Matching Headstock

[JEDI BASS]

I like matching headstocks when the fretboard is dark and/or when the headstock wood is plain looking. Light colors (whites, yellows, pale greens and blues) can also look good next to a maple fretboards. My birdseye and figured maple headstocks are non-matching. I like seeing the figuring more than I want it to match the body. I also had a gold BFR Bongo with an all rosewood neck and fretboard. The grain in the rosewood was gorgeous so EB glossed to headstock instead of painting it... the right choice IMO.

 

[seedokebass]

I'm all for it, I have the Lakland in my profile picture and this guy:

 

[JeezyMcNuggles]

Considering a bass project.. What is your opinion on matching headstocks? Please post a photo of same if you have one....Thanks

It's cool. Not any sort of necessity.

 

[Resonance129]

People tend to either love em or hate em.
I love matching headstocks, but don't currently have any basses with one. It's a nice detail, but isn't what I would consider imperative when making a purchase.

 

[rmayer]

Just wondering, is this considered a “matching headstock”?

 

[rmayer]

Maybe these two qualify. Both Shoreline Gold with matching headstocks. Also the Ruby Red JB.

 

[Riff Ranger]

View attachment 4105185 View attachment 4105186 Maybe these two quality. Both Shoreline Gold with matching headstocks. Also the Ruby Red JB.

Love those twins! Different tunings? Flats and rounds? Primary and backup?

 

[Riff Ranger]

While I still like unfinished headstocks where both the neck and (if present) fingerboard are maple, more than a few in this thread have me convinced that matching can work even then

 

[Davbassdude]

The thing is...my Ric and my Jazz bass are both mapleglo and natural maple finish and of course the headstock is also the same!

 

[MAJOR METAL]

 

[Riff Ranger]

Matching or complimentary.

Matching in sig. Complimentary as in:View attachment 4105039

Not surprisingly, I also like this look. Not a bass, but it matches my amplifier and my car!

 

[Killing Floor]

See avatar. It means the bass is finished. Not sure why some people don’t finish painting their guitars. You wouldn’t paint half your car. Just because Leo did it that way 70 years ago?
Due to some builders not finishing the job some of my basses and guitars have unfinished heads. But most of mine are completed.

 

[roller]

Modern-style basses... fine... have your matching, painted headstocks. But it looks too showy on a Fender.

We rarely (if ever) see Knopfler, Clapton, Beck, SRV or Hendrix with matching, painted headstocks on their Fenders. There's a good reason for that... and for me, the same guidelines apply to Fender basses.

But on a traditional Fender or a bass that mimics this style with a matching headstock is like a sports car with matching wheels instead of alloys -- it looks tacky, out of place and just makes me wonder "why?"

 

[sikamikanico]

I don’t really care about it, but I agree with folks that say yes on dark fretboards (ebony, rosewood etc) and no on bright fretboards (maple, most pau ferro etc).

For the first time today I realized that I actually quite dislike it on any P bass, but it looks really well on Jazz basses (with a dark rosewood board).

 

[JakobT]

Love them - I wish all my basses had one.

 

[ELG60]

In many cases, I prefer them.

 

[Shawn Luckman]

With a black body, dark fingerboard, and maple neck, it’s a must.
View attachment 4104984

With a maple neck and maple fingerboard, though? Leave that thing alone.
View attachment 4104989

Couldn't agree more I'm not one for maple necks & painted headstocks BUT on a rosewood board thats a different matter .

 

[etnoo]

I love the look of my black MTD Kingston with bright fretboard, no markers.
Sire V5 has also a nice touch of matching headstock to fingerboard - all is roasted maple

 

[cnltb]

Matching Headstock
Entirely unimportant to me as it speaks neither to how well a bass is put together , nor to how it feels or sounds.

 

[etnoo]

Matching Headstock
Entirely unimportant to me as it speaks neither to how well a bass is put together , nor to how it feels or sounds.

This thread is all about a bass project so the look is important too, it completes the whole...