Can you learn to love an ugly headstock shape?

[CocoaThumper]

Just a quick question and answer. How often do you see an instrument that had a great color, and body shape...felt nice..sounded good..but an ugly headstock turned you off from purchasing? Im not talking about your typical P or J bass copies either.

Is this something I can maybe get over? Have you learned to love a bass you thought had an ugly headstock shape?

I dont wanna end up with buyer's remorse...even if I do enjoy the body and sound. Part of what keeps me playing certain instruments isnt just the sound...but also being able to look at it on its stand from time to time and think "what a beautiful instrument"

 

[sharkbait130]

I've known mothers that loved their ugly babies. Headstocks do not have any genetic influence so it will be an up hill battle. That said , if it plays good and sounds good , that will go a long way to overcome that hideous looking kid you are adopting.

 

[Bassbeater]

The Sire head-stock grew on me. At first I thought it looked like a tyrannosaurus head.

 

[fhm555]

Shape is not such a big deal but I have never been able to get used to machine heads on both sides. I've had basses I really liked with keys on both sides, but I've never really warmed up to them like I do to basses with all the machine heads on the top side. The first bass I ever had was all on top and I guess like a baby duck I imprinted on that and it's just what's burned into the simple little differential engine sitting atop my nerve stem.

 

[mongo2]

The headstock holds the tuners, that's as far as it goes for me. I haven't really thought about whether I like the shape, but I think the Hofner headstock kinda looks like...

 

[Killed_by_Death]

machine heads go on the headstock

I could not care less how it looks, but more about the length & balance issues it might cause.
2x2 headstocks are the way for me, so much so that I'll avoid basses with 4 inline

They're longer, making the cases longer, difficult to fit in my vehicle, & adding the risk of neck dive.

 

[bolophonic]

I have held onto this neck for sentimental reasons, but it is so heinous that I cannot bring myself to repurpose it.

 

[lz4005]

Just a quick question and answer. How often do you see an instrument that had a great color, and body shape...felt nice..sounded good..but an ugly headstock turned you off from purchasing? Im not talking about your typical P or J bass copies either.

Is this something I can maybe get over? Have you learned to love a bass you thought had an ugly headstock shape?

I dont wanna end up with buyer's remorse...even if I do enjoy the body and sound. Part of what keeps me playing certain instruments isnt just the sound...but also being able to look at it on its stand from time to time and think "what a beautiful instrument"

Zero times. I play basses, I don't sit around looking at them.

 

[cheapbasslovin]

Headstock has to get unreasonably bad before it affects whether or not I play the bass. Like it has to be cut to into the shape of a penis or swastika or something. If it plays good and sounds good, I can deal with it.

 

[pcake]

if a bass or guitar sounds and feels great, i'll buy it with an ugly headstock. i owned a seagull original S6 acoustic guitar, and it has a legendarily ugly headstock - it used to be spmething we'd discuss on AGF. after owning it for a few months, i adjusted to the point where they no longer look ugly to me. they still don't, actually. did i learn to love the S6 headstock? no, but i learned not to mind it.

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[mongo2]

if a bass or guitar sounds and feels great, i'll buy it with an ugly headstock. i owned a seagull original S6 acoustic guitar, and it has a legendarily ugly headstock - it used to be spmething we'd discuss on AGF. after owning it for a few months, i adjusted to the point where they no longer look ugly to me. they still don't, actually. did i learn to love the S6 headstock? no, but i learned not to mind it.

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The Seagull "snakehead" shape is very similar to the prototype Fender Esquire/Telecaster guitar snakeheadstock.

Picture of Custom Shop RI of the snakehead...
https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/418hh+90lhL.jpg

 

[CentralCoastBass]

Yes. I used to hate this headstock...now I love it. Wish I would have bought this bass when I had the chance....

 

[two fingers]

View attachment 3158507 Yes. I used to hate this headstock...now I love it. Wish I would have bought this bass when I had the chance....

Yeah I'm with OP. I have to at least like the looks of my bass, even if I don't love it.

And I could NEVER own a Tyler, even though I know they are nice basses. That head gets on my nerves.

 

[CentralCoastBass]

Yeah I'm with OP. I have to at least like the looks of my bass, even if I don't love it.

And I could NEVER own a Tyler, even though I know they are nice basses. That head gets on my nerves.

Oh man used to despise that thing!

 

[Ric5]

Can you learn to love an ugly headstock shape?

NOPE!!

 

[roller]

View attachment 3158507 Yes. I used to hate this headstock...now I love it. Wish I would have bought this bass when I had the chance....

+1 on the love for the Tyler headstock. It's as if they're thumbing their nose at Fender and going with some huge and obnoxious. It's so atrocious, I dig it.

 

[Amphibious G]

I have held onto this neck for sentimental reasons, but it is so heinous that I cannot bring myself to repurpose it.View attachment 3158448

you could practice glueing 'wings' on it and then cut out a better shape. Oh, or put a bit of carbon on the top and cut out a parker fly shape,, or maybe not

 

[Badwater]

Put a bag over it. Or play in the dark.

 

[Chrisk-K]

NOPE. That's why I have zero interest in Carvin / Kiesel basses.

 

[musicman666]

I have held onto this neck for sentimental reasons, but it is so heinous that I cannot bring myself to repurpose it.View attachment 3158448

Yeah I can't roll with pointy headstocks. Makes me think of teased hair and purple spandex.