Matching headstock?

[B-Mac]

Always. I prefer them so much, I sent my two Zons (which I purchased used) back to the shop to have matching wood headstocks added, which is quite a bit harder than just painting them.
Before:
View attachment 2828175
View attachment 2828176
After:
View attachment 2828177

Oh, man I'm gonna pass out...............whew! Nice! Reeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaaalllllllllllll Nice!

 

[Fat Freddy]

So many beautiful basses in this thread.....

 

[bassdude51]

IMO.............a painted headstock makes a bass look shorter. So generally, I don't care for painted headstocks.

But, I do feel that a painted headstock looks better on a rosewood fretboard than it does on a maple fretboard. And once again IMO, a maple fretboard bass with a painted headstock just looks wrong. It's only my opinion and many bass owners have painted headstocks on maple and rosewood. Everybody has different tastes and ideas. Always to be respected.

 

[Whil57]

IMO.............a painted headstock makes a bass look shorter. So generally, I don't care for painted headstocks.

Good for people with smaller hands then!

 

[micguy]

I'm a fan of being able to swap necks on my basses, so not matching headstocks is, to me, a huge advantage.

On a neck through, go for it!

 

[tlc1976]

I think a matching headstock can look good for a lighter fingerboard. This is the cheap bass I started on, don't know what kind of wood the fingerboard is, it seems something like cedar without the smell because it's not very hard. I think a bright maple board would look good on a dark bass and headstock, almost a glowing effect.

 

[Whil57]

I think a matching headstock can look good for a lighter fingerboard. This is the cheap bass I started on, don't know what kind of wood the fingerboard is, it seems something like cedar without the smell because it's not very hard. I think a bright maple board would look good on a dark bass and headstock, almost a glowing effect.

View attachment 2828226

Looks like rosewood. And we we're considering that dark (brownish) as opposed to a maple finger board.

 

[cv115505]

I like the matched headstock with a rosewood board, but not so much with a maple. My no 1 has the matched headstock.

 

[Robert Strickland]

View attachment 2827496 View attachment 2827494 View attachment 2827495

Sir, you are in serious need of addiction recovery help.

 

[amper]

Survey says YES

 

[amper]

The only non-matching headstock I will accept is a black one.

 

[TrevorOfDoom]

I love the look of a painted headstock, but look at it's condition and how you've been treating it first. If it gets banged around a lot and you paint it, the paint will chip and be much more noticeable that a non-painted one. (FYI, I am willing to admit that I'm the only one clumsy enough to ever bang the end on something)

Mine's been konked on the coffee table, walls, support beams, stripper poles (that was an odd gig), singer's head, cymbals, other headstocks, etc. etc. etc.
Of all the pieces of my bass to protect, I seem to protect the headstock the least. (at least the bottom half. the top with the tuners gets babied.)

 

[74hc]

Matching headstock under most circumstances make the bass look cheaper to me. It's as if the manufacturer is covering up an undesirable grain pattern that shows it's not top grade neck wood.

So whenever I see a painted headstock, I think of inferior wood first.

The only circumstance that I believe it is warranted is matching the body wood on high end basses and guitars.

 

[TrevorOfDoom]

I say matching headstocks are for rosewood fretboards.
Maple fretboards are natural.

 

[Marko 1]

I like natural headstocks if they match the fingerboard (maple/maple, wenge/wenge, etc), otherwise I say paint it!

This.

 

[amper]

I don't like maple fretboards or fingerboards, at all, so I don't need to worry about that.

 

[Mr.Ace]

All natural and wouldn't change a thing

 

[bucephylus]

Kia ora bass whānau!

I am in the process of refinishing my Squire PJ. It was a 3TSB going to a baby blue. Question is should I paint the headstock to match? It's got a rosewood board.
Also, pics of your matching-headstock basses are encouraged!

Ngā mihi nui! View attachment 2827193

Kia ora back to you. Just got into your town this AM and have returned from lunch on Cuba St.

Nice bass project you have going there. Here's an All Black for you:

And, here's the Cherry Bomb:

 

[El Spearo]

Did you say blue + matching headstock?
View attachment 2827632

that's just plain pornographic!

No, no, no. No matching headstock. Makes it look like a toy. IMO, that is. Sorry.

Whenever I go to down to my music room, my wife asks: Are you going to play with your toys? So, there you have it! hahaha!

Great color choice, and even better decision (or consideration) to do the headstock as well!

Here are my black and shell pink J-Classic IVs, among other matching headstock instruments with a few too many strings....

View attachment 2827673

That shell pink J is fire. I almost ordered a flea jazz just because of the colour

Just be sure to add that Fender decal when its done LOL

I have ordered a decal, but I'm considering leaving it naked

It's your instrument. Do with it as you please.

If it were mine, I wouldn't have ruined a nice burst finish, but to each their own... I haven't always been a fan but they've grown on me a lot....

With solid color finishes, a PTM headstock always looks best in my book.

I have 2 other burst basses, not going to miss it...

Sometimes I think painted headstocks look good, others I prefer natural. I have a few painted headstocks, but on my SR4, I think it would be sacrilege to cover up that wood:

View attachment 2827899

If that was the bass in question, this thread would not exist!

Kia ora back to you. Just got into your town this AM and have returned from lunch on Cuba St.

Nice bass project you have going there. Here's an All Black for you:
View attachment 2828383

And, here's the Cherry Bomb:
View attachment 2828382

Nice basses! Are you in Welly for a while? giz a yell, let's go for a delicious craft beer!

 

[El Spearo]

Just curious...........does this thread in any way, shape or form replace or augment this existing thread and (defunct) club? The Official Matching Headstock Club

I wouldn't think so, but I'm more than happy that everybody is showing off their basses!