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Classic, jurassic and tragic headstock design

J

jimmyjammer

Jul 28, 2008
140
3
Australia
#1
I'd go as far as saying the Fender headstock shape is up there with the all-time classics of American design. :cool:

I love my Fender... and Musicman... I would say that I'd even refuse to buy a bass, based on whether I liked the aesthetics of the headstock :hiding: which makes me question why I ever bought that Ibanez SG :eek:

Do you have a favourite?

This guys loves them (Musicman) very much:
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And this: http://www.weirdomatic.com/weird-bass-guitars.html

Thanks to Paul Klein for the pic of the Jazz Bass headstock
 

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#6
Am I the only one who can't stand Fender head-stocks? They look disproportionally large and just downright ugly in my opinion.

BC Rich headstocks are on the bottom of my list too particularly on the Warlock and Mockingbird models. Too outrageous for my liking.
 
#9
Aw this is easy for me... the classic Guild headstock takes it every time.

(taken from a closeup of a Guild ABG)
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(and a bit closer to my Guild, though mine is sans ornamental carvings...)
IMG_9503.jpg
 
#10
IMO:

The original '51 Fender Precision Bass the '57 redo, Gibson Thunderbird, Danelectro "Coke Bottle", and early Musicman headstocks are classic. I'd go so far as to say the Fender style is not only classic but iconic as well.

Audiovox 736 is Jurassic since it's the first horizontal electric bass.

The G&L headstock with the little point looks kind of tragic along with Rickenbacker, early Peavey and Bongo.

My favorite is the original MM Stingray/Sabre headstock.
 
#11
El Raro said:
Am I the only one who can't stand Fender head-stocks? They look disproportionally large and just downright ugly in my opinion.
Click to expand...

You're not alone. I don't like Fender head-stocks either. But I don't dislike them to the point that I don't ever buy a Precision or a Jazz Bass based on the head-stock design.

I currently own a Jazz Bass Aerodyne, and I love it. I like the overall design. I like the bass as a whole. :smug:

p31395.jpg


El Raro said:
BC Rich headstocks are on the bottom of my list too particularly on the Warlock and Mockingbird models. Too outrageous for my liking.
Click to expand...

I like some BC Rich designs, especially the Warlock headstock they use in some guitars (and in the cheaper Warlock bass):

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I build my first bass based exactly on that model.
 
#19
huido said:
You're not alone. I don't like Fender head-stocks either. But I don't dislike them to the point that I don't ever buy a Precision or a Jazz Bass based on the head-stock design.

I currently own a Jazz Bass Aerodyne, and I love it. I like the overall design. I like the bass as a whole. :smug:

p31395.jpg
Click to expand...

Huh? Is the Aerodyne headstock smaller than other Fender headstocks?

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That looks like a Status headstock, but it says something else that I can't quite make out.

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This is my favorite headstock these days:

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This is not:

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