Best headstock shape (except fender)?

[Rexel Matador]

[Alberto Rigoni]

8 hours ago, wateroftyne said:

They have a new shirt headstock now, bye they sound great those basses

[Stingray5]

Tune TWB-6

 

Tune SWV4-BB

 

Edited March 26, 2020 by Stingray5

[Stingray5]

How could I not....!

[Richard R]

10 hours ago, Al Krow said:

If I had to chose one, it would be the Smith. It combines form (and that is before we look at the reverse of the headstock where the quality of the craftsmanship sets it apart) with function. Little touches such as having the 3 lighter gauge strings on one side to balance the weight and tension of the two heavier bottom strings reflects the attention to detail that has gone into the design of the headstock as well as the rest of the bass.

Never thought of the uneven tension across the neck. It's obviously marginal, otherwise everyone would do it, but little things add up.
What does the reverse look like then?

[bubinga5]

I think Music Man, Sadowsky, Lakland have it down. The car crash of Ken Smith's headstock is evident. Its like he wanted this headstock and forget about how the strings will sit/look. A bit like Fodera's Knob placements.  Bizarre. 

[Mastodon2]

35 minutes ago, bubinga5 said:

I think Music Man, Sadowsky, Lakland have it down. The car crash of Ken Smith's headstock is evident. Its like he wanted this headstock and forget about how the strings will sit/look. A bit like Fodera's Knob placements.  Bizarre. 

What's the problem? 🤔

[Tdw]

Kubicki X factor, I think it counts as a headstock?  Shaped like a Japanese Katana sword.

 

 

 

 

 

[Grahambythesea]

7 hours ago, NancyJohnson said:

Is that A string machine crooked?

No it’s just the way I photographed it?,

[ped]

2 hours ago, bubinga5 said:

I think Music Man, Sadowsky, Lakland have it down. The car crash of Ken Smith's headstock is evident. Its like he wanted this headstock and forget about how the strings will sit/look. A bit like Fodera's Knob placements.  Bizarre. 

The old (larger) Smith headstock is one of my faves, I love it. 

[Jonesy]

Love the shape of a thunderbird headstock with its gorgeous trim.... 

 

And I've heard them get some stick on here, but I'm also a fan of the g&l headstock...... 

 

 

Edited March 27, 2020 by Jonesy

[Highfox]

The Daddy of the Ray's my 77.

[three]

This for me but it only really works in context

Edited March 27, 2020 by three

[Cuzzie]

I really feel all you Puny Humans should bow down to the best headstock ever.

Your meagre efforts make me smile with pity

Behold.......

[artisan]

Dingwall D roc 

[bigjimmyc]

Bigger is better, right?

[pst62]

11 hours ago, Jonesy said:

Love the shape of a thunderbird headstock with its gorgeous trim.... 

 

And I've heard them get some stick on here, but I'm also a fan of the g&l headstock...... 

 

 

You beat me to it with the Thunderbird. But the G&L is a non-starter for my tastes.

Edited March 27, 2020 by pst62

[cetera]

Apart from the classic 'Spector' headstock, it has to be this one....

Hamer Impact:

[bubinga5]

I was probably a bit harsh on KS headstock. Its the string direction that gets me.

[Doctor J]

Any symmetrical headstock looks terrible with an uneven number of tuners. Zon, Smith, Gibson, even the lovely Alembic crown headstock, they just look woegeously uneven as five string models.

[dudewheresmybass]

[White Cloud]

20 hours ago, ped said:

The old (larger) Smith headstock is one of my faves, I love it. 

Agreed! Very subjective thread this one.

[ped]

11 minutes ago, White Cloud said:

Agreed! Very subjective thread this one.

Indeed! I much prefer the look of a ‘paddle’ headstock and dislike small pointy ones. 

I know it’s a bit lame to show your own here but it wasn’t until I noticed how the ‘V’ logo fits with the shape of the headstock (particularly the top) that I realised how nicely it’s designed. The ‘scoop’ also mirrors the shape of the horns of the body. Clever and nice looking imo. 
 

[hiram.k.hackenbacker]

Simple, but effective 😎

[drTStingray]

Compact and shiny

compact and very shiny

Compact and matt finish

Compact and Old Smoothie!

 

Edited March 27, 2020 by drTStingray