Custom paint... Help me decide

[fatbassman]

I recently purchased a bass -- an Ernie Ball Music Man Stingray with a Tobacco Sunburst finish. This bass has a natural headstock.

I do not like this. As a matter of fact I have strong dislike for natural headstocks.

This is my personal preference. I'm planning on having the headstock painted at a local custom paint shop. I'm weighing two options, painting it straight black or matching it to the body and doing a burst finish. Which do you think?

Now I understand half of the fun of a forum is trolling people... That said, comments about how I shouldn't worry about it or funny comments about how does it affect the playability of the instrument. It doesn't... but troll if you must

 

[jd56hawk]

Matching headstock makes burst really stand out.
Think of it, out of 100 burst basses, how many have a matching headstock...one or two, maybe?
I'm not even a burst fan but I almost bought a G&L L-2000 because it had a matching headstock and it looked much better than all the other burst basses in the store.

 

[sowilson]

go old school and burst the whole neck (back of it too)

 

[fatbassman]

sowilson - I love that look, but I really love the unfinished neck on the Stingray more

 

[TrustRod]

Matching a headstock now sounds difficult, If it's not an exact match I would hate it. So I would go black.

 

[Plake]

Black.

 

[dabbler]

Burst all the way!

 

[BlueAliceOasis]

If you go black, you won't go back.

 

[jakka1]

Burst if you can match it. The black actually looks pretty good though.

 

[Mediocrity Man]

Black!

 

[LowDownHawkeye]

Burst or black. Either look good to me. Natural does not.

Both my Carvins are bursts (blue and green) with matching headstocks. If your painter can match it, that'd be my preference.

Regardless, I'm envious. I'd love to have a stingray.

 

[Reedt2000]

Both look good, I think the matched burst headstock looks nicer and makes it feel like a high end bass. It certainly is harder to do and there is a better chance of a solid quality result going black (and you will of course never go back )

 

[edencab]

Burst, no question ...gorgeous bass drool

 

[fatbassman]

Thank you for all the responses. The painter is very good ( Link Removed )
But my request of him will be - paint the burst, but before adding the logo and the clear - make sure it's a perfect match. If not, paint over it with black. Boom. Happy either way. Kinda hoping the burst works out though!

 

[GreyBeard]

Burst or black, I like them both

 

[ThePresident777]

I'd go full carrot top on that..............

 

[wintremute]

Burst if you can match it. The black actually looks pretty good though.

Ditto.

 

[Killed_by_Death]

refinish the body to match the headstock
and get a see-through pickguard

 

[GBassNorth]

OP - so what are you going to do about the logos and decals on the headstock? If you decide to sell the bass will someone assume there was headstock damage or will the serial numbers be visible? It's your bass so yours is the only opinion that really matters but you might want to think about resale impact if any.

 

[jaybones]

Well, if your painter can match the burst exactly then go that route. If not, black.