Gaskell Headless discontinued

I have been having trouble with the bridge/tuning system on the Gaskell H1 Headless. This was the only electric guitar I kept going as a factory guitar when I ended the Hybrid Series in 2023. I really liked this style and I kept one for myself. It was not popular. But I have had no complaints.

The bar for guitar standards is very high for me, I can't overlook things that I might see in a guitar that aren't up to spec as far as I am concerned. The bridge system on the headless is the same one used on many headless guitars including Ibanez and the Strandberg Boden models. The system itself is expensive. It's not difficult to setup. It sets up nicely. But it has some issues with tuning stability. I have taken the system apart to see how everything works and unfortunately, I am not happy with this design. It is not that the system is "cheap" or inferior. They are manufactured to a very high standard. It's the design itself. When you are playing live gigs you do not want a guitar that keeps going out of tune. Unfortunately, it is hard to keep this guitar in tune. It has to do with the threads of the tuners and the little screw in each "finger" that locks the string positions. There is some ever so slight play in it.

It's a damned shame because the tone woods and quality of these builds is extremely high, especially for a factory-made guitar. But if it won't stay in tune, then.... it's a deal breaker isn't it. I don't sell guitars that don't stay in tune. I really love the body shape, so one day if I am ever feeling inspired again, I might see if I could do something with it. Maybe it could be built as a Superstrat, with a Fender fixed bridge and a normal headstock.