Headstocks

[Stephen_42]

Based on discussion on another thread about headstock designs, what size headstock do you typically prefer?

I'm sure the answer will be "depends on the guitar" in most cases, but asking in a general sense as a bit of fun:

[muffonrat]

Lately my favourite is the Coronado shaped headstock, also like the pre CBS jazzmaster and Firebird shaped headstock. What really puts me off is the truss rod adjustment hole, looks totally wrong imo, but it's more practical.

[natthu]

It might be more useful to ask which headstocks people don't like

As you said, it depends on the guitar, but generally I like anything Fender from Tele to Jazzmaster. The only exception where I like a bigger headstock (and left/right tuners as opposed to all on one side) would probably be the Electric XII.

I'm not really a fan of Strats in general but my Tele 72 Deluxe has a JM neck simply because I don't like that oversized CBS Strat look

[GreenKnee]

Is a Jaguar headstock medium? That one or a Tele.

[JSett]

I think the Jaguar headstock is the perfect middle ground on size. I love big headstocks though.

[tammyw]

I'm fine with any headstock, as long as it's not too wacky looking. I can't hardly remember what my guitar's headstock looks like when it's not in front of me.

[2groggy]

IMO, function before form. Smaller reduces weight and improves balance.

This raises the thought of adding headless to the top of the list.

[ManFromMars]

I like big headstocks, but I also love Teles. It's a conundrum.

[hulakatt]

I dig the CBS ones but I really like the Pre-CBS Jazzmaster ones too.

[RocknRollShakeUp]

Lately my favourite is the Coronado shaped headstock, also like the pre CBS jazzmaster and Firebird shaped headstock. What really puts me off is the truss rod adjustment hole, looks totally wrong imo, but it's more practical.

I too have started to really dig the Coronado headstock!
And I know what you mean about the truss rods...I like the looks of the vintage ones...but I’m thinking of getting a headstock truss rod neck for one of my JM’s just for dealing with rapidly changing environments when gigging or recording..I can take the neck off no problem but it is a more tedious pain in the ass..
——-
On a JM the pre-CBS headstocks are perfection to me.

Strats...I prefer the small 50’s ones, but the big ones have a certain vulgar panache about them too

On Tele’s...I guess traditional.. I used to just hate on them, so stunted and ugly, but they’ve grown on me.

The Starcaster ones are fugly deep down, but I could live with them, and can even convince myself that they are kinda cool

[pscates]

Telecaster, all the way.

Leo got it right, guitar and bass, the first time, IMO. Not sure why the Strat had to come with that larger one with the odd "bat-wing" scallop that isn't reflected/echoed anywhere on the body (and that goes for the Jazzmaster, Jaguar, Precision and Jazz Basses and every other Fender with a non-Tele headstock).

The only other headstock I like on Fender guitars - simply because it's a larger, Strat-size take on the above, is that headstock on Ron Thorn's California Special guitars (here, here and here, for those who may not be familiar/aware) which looks to be a Strat headstock, but with the "batwing" replaced with a nice rounded shape. Again, pairing nicely with the body it's on. Fender doesn't really do guitars with sharp, pointy SG-style body edges. They have nice, contoured curves (even a slab-y Tele still has a nice rolling perimeter shape, with no sharp cutbacks or curves). I just think it looks nice when the headstock mirrors that.

I think those Thorn ones are tweaked, streamlined Coronados (since it was mentioned above). I think they look great.

But those aren't available on production-line Fenders, so...Telecaster is my choice, and it works on all the above models. I love seeing a Tele bass headstock on a Precision or Jazz bass. They look great!

[marqueemoon]

Depends on the guitar. Just needs to look proportional, and the guitar needs to balance well when seated and on a strap.

The huge CBS headstock is not my favorite, but I wouldn’t rule it out.

[Maggieo]

Depends on the guitar. Just needs to look proportional, and the guitar needs to balance well when seated and on a strap.

The huge CBS headstock is not my favorite, but I wouldn’t rule it out.

I concur.

[pscates]

Telemasters/Jazzcasters have Tele headstocks and I’ve never heard anyone have a problem with it.

Two things:

1) Are those bodies as large as the Jazzmaster, or are they slightly scaled down?

2) Does the fact that they’re primarily set up/outfitted as Teles (bridge, pickups, switching) cause people to be okay with that smaller headstock in that scenario?

I’m thinking one or both above might be at play.

[BlueMelody]

All sizes are cool with me.