Out of Curiosity, why a natty headstock?

[darchirnoj]

From various posts and threads, I gather that there seems to be a preference towards natural (or unpainted) headstocks.
Why is this so?
Just curious.
Does it have more of a "vintage" vibe?
Thanks,
darchirnoj

 

[Larry]

To me some colors just look better with the non-matching headstock... Good question though, I think its more personal preference than anything.

 

[robelinda2]

natty rules, on a maple neck anyway. most of the time i think matching loos good on a rosewood board, but it depends on the colour scheme going on. plus i have to say a lifetime seeing and playing Fender strats doesnt help, they all have natty heads and it looks good on them.

 

[phatduckk]

painted headstocks scare me. just not my thing.

i prefer natty about 90% of the time. there's exceptions like my trans black BFR Luke... but on most guitars a matching headstock is a dealbreaker for me.

just a quirk i guess

 

[Sweat]

For me it is a personal thing, depends on the guitar and color, a maple fret board always looks nice with NAT while a rosewood tends to look better with matching, hell I like them all who am I kidding

 

[Larry]

I'm weird I like rosewood boards with non-matching and maple with matching.

 

[beej]

I think, for me, it's that the natural headstock reinforces the fact that guitar is actually made from wood. Sounds silly, but seeing a colour on the body and the headstock makes it look less natural.

So I definitely connect to the natty headstock.

 

[mbgreene]

Aesthetically,
I prefer a non-matching on a maple board because it allows for a clean line and doesn't shorten the neck.

On a rosewood board I prefer matching, because introducing a third color (the natural headstock) which may or may not jive with the rest of the color scheme doesn't interest me. Gotta match your shoes with your bag.

In reality however, I have two guitars with maple boards - one gremlin green matching - because it is probably one of maybe two gg AL's so I wasn't going to let a little thing like a headstock color hold me back, and one black headstock - neither matching nor natural - because that was the only color available with the Envy Green LE - so go figure?

And here is the Harcourt Fenton Mudd logic question for you guys who won't get a matching headstock. If you get a guitar with a natural finish and the headstock is natural then wouldn't that also be a matching headstock and therefore a deal killer

 

[dstockden]

depends on the guitar for me.
JP's colour matched, Silo, silo spec, natty, Luke's, depends on the colour, ASS's depends on the colour.
just personal choice, most guitars though (generally) dont tend to have painted headstocks do they? so i guess its something we are used to, like Valve amps as opposed to digital.

 

[travs]

This debate pains me. I like both but Natty is my 1st choice and my next ebmm will be a natty
but a LE or a BFR is so rightous with a painted head. Lets admit we are spoiled with options being in the EBMM army.

 

[www.lamusic.ca]

I've wondered this myself - I always find that the unpainted headstock leaves an unfinished look on the instrument - but hey, to each his own!

 

[PugNinjas]

It's most definitely personal preference but I do enjoy Beej's take on it, quite an interesting theory which maybe a subconscious factor that affects our decision.

 

[Jimmyb]

I like the natural headstock with a maple finger board, but I prefer matching with a rosewood finger board.

I don't think either way is better than the other, it's just a matter of personal taste.

 

[TNT]

Depends on the guitar and "color" - great "both" ways!!

 

[leftyguitarblue]

For me it is a personal thing, depends on the guitar and color, a maple fret board always looks nice with NAT while a rosewood tends to look better with matching, hell I like them all who am I kidding

+1

 

[Plaschkes]

I agree with beej.

The painted headstock just makes it look a bit like a toy to me, a bit too plastic, too unreal.

 

[candid_x]

I prefer Balls with natural headstocks in general, but I like painted on burst or sparkle finishes. Maple or rosewood boards have no bearing for me, other than the overall look of each guitar.

I prefer brunettes over blonds, unless they wear red.

 

[RocketRalf]

I have two guitars with maple boards - one gremlin green matching - because it is probably one of maybe two gg AL's so I wasn't going to let a little thing like a headstock color hold me back, and one black headstock - neither matching nor natural - because that was the only color available with the Envy Green LE - so go figure?

I happen to like black headstocks with most body colors. Some other companies always do that, but there's something sexier about the small round headstock of the EBMM than any of those.

I usually don't like natural headstocks on rosewood boards, but I dislike burst headstocks even more. A HB ASS has to go with rosewood fretboard and nat HS. I hate white or cream in a matching HS. I don't think I can draw a pattern to my likings, it depends on the instrument, the body finish and the fretboard. But I don't see anything wrong on a natural headstock on it's own, and a headstock option that I don't particularly like would never stop me from buying an instrument. In fact I think the 100$ difference have more of a weight on me than the looks

 

[Multiversal]

I like natural headstocks on all Balls EXCEPT for Petrucci and Axis guitars. Gotta have a matching headstock on those.

My Luke has a matching headstock, although I think my next Luke will be natural.

 

[spychocyco]

I love matching headstocks. There's just something about them that I love, makes the look of the guitar complete to me. Now, if I was going to get a new guitar and the only model that I could find had a natural headstock, it wouldn't be a deal breaker. But if there were two of them, one with a natural and one with a matching, I'd take the matching every single time.