Headstock comparison survey

[steverosati]

Fodera

 

[Dincrest]

Sadowsky by a longshot. It's the slimmest and most streamlined.

But for me, headstock shape is not a yay or nay factor. The yay or nay factor for me is electronics. Passive all the way, baby!

 

[Mark4]

Steinberger!


But seriously, for basses with a headstock, my favorite headstock designs are Fender and Valenti.

 

[905]

1: Nordstrand - I like it because it looks like an eagle's beak, but is also original in it's design.
2, 3, etc - The others which aren't Alleva or Valenti, because they also look like eagle's beaks. I like Sadowsky's best because it's leaner and meaner and meaner machiner.

I don't like Alleva or Valenti's headstocks as much because their edges are a bit too soft, I think. I don't DISlike them, I just don't LIKE them.

 

[5stringwonder]

Hmm..no mention of G&Ls...Always like their design..

Out of the list...Sadowskys are my favourite..

 

[spade2you]

To the Fender guys: I don't recall him asking you guys.

IMHO, the headstock on the modern Fender inspired boutique basses wouldn't matter a whole lot to me, although the Alev seems odd with a 5 inline. As long as the balance was there and I didn't feel that the headstock was too big, I wouldn't really care.

 

[Barkless Dog]

The original!

and this - non reverse t bird

i don't really like the ones in the poll. I like G&L's though.

 

[savit260]

I dig it cause it's a great compromise between the Fender and Sadowsky headstocks

If Bacchus was an option, that's how I would have voted.

Of the ones in the poll, I vote Lakland. Overall, a good looking design that works well with the body shape. The bridge on the other hand,....well... not so much. I'm not sure I could get past the bridge on my "Ultimate P build"

I've been considering a custom P for a good long while now, and as such, I've considered all the builders listed. In my "NO comprimises" P bass, all but the Lakland headstock would be excluded. Yeah, I hate to say it, but a non aesthetically pleasing IMO headstock is enough to foul the deal up for me.

Things I think of when I see some of those on the poll.

Mike Lull- Hockey Stick -Doesn't work well with the classic Fender lines. If they could just round the end over a bit, it would work much better for me.

A/C- Could never put my finger on it, but "Bullwinkles Nose" from an earlier post pretty much nails it. Too big, and sort of canoe paddle like. Don't like it. Kind of an oversided Jay Turser looking deal.

Sadowsky- The "Shmoo" character for The Flintstones. Really not that bad looking, but that's what I see every time I look at one.

Valenti- All I see is a neighing Horse, or a Sea Horse Head. I've heard great things of Nino's basses, but I just can't get past that headstock.

Nordie- These suffer the same problem the Lull's have IMO, If they could just round over the very end of the headstock a bit, it would look much more gracefull, and less "Hockey Stick" like.

Just my opinion.

 

[roadkill2309]

I voted Lakland, but I was thinking specifically of the 5-string headstock. I think they really did a bang-up job with that 3+2 design. Yes, I know G&L does it too, but the G&L 5 'stock looks too blunt, somehow.

I like the graceful curve of the Sadowsky headstock, but I don't like the way the logo just doesn't fit. There's no breathing space between the lettering and the bottom edge of the headstock. I see a nice headstock as being a marriage of wood, tuners and logo, so I feel that the logo placement/design is important, here.

For the same reasons, I have grown to like the Nordy headstock. the extra bump works so well with the 'n,' and the overall shape has a certain grace to it.

Lull is okay, but I'm not in love with it. I like the simplicity, but in the list of choices, it's not at the top.

Alleva? I really don't like 5 in-line tuners, nor do I like headstocks that look like oars.

I find that Valenti headstock looks too much like someone took a bite out of the end. I like that fact that Nino wanted to do something a bit different, but the Nordy 'stock (for instance) is different with an eye towards good design.

Just my .02

 

[Mr M]

1. Fender (where the story began)
2. Sad (best Fender copy.. cough.. OK, just joking) Voted
3. Lakland (nice)
4. Lull (so so)
5. Nordy (very characteristic but not my cup of tea)
6. Valenti (different but not for my taste)
7. A/C (not for my taste)

 

[tww001]

I don't think there's anything more beautiful than the traditional fender headstock.

 

[bullshark]

Well, I don't like the one posted in the OP, the Lakland and Valenti are ok but the rest...Bleh. I really dig that bacchus one thought.

Is headstock important to me? I really dig playing a G&L L2000, I prefer the tone over a Musicman Stingray while the playability and build quality is almost on par. I didn't buy one as of yet because I totally hate the headstock.

 

[LzeroKI]

of the ones listed, I chose the Lakland, seems the least over the top (even compared to the sadowsky).


But overall, to me, there only 2 headstocks designs that "got it right":
4 (or 5) in line: Fender
2x2: Warwick

 

[svtb15]

i did not like the Alleva headstock at first.. but when i got my first one it grew on me.. and now i find it very appealing.. i also like the fact that it sort of stays close to the fender headstock without worring about the fender copyright/trademark mess.. The thing I found nice about the Alleva is that it retains the mass of wood at the headstock without going to a Thicker headstock as Lakland has.. I really think the mass of wood placement has something to do with the overall response of the instrument and the Alleva certainly does come closer to vintage Js and Ps than any other that i have played.. And i think the headstock size/shape may have a little to do with it..
Jimmy told me the headstock is the shape of a Ballerinas shoe.... mmm... he may be s***ing me on that one.

 

[El-Bob]

i voted Valenti. definitely my favorite out of those options

 

[Dan Knowlton]

Well, I own:
Alleva-Coppolo LG-5, with a KPB-5 on order
Sadowsky 5-24
Lakland 55-94

AND like them all! I do appreciate the different aesthetic for the different basses and am glad Fender forced us to have different choices!

I find the Ken Lawrence headstock to be the most visually appealing of all the different ones out there. Yeah, I do call it a "squidstock" sometimes, but it just fits with the overall style of the basses.

So, my vote is "all of the above!"

Dan K.

 

[Pilgrim]

*Guess you didn't read the first entry. This is not a "What is the best headstock of all time." poll. I limited it to high end, boutique jazz basses. I used them as a control since the overall design of the basses in question is relatively similar and the only distinguishing design characteristic is their headstock.

Actually, your original post doesn't say anything about this not being a "What is the best headstock of all time." poll. Your thread title is: "Which is your favorite headstock design?"

I interpreted your wording as meaning what you asked: what is your favorite headstock design of all time?

Also, in your criteria in post #1, you asked:*Any headstock shapes that I haven't Considered that should be?

Perhaps the wording doesn't convey the question as well as it might have. No big deal - you've managed to surface some interesting headstock designs in this thread.

So - as you noted, Fender. They got it right the first time. I'm not interested in boutique basses.

But I also confess to loving the headstock on this 60's Univox:

 

[Atoz]

Of the choices given I voted Nordy, though my favorite headstock of all time is undoubtedly:

 

[iamlowsound]

Out of all of those, I pick Nino's design. Although it could be a little slimer. I don't really see much of a difference between the Sadowsky and the lakland, the nordstrand has always reminded me of the G&L headstock, which I don't like and don't even get me started on the paddle that is the alevia.

lowsound

 

[snaverb]

Why no Musicman on the list to vote for?

Musicman is the best headstock shape ever. My opinion

Lakland stole their headstock from Musicman

Sadowsky modeled their headstock from Musicman

Bacchus stole their design from Musicman