Owen Posted February 10, 2018 Share Posted February 10, 2018 So many lovely basses out there. So many ........ unpleasing headstocks. I have no positive suggestions, don't get me wrong. But people who can design really nice bodies just miss the spot with the headstock. Or is it just me? Disclaimer - I am stuck in front of Saturday night TV and I am bored. I will also not be pointing out examples of what I mean - nothing to be gained by dissing people on a public forum. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rubbersoul Posted February 10, 2018 Share Posted February 10, 2018 Agreed. So many ugly headstock designs. Ones I like are Schecter, Spector, Ibanez. Dislike big blocky things, pointy things and overly elaborate things. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ped Posted February 10, 2018 Share Posted February 10, 2018 And so many nice headstocks ruined by an ugly body! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rubbersoul Posted February 10, 2018 Share Posted February 10, 2018 Quite. Some of those really expensive ones are the worst offenders. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gelfin Posted February 10, 2018 Share Posted February 10, 2018 I quite like mine. But then I would I suppose. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZilchWoolham Posted February 10, 2018 Share Posted February 10, 2018 (edited) I like Wal and Gibson (classic open book, and V) headstocks, and I'm fine with Fenders, too. The Stingray is also very elegant, and distinctive. Oh, and the old Aria Pro II SB headstocks, which unfortunately don't match very well with the body. I don't like 2+2 headstocks that are asymmetrical, as most are nowadays. I'm also of the opinion that most headstocks would be immediately improved with cloverleaf tuners. I'm not a fan of whatever you would call the more triangular tuners that have been so predominant over the last 30 years or so. My favourite guitar headstock belongs to the Hamer Sunburst. Edited February 10, 2018 by ZilchWoolham 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rubbersoul Posted February 10, 2018 Share Posted February 10, 2018 30 minutes ago, gelfin said: I quite like mine. But then I would I suppose. Whatever fires your engines dude but personally I’m not a fan. I’m sure it sounds and feels beautiful though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arthurhenry Posted February 10, 2018 Share Posted February 10, 2018 Fender got it right and then no one was allowed to copy it. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ambient Posted February 10, 2018 Share Posted February 10, 2018 I like mine . 3 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scalpy Posted February 10, 2018 Share Posted February 10, 2018 Before anyone starts the modern G&L design is ace, I love it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jacko Posted February 10, 2018 Share Posted February 10, 2018 We've been down this road before https://www.basschat.co.uk/topic/301501-worst-headstocks-ever/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Painy Posted February 11, 2018 Share Posted February 11, 2018 The headstock shape is generally a big part of what identifies the brand (it's where the logo is normally located too) so needs to be as individual as possible (assuming it's not actually trying to look as much as possible like another brand without actually getting sued for it). There are only so many shapes that are practical in terms of holding the tuners in a suitable position before you have to start adding weird sticky-out bits purely in order to be different. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Painy Posted February 11, 2018 Share Posted February 11, 2018 This though I just don't understand at all. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wateroftyne Posted February 11, 2018 Share Posted February 11, 2018 (edited) There's some horrors out there. ...and the winner of of the 'Most hideous headstock decal' award: Edited February 11, 2018 by wateroftyne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bolo Posted February 11, 2018 Share Posted February 11, 2018 Fender should be shot for continuing the snot-blob design. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaggy Posted February 11, 2018 Share Posted February 11, 2018 11 hours ago, arthurhenry said: Fender got it right and then no one was allowed to copy it. Generally accepted that Bigsby got there first with the Merle Travis electric guitar of the 1940's: https://ledgernote.com/columns/guitar-guru/merle-travis-guitar/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wateroftyne Posted February 11, 2018 Share Posted February 11, 2018 8 minutes ago, Shaggy said: Generally accepted that Bigsby got there first with the Merle Travis electric guitar of the 1940's: https://ledgernote.com/columns/guitar-guru/merle-travis-guitar/ OK.. in that case, how far back do you want to go? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaggy Posted February 11, 2018 Share Posted February 11, 2018 (edited) 2 hours ago, wateroftyne said: OK.. in that case, how far back do you want to go? Nowhere for Slowhands to tuck his fag in that though....... edit: besides, it's also a 2 + 2 Edited February 11, 2018 by Shaggy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ead Posted February 11, 2018 Share Posted February 11, 2018 12 hours ago, gelfin said: I quite like mine. But then I would I suppose. That is stunning. Is it one of the Mouradian (may have mispelt that) basses that Chris Squire used to use, albeit with a different pickup combo? I'd love to try one of these. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Linus27 Posted February 11, 2018 Share Posted February 11, 2018 I like the Lakland and Stingray headstock. They are a much softer version of the Fender design. Fender is still my favourite, does what it says on the tin. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheGreek Posted February 11, 2018 Share Posted February 11, 2018 (edited) 1 hour ago, ead said: That is stunning. Is it one of the Mouradian (may have mispelt that) basses that Chris Squire used to use, albeit with a different pickup combo? I'd love to try one of these. This a Andyjr1515 build which acknowledges the CS original design. I love the headstock designs he produces. Here's the design on my Psilos Bass. Got to agree that many headstock designs are poorly designed, many are just lazy copies of the original Fender design. One my favourite headstock designs is the mid 80s design of the Ibanez models such as the Musician, even though this has a nod to the Alembic SC models. Edited February 11, 2018 by TheGreek 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oopsdabassist Posted February 11, 2018 Share Posted February 11, 2018 @ead here ya go Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oopsdabassist Posted February 11, 2018 Share Posted February 11, 2018 Damn, just beat me Mick! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ead Posted February 11, 2018 Share Posted February 11, 2018 Thanks folks. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave_bass5 Posted February 11, 2018 Share Posted February 11, 2018 15 hours ago, owen said: So many lovely basses out there. So many ........ unpleasing headstocks. I have no positive suggestions, don't get me wrong. But people who can design really nice bodies just miss the spot with the headstock. Or is it just me? Disclaimer - I am stuck in front of Saturday night TV and I am bored. I will also not be pointing out examples of what I mean - nothing to be gained by dissing people on a public forum. The headstock is the reason i have never owned a G&L bass, which is a shame as i know they are good basses. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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