Visual Appearances of Headstocks

[AdvenJack]

I really enjoyed all the photos and comments!
Thanks friends!

[Tricky Fish]

are nylon string headstocks allowed?

[Marty Grass]

From the "less is more" crowd is the Steinberger. I used one as a travel guitar. Works well and no neck dive.

[Marty Grass]

From the "more is more" perspective.

[stevus]

Yamaoka guitars

[stevus]

Bozo

[kris]

Attachment 79240
Frameworks guitar.

[Sam Sherry]

Stand back, please:


C'mon, give the maestro some room, he came all the way from Japan:



Shiro Tsuji. The guitar is a masterwork and he doesn't even put his name on the peghead!

[Dave Johnson]

Those inlays (the second Hofner) would help me remember which string I'm changing.

[Peter C]

I definitely prefer to see straight-ish string pull or at least not to see the string behind (almost) coming imto contact with the peg in front.

So, Heritage it is all the way. Except the Eagle Centurion, which was obviously designed by Terry Gilliam.

[Adam C.]

It's cheap, made in china, but I really like this headstock.

[jonh]

Two Slingerlands and a Gibson Les Paul Artisan.

1930s sunburst Songster:


1930s blonde Songster:



1978 Les Paul Artisan, sunburst with 3 pickups. I think it weighs 50 pounds, half of that comes from all that mother of pearl.

[jonh]

Does anyone else see the flying spaghetti monster in the Hofner headstock?

[AdvenJack]

I am So Happy to see all the examples that you've all collectively shared! I really feel
a lot of artistry is exhibited in headstocks! And looking closely at at the variety we see
in this thread, I am often finding it hard to be honest with myself in studying JUST the
shape of the headstock, sans all the inlay work, sans depth of some designs, sans colors
of the wood, sans non-wood veneers, and so on, and so on!
I offer another headstock that I really LOVE in the below photo. I feel it's a "fancied up"
Stratocaster type, so to speak. But again, a big part of its attractive "look", is that there are
two depths to the surface of the headstock, so it's NOT just the shape of the outer edge.
Now I confess that I really do NOT care for the shape of the guitar that this headstock is
typically associated with, the Gibson NON-REVERSE Firebird. Further, I don't really care for
the REVERSE Firebird either, so, I actually can't immediately think of a guitar body shape
that I feel this headstock works correctly with. And I Love it nonetheless!
Google Image Result for https://64.media.tumblr.com/2fd2386dd4335a64517ff4a9c1235ed7/tumblr_o2vgvnek7z1ul6an2o1_1280.jpg

[Woody Sound]

[Doctor Jeff]

OK you win!

Looks like a Dr. Seuss version of a stringed instrument.

[Doctor Jeff]

OK it's not too complicated or elaborate, but for a clean midcentury look it's hard to beat this Harmony headstock. How many headstocks have you seen in Walnut?

[Roy Boy]

Mine (I'm prejudiced). Quite understated compared to the other amazing examples here (I hate doing inlay)

[Doctor Jeff]

These are all really cool examples. It occurs to me that trends in headstocks seem to mirror trends in furniture styling. Not surprising I guess.

If so, sleek midcentury designs like Fender and the Gibson Firebird and my Harmony should be top of the charts.

I like/love that Gretsch White Falcon, but can't see myself ever getting or playing one. It's the Elvis of guitar headstocks for sure!

[BigDaddyLoveHandles]

Not a fan of ornate guitars. Minimalist, me.

Ken Parker archtop:

[citizenk74]

Those inlays (the second Hofner) would help me remember which string I'm changing.

[citizenk74]

Mine (I'm prejudiced). Quite understated compared to the other amazing examples here (I hate doing inlay)

[Cunamara]

From the "more is more" perspective.

Now that's a Heritage headstock that I like! However, usually when I'm looking at a Heritage I am paying very little attention to the headstock and my eye is drawn to the typically glorious sunburst that they do. Other than maybe Jimmy D'Aquisto, I don't know that anyone in guitar making consistently does such a beautiful bursts.

[AllanAllen]

I think the Gibson flying V is a piece of symmetrical beauty.

https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/752450

[GNAPPI]

Now that's a Heritage headstock that I like! However, usually when I'm looking at a Heritage I am paying very little attention to the headstock and my eye is drawn to the typically glorious sunburst that they do. Other than maybe Jimmy D'Aquisto, I don't know that anyone in guitar making consistently does such a beautiful bursts.

Agreed, as a matter of fact, the rare times I see a nice burst on a Gibson I think someone from Heritage must have been invited to spray some in a teaching clinic at Gibson :-)