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Matching Headstock
- Thread starter jimiwhite
- Start date
Matching headstocks only look good on instruments with a dark (for example, rosewood or ebony) fingerboard.
Quite fond of this pair.
That white Ray with the gold hardware is beautiful. I'm quite jealous!
I currently own 8 basses, 3 of them have matching headstocks and a 4th has like a black plate on top of the headstock (Cort). Wish my two Fender Precisions had matching headstocks. If I had a bass build project going on the headstock would definitely not be left naked.
1986 Epiphone Accu Bass
2012 Ibanez SRX2EX2
2019 Fender California Series Kingman V2 JTB
Previously Owned - 2018 Ibanez SR400EQM
And although not a matching headstock, body is a deep candy apple red, this is definitely one of my favorite headstock shots. The headstock is not "naked", it's some kind of plate on top of the headstock. Wouldn't mind something like this on my Precisions.
*Note: I didn't string this bass. I should restring the G string, but the bass doesn't get played anymore.
2000 Cort Curbow Signature 4
1986 Epiphone Accu Bass
2012 Ibanez SRX2EX2
2019 Fender California Series Kingman V2 JTB
Previously Owned - 2018 Ibanez SR400EQM
And although not a matching headstock, body is a deep candy apple red, this is definitely one of my favorite headstock shots. The headstock is not "naked", it's some kind of plate on top of the headstock. Wouldn't mind something like this on my Precisions.
*Note: I didn't string this bass. I should restring the G string, but the bass doesn't get played anymore.
2000 Cort Curbow Signature 4
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I don't know - I kind of like having a "generic" headstock for the purposes of swapping and tinkering. My '78 P-bass neck has been on 5 different bodies, now and my J-bass neck is on its second body.
With a matching headstock, I feel a bit constrained. The ones I've had have all been non-Fender-spec, so it's not like there's much out there to begin with if I need a new neck or I want to try a body with a different pickup configuration. But if I did, it would make the search exponentially more of a PITA.
I'm neutral on the look in many instances. (I do have to admit, though: it does look pretty badass to me sometimes on the Fenders.)
With a matching headstock, I feel a bit constrained. The ones I've had have all been non-Fender-spec, so it's not like there's much out there to begin with if I need a new neck or I want to try a body with a different pickup configuration. But if I did, it would make the search exponentially more of a PITA.
I'm neutral on the look in many instances. (I do have to admit, though: it does look pretty badass to me sometimes on the Fenders.)
I can see the tinkering, swapping necks out aspect of why one needs a plain headstock instead of matching headstock. Good point, one I hadn't thought about.
I like 'em.
60's style solid color Jazz Basses just don't look right without them to me (unless stack knobs).
60's style solid color Jazz Basses just don't look right without them to me (unless stack knobs).
Oddly enough, most natural finish basses have matching headstocks. 
This is my take as well. Though I’d add the caveat that maple fretboard to maple headstock is preferred. And a black headstock matching a black body with a dark fretboard works.
Something about the painted headstock matching the painted body doesn’t appeal to me, especially for bright colors. Like matching your shirt to your shoes with contrasting pants in between.
But I recognize that I’m in the minority when it comes to aesthetics. I don’t like pickguards either.
On dark wood fingerboards I prefer them. Both of mine happen to be black but I think it really looks good when the color is not black. The Dano is Pau Ferro. On maple fingerboards, it's a tossup. For me anyway.
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Nice, that's like one of my Rays, except mine is like a matte olive green:
Matching headstocks are not my thing. If it goes with a particular image or schtick that the band is trying to have, sure... But generally I feel that matching head stocks look a little too 'cute' for my taste.
On the flip side, a non-matching head stock can look silly as well. If a guitar has a nice finish with a rosewood fretboard, then an untouched maple head looks out of place. I always make sure the headstock goes with the body/neck. For example, vintage tint on my corral pink jazz bass, or black with my ebony fretboard reverend, etc...
On the flip side, a non-matching head stock can look silly as well. If a guitar has a nice finish with a rosewood fretboard, then an untouched maple head looks out of place. I always make sure the headstock goes with the body/neck. For example, vintage tint on my corral pink jazz bass, or black with my ebony fretboard reverend, etc...
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VERY jealous of your EBMM collection... Is that a Cliff Williams or just same finish? Also, no love for the Sterling?
