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Bigger headstock=more resonance?

BobDeRosa

BobDeRosa

Commercial User
May 16, 2012
2,445
4,403
Finger Lakes area of New York State
tritonejazz.com
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Owner, Tritone Jazz Fantasy Camps
#1
Just saw a video where guitarist Robin Trower says that he had his signature-model guitar made with a big headstock because it provides more resonance. I wasn't sure that that could really make a difference, but I looked at the headstocks of my three basses, and sure enough, the one with the biggest headstock is the one that I've always thought has the best sound. Obviously, many other factors are involved (in my case, that bass is the only neck-through), but what do you folks think about headstock size alone? Could it be that size really matters?
 
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#2
I agree, in a way. The mass of the neck affects sustain and other factors for me. The headstock is part of it. When I am testin new basses, I make it a point to play em unplugged, hit open strings and grab the headstock. You can feel vibrations thru it, thus judge how well the body and neck work together. I've played 5 and 6 string basses since forever, because of mass in the neck. back in the day of Ken Smith's bigger headstocks, I talked with him about it, a little. He also seemed a believer, but balance comes in to play and so his headstocks shrunk a bit. I also have two Warwick fretless 5s. A Thumb and a Streamer Stage 1. The Streamer's neck is a lot thicker, more massive. And I seem to notice the difference. There are so many factors that go into a bass' tone. I don't know if anyone else has experienced this or not. But for me, the mass of my basses, and necks, does count. I can feel it when I play.
 
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#7
I dunno, maybe. I keep hearing stories that neck throug, heavy bridges, string through etc have more resonance/sustain than their opposite counterparts. Personally 'I think' that basses that are built with good quality timber and are bolted together tightly (really tightly with like 5-6 bolts in a tight neck pocket) with good quality components sound best. But that's just my opinion.
 
#13
Ja, ja, ja!
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#14
Oh yeah, that's always the FIRST thing I notice whenever I go see a band! In fact, I can close my eyes and tell: "Hmm...big headstock...hmm, little headstock." Yeah, cuts right through the mix. No matter what amp, strings, pickups, etc. ;)

Ok, being facetious here, but really: maybe, in an isolated lab setting, or maybe playing alone in an acoustically controlled room, but in a live band setting? It may be a factor, but I can think of probably ten other factors that are higher on the "end resulting sound" list of factors.
 
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#15
I love Robin Trower, I have at least 3 or 4 of his solo albums, the first 3 or 4 which are the best IMO :cool:

The only way to test this very well would be have 2 identical basses one with and one without headstocks. Or just have one much bigger then the other.
 

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