Does Headstock Appearance Matter To You?

[bobyoung53]

There are some weird looking head stocks but I like most common ones, Fender, Ric, Gibson etc but as long as it has one, I'm happy. I dislike a lot of the head stocks on copycat basses though, if it's a Fender-style it needs a Fender head stock, same with T-Birds etc.

 

[Lunatique]

Headstocks only bother me when they are: 1) Too long and would knock into stuff too easily 2) Too ugly (like cheesy 80's hard rock aesthetics) 3) Too heavy and causes neck-dive.

 

[Chickenwheels]

I find these results amazing. As I write this, nearly 2 out of 3 bass players consider the appearance of their headstock important. I challenge you two-thirds (you know who you are) to put your bass away at the end of a gig and then ask anyone who heard you to describe your headstock, or even name its color. I guarantee you that even the bassists in your audience won't be able to tell you.

Sort of true. Some do and some don’t. However, some people care more about my gear than me (“you bought the Yamaha? Awesome, love that bass”) lol.

 

[Diamond_Dave]

I have a Seagull acoustic guitar, so...no. Headstock appearance doesn't really bother me. I do prefer to have a headstock. Otherwise, the bass looks off balance.

 

[bobba66]

Yes.

 

[EMoneySC2]

It doesn't, until it does. I wouldn't buy a bass because of a headstock, but I might not buy a bass because of a headstock.

 

[bolophonic]

Has anyone ever modded a G&L headstock to eliminate the little uvula?

 

[CoffeeLove]

Yeah, I am in the "needs to have a headstock" camp as well, but the 80's were fun

I have a Seagull acoustic guitar, so...no. Headstock appearance doesn't really bother me. I do prefer to have a headstock. Otherwise, the bass looks off balance.

View attachment 3644483

 

[Methaneman]

Just curious where people stand on this one, and feel free to post pics of your favorite common or not so common headstock.

There are many, likely amazing instruments I have passed up because of aesthetic personal preference, even my Custom Roscoe LG3005 headstock looks a little funky to me, but have kept it because there is nothing that sounds or plays better (IMHO).

I tend to like controlled rounded lines, like my current instruments minus the Roscoe, which include a Stingray 5 and Fender Jazz Deluxe 5 (pictured).

What you got?

This caught my eye.

 

[4dog]

Never liked the 3+1 headstocks on ernie ball basses.
I prefer even distribution 2+2 headstocks overall, but i do really like the smaller, almost tele shaped headstock on my US GL JB2.
View attachment 3644377

for some reason this does t wanna make me puke

 

[TN WOODMAN]

My jamming buddy usually plays Strats or Les Pauls and is always telling me he loves the sound of my Fender basses but hates the bigger Hs. I’ve started taking my 56 Warmoth and 50s Squier to appease him. I like playing them anyway.

That said, the only non Fender basses I have are a Rivoli, EBO, Mikro , Low End Jazz , Pensa-Suhr Jazz and 4 ESP Vintage 4s.

Not really opposed to a particular hs if I like everything else about the bass.(or guitar) Most my guitars are Fender and Gibson with a few others like Godin, Gretsch , etc. thrown in the mix.

 

[CoffeeLove]

Hmmm, not my first choice, but my 165 junior high students would laugh at its phallic resemblance, aka, the rocket ship.

This caught my eye. View attachment 3644496

 

[Methaneman]

Hmmm, not my first choice, but my 165 junior high students would laugh at its phallic resemblance, aka, the rocket ship.

That thought never entered my mind. I must be getting old.

 

[Chickenwheels]

I played a ‘58 Precision recently that had had the end of the headstock chopped off so it could fit in a non-original case. That’s a FTW no lol!

 

[CoffeeLove]

That thought never entered my mind. I must be getting old.

Yeah, junior highers are a unique breed. I process every word before it leaves my mouth in the classroom, or it turns into snickers, or worse. Takes one to know one I guess

 

[FunkHead]

I don't smoke but cig burn FTW.

Hey, It's roasted maple.

 

[Raoul_Duke]

Absolutely! I wish I could get over the appearance of an instrument, but I can’t, and it’s really odd what appeals to me and what doesn’t. For example, G&L basses are great but the headstock makes me cringe.

 

[richwag]

Obviously not... ;-) (I've actually never minded the G&L head stock. Different strokes I guess. Plus they all sound outstanding to me).

 

[Nebula24]

2x2s for me. But the right 1x4 i would still take. Split pbass pickups bug me too but got over it for my jetsons jr. Tempted for a Huntington supro since it would be mirror opposite of my jetson but rectangular pickup.

 

[dmt]

I usually don’t think about headstock shape unless one bothers me. If it bothers me, then yes, headstock appearance matters to me. So, sometimes.

I had a PRS guitar for a while and the headstock shape on that kinda bothered me. Not terribly bothered, but bothered. The feeling came and went