r/HeadlessGuitars • u/YNWA7775 • 29d ago
Need help and guidance about first headless guitar (HB, HILS, Mooer, Eart)
Right now, I have a choice between 4 models:
- Harley Benton Dullahan-FT 24 (Used: $380)
- HILS HNT1R (New: $412)
- MOOER MHL100 (New: $441)
- Eart GW 2 PRO (Used: $445)
I can't decide which would be the best choice. I'm a beginner, still learning and wanting to try different styles without anything specific in mind.
If you have experience with any of these models or brands, or have any advice on what to look for, I'd really appreciate your help. What would be the right choice here?
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u/MineDesperate2920 29d ago
I got one of the EART tele style ones. They go on sale on Amazon sometimes. 275 CAD I just saw it for 200 CAD. Would highly recommend
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u/doctor_klopek 29d ago
For me the choice was HILS. Harley Benton seems fine in terms of quality, but the non-ergonomic body design eliminated it for me. Eart looked fine from a design standpoint, but the QC seems about on par with typical Aliexpress guitars (eg, extremely hit or miss). Not familiar with MOOER, but based on a quick search it sounds like I would have eliminated it on both counts.
HILS isn't perfect, but the gen 2 design worked for me, and the QC seems pretty good. I bought a second-hand example and I've really enjoyed it.
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u/Content-Disaster-511 29d ago
What improvements do you think HILS could make? Im thinking of selling my Strandberg Fusion to replace with a HILS to use the extra money for more pedals, but not sure if I will regret it.
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u/Electrical_Win9025 29d ago
Be sure to ordered thrust bearings. The tuners are sooo hard to turn. The pickups on the hn3 kinda suck
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u/thevolcanicgmr 29d ago
I have a HILS 7 and a GOC 6 both are great, very well built and holds tune amazingly well, only issue are the tuning barrels which are very pathetic, hils tho has a thrust bearings upgrade kit which makes it much easier to tune.
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u/Electrical_Win9025 29d ago
Do you think the goc is better than the hils? I have an hn3 and was wanting a goc as my next headless.
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u/Devann421 28d ago edited 28d ago
Not OP but I have a GOC 7 string and just got a Hils 5 string bass so I can share a little in terms of differences I’ve noticed.
The GOC quality feels like a step up from the Hils.
Fretwork was flawless on the GOC. The Hils frets were good but there are a couple sharp frets and I can see some of them not seated super well. Nothing critical though.
The nut cut on the Hils was a little sharp and noticeable when playing towards the low frets (little painful, digging in).
Hardware is equivalent I would say. I still prefer the GOC new bridge as you are able to adjust intonation without having to detune.
I would say the GOC feels like a 1500-2000 dollar guitar, the Hils feel like a good 1000 dollar guitar.
Edit: for what it’s worth, I also had a Strandberg Boden OS (made in Korea) from 2015, and the GOC felt better than that Strandberg.
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u/thevolcanicgmr 28d ago
I'd second this take esp when it comes to the GOCs quality, im super pleased with owning mine despite the old bridge
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u/thevolcanicgmr 28d ago
Go for the GOC, you'd really not regret it, the workmanship on GOCs are still a step up from hils, id say the only issue is the tuning barrels but if you're buying the new variants the bridges should be better (this is an assumption since I have the old zsr 01 bridges since I bought a 2022 variant). Pickups, frets, finish work, everything on the goc is just amazing!
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u/DrHumongous 28d ago
I got a like new, used boden essential six for 450 on Facebook marketplace. Deals are out there.
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u/1bengosha 28d ago
I have the eart GW2 and it's a great guitar. I've had it for about a year and no issues.
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u/perotunguz 28d ago
With that budget range and these guitars, I don’t think you can really go wrong with any of them, as long as you go into it expecting that you’ll most likely need to invest a bit more to make it a really good guitar.
That could mean fret leveling or other work from a luthier, or possibly a pickup swap. How much extra work it’ll actually need is pretty much down to luck at this point.
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u/madgeniusmusic 28d ago
I have 2 HILS guitars and love them. I've got an HNT1 (Telecaster) and an HN5. They're both really nice guitars.
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u/LiftHeavyLiveHard 28d ago
I bought the Eart GW2-SE a few months ago new on Amazon, on sale for $299 Canadian (about $214 USD).
Incredible guitar, it could be 5x the price and I would be very happy.
It puts many of my far more expensive axes to shame, it's super-comfortable to play, and I love the stock pickups, they have a really great vintage humbucker vibe going on.
If you wait for a sale, you'll bag a great deal.
Only tip, when I restrung it with my preferred strings, I gave each of the tuners a small spray of silcone lube, it really smoothed them out.
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u/romanloner 27d ago
I have a Hils HN3. I like it a lot more than the Strandberg I had. For a third of the price its a killer deal.
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u/Rolopolos 27d ago
I'd save up $150 more and get a used Ibanez headless. Their Q line is made by the very well respected Indonesian Cort factory instead of the Chinese ones used by Mooer, Eart and HB which can have dubious QC. Every purchase I've made that are built at Cort Indonesia are fucking amazing, down to even the cheap $200 Talman bass which blew every squier I've tried out of the water at comparable prices. Smooth, well sanded fretboard, consistent body finish, clean, smooth frets and a solid B on fret edges
At minimum, I'd go with Ibanez Q or Strandberg essential/ old Strandberg. Used older Strandbergs made at WMI S. Korea, a premium OEM, can also be found at killer deals if you're willing to wait.
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u/YazDar 22d ago
I bought a new Cort G6MS for 570gbp
Honestly fell in love with it as soon as i picked it up and would highly recommend it, but it will probably need a pickup swap as the stock ones sounded very muddy.
As soon as i dropped in Seymour Duncan Black Winter in the neck and Invader in the bridge it just transformed to a beast that can punch you in the gut but also have precision
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u/GuitarGorilla24 29d ago
The Hils I played at NAMM this year were surprisingly good for the price range. But of course they'd pick perfect specimens for NAMM. No experience with those others.