What's your favorite headstock?

[Deleted member 264575]

Oh my! It's the mysterious squid-stock. Occasionally seen on Talkbass. Rarely seen in the wild. Wait...I have one of those.

M. M.

Another one in my all-time top 20. Pure genius.

M. M.

Is that a Ken Lawrence and a Stambaugh? Both are gorgeous! The KL design is soooo cool. the Stambaughs' wood is amazing. How does the grain change so drastically and so smoothly? Any idea? Both designs are great.

 

[blowinblue]

Is that a Ken Lawrence and a Stambaugh? Both are gorgeous! The KL design is soooo cool. the Stambaughs' wood is amazing. How does the grain change so drastically and so smoothly? Any idea? Both designs are great.

Thanks. You nailed it. Both headstock designs are in my all-time top 20. Top wood on Stambaugh is afzelia burl. Matches body top wood. Nature is both drastic and smooth. Sorry, that's the best answer I could come up with. Chris Stambaugh bought that afzelia from a supplier within an hour drive of his shop based on discussions of what I wanted to accomplish visually, IIRC. Much to the glee of the 'wood doesn't make a difference in sound' crowd, my choice was based mostly on looks. How shallow is that?

M. M.

 

[Deleted member 264575]

Much to the glee of the 'wood doesn't make a difference in sound' crowd, my choice was based mostly on looks. How shallow is that?
M. M.

Yeah, it may seem shallow to base it on looks, but if aesthetics don't come into it, we should all sell and go home. Design and finish are an important factor, even if it just makes you feel better. If I take pride in my instruments appearance, I'll probably play better. It's the same with taking pride in your own appearance. Humans like beauty. That's all there is to it, in my book. (PS: I'm currently shelling out a boatload of cash, just to get my bass re-finished, for no other reason than "it will look cool". Shallow? Not to me.

Congrats on some gorgeous basses (headstocks, anyway )!

 

[BritBass 2]

 

[Iridescentone]

I like the ones on my Czech Dean Improvs. The abalone and MOP inlay over the matching quilted maple headstock veneer is unique and beautiful.

Honeyburst

Trans-purple

Nicely complemented by a scimitar at the 12th fret, on an otherwise naked wenge board

 

[GIBrat51]

This one... nah, just kidding.

It's this one... really...

 

[jazzyvee]

View attachment 823330 View attachment 823331My favs

Well something I learnt today, I didn't know fender made 6 string fretted basses.

 

[blastbass]

 

[blastbass]

This one's mine, when it was new:

 

[Doctor J]

 

[thewildest]

My Ritter's; this headstock is from planet Jens.

 

[wes stephenson]

Well something I learnt today, I didn't know fender made 6 string fretted basses.

It's the Steve Bailey sig model. They only made them for like a year. I tune mine F#-G and it has the BEST Bstr of any bass I've ever had.

 

[tg42]

70s style Fender Jazz.

 

[Bryan R. Tyler]

Elrick, Zon, Ken Smith, and the standard Fender are probably my favorites. Pedulla is great too (similar to a Zon).

View attachment 823887

Then you make it a tiltback for more tension. Works great, but muscle memory rebels against the tuners.

The reverse headstock and tilt back headstock won't increase the tension along the speaking length of the string at all.

 

[west al]

The Hofner 500/1.

 

[JIO]

Maybe someone posted one like it already, but here's my recent acquisition - and a favorite hs design.

 

[ctmullins]

 

[M.R. Ogle]

I just skimmed these posts to make SURE that the Ken Lawrence headstock got properly mentioned. I find it VERY attractive. As are the rest of his basses!

 

[kkaarrll]

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• kkaarrll
• May 6, 2016

wenge

carrigan

 

[JAKeverline]

My favorites: