Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: This study reconsiders the functional role of the head (scroll) in the traditional construction of the double bass by examining the design of a fully acoustic, headless double bass integrated with a single linear tailpiece-based tuning system. The research aims to reveal the acoustic, ergonomic, and structural implications of headless architecture, with a particular emphasis on analyzing parameters critical to the transfer of string vibrational energy to the body, such as anchoring stiffness, neck mass distribution, and bridge impedance. Conducted within a design-based research framework, the study adopts a holistic approach encompassing conceptual modeling, prototype fabrication, performer-centered qualitative evaluations, and frequency-domain and time–frequency domain analyses. Spectral analyses of recorded sound samples from the headless double bass demonstrate that low-frequency energy continuity is preserved in the headless design, that the fundamental frequency remains stable over time, and that sustain behavior is maintained in a manner consistent with the characteristic identity of the double bass. Interviews and field observations further indicate that the design offers a reassuring performance in terms of tuning stability, response speed, perceived timbre, and long-term playing comfort. The findings suggest that acoustic success depends not on head mass but on the structural coherence established along the string–anchor–neck–bridge continuum; they position the headless double bass not as an experimental deviation but as a potentially measurable and reproducible construction approach, and propose an original design paradigm that addresses a gap in the literature regarding the applicability of headless architecture in acoustically resonant bowed string instruments.
Author: Özgür Turan
Institution: Anadolu University
Language: Turkish
Subfield: Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition
Field: Computer Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $39
OpenAlex ID: W7146966287