit  , and a headband .

[ilan]

All I need now is some wristbands , a baggy pastel suit  , and a headband .

And a mullet.

[clankenstein]

That shape reminds me of the ak 79 punk compliation!

[Basvarken]

That's a Burns Flyte

[Chris P.]

I saw a post of a Dutch guy some days ago. I saud Burns Flyte too, but it was one of these.

[Highlander]

Spotted one for sale on Reverb over in California if anyone over your side of the Pond is tempted...
I'm still very happy with my 80's headless bass... Hohner Jack, so much more conventional body shape...
What sort of neck-profile is she...?

[morrow]

I don't know exactly how to describe the neck , similar to a tv logo Pbass , just a bit thinner . Similar taper . I immediately felt at home on it despite the lack of headstock .

[Highlander]

My custom Thunderbird has a neck profile that appears to be replicating a popular early P profile... I tend to think of it as the "flat" type most associated with a J... the Hohner also has an exact match to this profile... probably why I liked this bas so much...
Unless you are used to a headless you will probably have initial issues with the "missing" head... sort of wondering why your hand keeps wanting to be south of the end of the neck... you get used to it pretty quick... enjoy...!
Will be curious to hear the sound against a more trad instrument, for comparison...

[morrow]

I have the mid version with the humbucking pickup with a coil tap in the bridge position .
So there's a little more oomph down there . It gives you a little more variation . I slightly adjusted the pickup heights to balance them .
So it sounds quite good .
I had more issues getting accustomed to using a Flying V than I did the Unicorn . Despite the missing headstock it was quite comfortable right from the start.
Despite the slightly odd look I give it a hearty two thumbs up .
I'm really an old Pbass guy , but I rarely play them these days .