Headstock Bias

[Gluvhand]

There are shapes I prefer to others for sure but it's not as douche chill inducing to me as naming basses or truck nuts.

 

[wmhill]

I'm OK with most as long as they don't say "Fender"- that's a deal-breaker for me.

 

[vinlander]

I like Rickenbacker headstocks so I probably shouldn't be allowed an opinion

Ricks like the 4001 or 4003 are for me by far the most beautiful bass but I will probably never own one as I can't justify the dough. Might have to do with my formative years growing up as a Yes, Rush and other proggies fan

 

[sxaxsx]

When I look at most 4 on one side headstocks it just looks like the manufacturer is saying "We know it's not as cool as Fender, and we know that is what you really want, but this is as close as we can get without being sued." So if it's not a Fender I think I just prefer a two on each side design.

 

[Smooth_bass88]

I can't stand tilt-back headstocks. They drive me nuts!

 

[BigBigGuy44]

I'm only biased against headstock shapes that aren't aesthetically pleasing.

 

[Hundred proof]

My only real bias, is that a smaller body bass should have a shorter headstock to better complement the body (example ... the smaller 3-1 headstock on my EBMM Sterling)

 

[fhm555]

I've had 4 in line basses most of my life and have never experienced the problems associated with a flat headstock that were not easily correctable, usually by dropping the peg side of the nut slot an RCH on the offending string. I don't really care if it's 2+2, it's just that i need a minute (or three or five) to adjust to which heads tune which strings and the bottom set turning opposite the top set. When i pick up my Jet King i invariably turn the bottom two machine heads backward when tuning it. I adapt pretty quick but it never fails to catch me when I've been away from it for a while. Other than that, and headstocks so big they qualify for their own ZIP code, i've never really given the esthetic aspect of headstock design much thought.

 

[MtManiac]

I have a completely baseless, nonsensical, and unfair bias against the G&L headstock shape. Several other non-Fender or non-2+2 headstock shapes suffer from a similarly superficial encumbrance to a full embrace in my admittedly flawed estimation. I once felt the same way about the Ernie Ball Music Man 3+1 thing but that has slowly evolved through the acceptable and into the desired category because my bias does not seem to hold up to multiple encounters with fine instruments.

Is this a common neurosis? Yes, yes, I know - we should all be focused only on such pure musical elements as tone and feel, but I find myself after all a bit priggish about these matters.

Yes - it's not a bias, it's a preference, but I prefer 4 in line, and intensely dislike the G&L monstrosity. I also dislike the Jackson pointy 80s pukefest. I do however like the Tbird headstock, and also the Gibson/Epi 2+2, though tuning it feels alien to me.

 

[Rob1957]

Do I have an unconscious bias about certain headstocks? Sure
Would i choose a bass with the more pleasing to me headstock between two equal candidates? Yes
Would I totally discount a bass simply because of the headstock? NO

 

[sleddogn]

I'm all in for 2x2 or 4 in line, anything else, i'd never even pick up to even try. I've always been sad by the shape of the music man basses headstock, that 3 x 1 is just wrong on so many levels

 

[Stewie]

Even though my favorite has the traditional Fender headstock, from now on, I'm only considering Tele style. Ever so much funkier.

 

[ltsal]

I personally don't really care for headstock designs.
The one I don't like is the G&L one.
That is just a abomination with that strange horn.
And I'm a fan of Headless basses but my girlfriend used to make fun of them.

 

[Jeff Hughes]

I am conditioned to prefer the Gibson open book and Fender headstocks.

Just about every other hs looks alien.

 

[son_of_mogh]

In ideal conditions, I want strings In-line and no string tree. I love tilt-back headstocks with that nice volute. In reality, my basses are Fender-style. And after all that, I still love Rickenbacker 4001's and Ken Smith 6's. And I love headLESS designs, too.

 

[Zooberwerx]

Don't mind the appearance or machine head lay-out provided the tilt-back headstock is compact and equipped with lightweight Hipshot or Res-o-lite components. I have two each of the Fernandes APB and Soundgear fivers which meet my criteria.

Riis

 

[Dincrest]

Headstock size and shape matters to me more from a functionality perspective. If it's too big and bulky, it could induce some neck dive. On the other hand, if it's too narrow, it may require the use of those "strung backwards" tuning machines that do not play well with my brain's desire for simplicity in function (here's what I mean: [Invalid or Expired Link Removed])

And I generally prefer 2 + 2 headstocks because they're shorter so there's less chance of me bumping the headstock against something, particularly if navigating a tight space.

I dislike reverse headstocks since I like to equip my basses with a Hipshot XTender, and reverse headstocks are not conducive to that. And no headless basses either, because I can't put a Hipshot XTender on those. I need that device, because I sometimes need to click into drop-D mid song. (Yeah, I've played 5 and 6 strings for years, but my hands are most at-home on a 4, and the closed/3rd fret D on the B string just doesn't ring out the way an open D does.)

 

[SoulApprentice]

I'm a Fender type of guy, but talking about sexy headstocks...

 

[Jefenator]

Sometimes it looks like they got distracted at the band saw and quit the headstock-shaping stage too soon.
Other times it looks like they hacked it, then sanded and refinished.
Sometimes both.
I love how the standard Fender Strat/P/J headstock is way bigger than it needs to be - like fins on a 1950s car. Wasting material, adding weight, just because... It takes a certain flair to really pull that off. For each subsequent attempt that succeeded, there are about 10 that fail miserably IMHO.

 

[Relsom]

I've traditionally preferred the G&L E or CLF Research type headstock over their eye gouger/bottle opener design. HOWEVER - with the profile/nut width/finish options available in the latter, it's a trade off that I'm willing to make.

EDIT: For clarification, I should add that I only gig a Kubicki... so what do I know.