butchered headstock

[NHM]

Why do people think this is a good idea? How to wreck a lovely old instrument - it's criminal.

Fender Musicmaster Bass Dakota Red Guitar 1974 | eBay

 

[alyctes]

I suspect that sometimes it's because the lower "lobe" of the headstock has been broken off.

[tauzero]

Or it was done in the 1980s when it was a cheapo junk bass and someone thought it would help stop neck dive, or wanted to make the headstock look a bit like a Vox. See also the addition of a J pickup to 70s P basses.