When do you think a matching headstock does not look good?

[JakobT]

When do you think a matching headstock does not look good on a bass?

Never.

 

[KohanMike]

I've had head plates matching and not, depends on the the overall look.

 

[3toes]

Color or fingerboard material don't have much impact for me... It truly is on a case-by-case basis.

Actually, I'll throw in one stipulation. Fender or Fender-style shaped headstocks only. I've never seen a matching 2+2 or traditional Gibson-style headstock look good

 

[B-Mac]

When do you think a matching headstock does not look good on a bass?

Quite a few peeps here seem to like 'em!
Matching Headstock

 

[B-Mac]

Everything matches when its all the same wood. Padauk!!!

 

[nnnnnn]

If it clashes with the fretboard material.

But if a matched headstock clashes with the fretboard doesn't that mean the body clashes with the fretboard too?

 

[2cooltoolz]

When do you think a matching headstock does not look good on a bass?

Ever!

 

[Lance Bunyon]

I used to be against solid colors and matching headstocks.
Now I'm in favor of both.
Epitaph?

 

[Phaidrus]

View attachment 5243711 Love my matching headstock P!

A beauty!

Did you have the headstock resprayed? If so, how easy/difficult is it to get it right?

 

[5StringBlues]

when I'm all hopped on goofballs.

 

[Lance Bunyon]

when I'm all hopped on goofballs.

I remember being goofed up on hopballs. Similar, but different.

 

[5StringBlues]

I remember being goofed up on hopballs. Similar, but different.

 

[dkelley]

if the paint color is ugly, then less of it is better.

 

[Mastermold]

I would never want a sunburst headstock to go with a sunburst bass. Or, a tort headstock to go with a tort PG.

I had a sunburst matching headstock on my G&L L-2000 that looked really good IMO.

 

[LadyLoveStingRay5]

When the fretboard is maple, I think it looks better with matching block inlays.

View attachment 5243853

But I also like the roasted flamed maple look .

 

[fdeck]

When do you think a matching headstock does not look good on a bass?

When it matches an ugly color.

 

[micguy]

I’m not a fan of painted bodies, so painting a headstock to match the body is something that doesn’t really come up as something I consider.

 

[ELG60]

I don't like matching headstocks with maple fretboards. Somehow a rosewood or ebony board ties the headstock to the body, imo.

To each their own, although my tastes run in a different direction:

 

[Clark Westfield]

I’m a fan of matching everything.

Headstock, body, fretboard, hardware, keep it all the same!

Well at least for one of my basses.

 

[ELG60]

Once in a while burst headstocks look good but most I'm not a fan of. I think the headstock area is a bit small for a burst.

Here's one which I think pulls off that objective rather well. Marty Bell is, admittedly, an unique talent: