To match or not to match?

[robelinda2]

Colin your Y2D is amazing. Nice top.

+1

 

[Colin]

Colin your Y2D is amazing. Nice top.

Cheers, that's why I didn't worry about the matching headstock. At the end of the day it's more they way they feel and sound, which is unbelievable

 

[philiprst]

I don't really like matching headstocks, especially on EBMMs where the neck wood is so nicely figured it seems a shame to cover it up. Colored headstocks always remind me of those awful heavy metal strats that Fender came out with in the 80s.

 

[Orange Adam]

The more I think about it the more I dont think I like matching burst colors.

 

[kbaim]

I like 'em both ways. My first had to have a matching. My last didn't have one.

 

[kompressaur]

not fussed.as long as it reads ernie ball musicman on the front and has a declaration of origin on the back I'm happy

saying that,I always liked the logo in white against a dark colour.

 

[starsky]

I rarely like matching headstocks. I definitely don't like them with solid colors. I do like them with clear stains over figured wood but that's it.

That's kinda how I feel. My CBP Luke has an unmatched headstock, but I also really like my Axis which has an trans gold matched headstock, but you can still see the figured wood underneath.

 

[wired]

For me, it depends on the body color.

For darker, or more saturated, colors (black, red), I don't like the matching headstock. But, with a lighter, more transparent color (trans gold, desert gold), I like the matching.

I think it also depends on what you're used to seeing.
Ex: Strats w/ matching heads look wierd because you don't see them very often, but if you see a LP w/ a natural head, it looks out of place too.

 

[StringTheory]

Hey guys,
I just got my JP7 WITHOUT a matched head-stock. Does it mean, it differs or is inferior in terms of construction, play-ability, tonality in any way, as compared to the ones with matched head-stock?
Please enlighten me.
Many thanks.

p.s. It has the JP inlay instead of the dots.

 

[canuck6string]

Holy Resurrection, Lazarus

Clear-finished or painted headstocks neither add nor detract from the playability or otherwise of the guitar. It's to make it look purdy.

Jam away in complete confidence, my friend.

Welcome to the forum.

 

[DrKev]

Yes, indeed. Matching headstock and/or shield inlay are cosmetic options when ordering. Otherwise they are exactly the same guitar.

 

[Magic Jason]

I was never found of the "brown" fretboard - "yellow" head combination.

The mapple neck - matching headstock combination always nauseates me.

To sum it up: the fewer colors the best.

All mapple : non matching
All rosewood : non matching
Rosewood/mapple/pao ferro/ ebony,... whatever combo neck : matching


These pictures will prove me right!
View attachment 27267 View attachment 27268

PS
How could I post larger pictures and no thumbnails???
THX

 

[BUC]

I had a Tabacco burst Deluxe Stratocaster with a natural headstock. The neck went bad and Fender sent me a new neck. Well, they sent out the wrong neck, and the tech at my shop calls me and says, you should probably come look at this before I send it back. The new (wrong) neck had a black headstock and it made the entire axe look different. it really set off the black of the tobacco burst in the body of the guitar. So we kept the new black headstock on it.

Ever since then I've really been a fan of the matching headstock on most guitars. My older EBMM's don't have matching and I wish they did. It just looks more finished to me.

 

[Jack FFR1846]

Depends on the color of the body and the neck. I tend to prefer non-matching but with a natural body, the matched headstock means simply that you get a glossy clear on the headstock, which is pretty cool too.