To match or not to match?

[MingusBASS]

I love matching headstocks, but it wouldn't stop me from buying a natural headstock EBMM.

 

[francric]

My usual take on headstocks

Maple board - natural headstock, it continues the clean line.

Rosewood Board - matching headstock, adding the third color of a natural just looks out of place to me. Matching just completes the look - Kind of like coordinating shoes and bag (Right BP )

Yes, what he said...................

 

[mbgreene]

+1 - exactly like matching shoes and bag

Thanks Beth

When I went to see BP at the NYC GC last week the matching/natural issue came up in conversation. I used the shoes and bag analogy and BP gave me a quick look and tried to butch it up bit. So I said... just ask Beth - shoes and a bag

 

[GWDavis28]

to be honest, im scared of matching headstocks.

I prefer mine natural all the time. I'm with Phatty, macthing headstocks scare me too.

I have turned down some potential purchases because of the matched headstock.

Fred, same here man 100%.

Glenn |B)

 

[Roubster]

You guys are all cracked out. If a guitar looks good to YOU, than it looks GOOD! That's why we have choices w/ EBMM, which is why I LOVE it. Variety is a good thing .
(Forgive me if I sound rude....for I am a bit drunk.......)

 

[NorM]

I saw the title of this thread and thought "hey! I can use my new 'Answer For Everything'".

Often the difference is subjective and subject to personal opinion.

 

[Roubster]

Often the difference is subjective and subject to personal opinion.

Basically my point.......I think .

 

[highenuff]

You gotta go matching!!

 

[candid_x]

Oh, the ever torturing question.
How do you guys stand on this one?
Do you prefer matched headstocks or do you find it tacky?
Also, wich colors look best matched?


thanx

I generally don't care for matching headstocks. The exception being sunburst finishes.

 

[candid_x]

View attachment 2657

A nice touch (imo) on MM painted headstocks, at least on this one, is that they clear coat the sides and back, giving the entire headstock a finished look.

 

[robelinda2]

love your head cadid_x

 

[candid_x]

Thanks, Rob.

I'm curious why some say painted headstocks scare them. Is this because the headstock is more likely to dent and chip than the rest of the guitar?

 

[KungFu Grip]

Depends on the body color. Desert Gold with a rosewood fretboard and a non-matching headstock looks absolutely wonderful. For a maple neck, I'd be inclined to do a matching headstock if the guitar was a lighter color, but not a darker. Rosewood is more open.

Hell, I like both.

 

[s6275]

Well, to me, something about a maple fretboard and that headstock shape looks (excuse the terminology) "wang-ish" when the headstock is unpainted. So, I guess it all depends on whether or not that's the look you're going for...

 

[CudBucket]

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.

 

[shimi]

i like a lot the matching headstock but the y2d for example with the cream pup's are matching great to the non matching headstock , its funny but its a perfect match , but with the black pup's its better with the m.h.s

 

[Ali]

Matching all the way. It just finishes the gitar off somehow. The only one that works to my eyes with a non matching stock is the Sillhouette. Maybe because it has a pickguard? I dunno, but the Luke, JP and Axis should be matching.

 

[Warg Master]

My usual take on headstocks

Maple board - natural headstock, it continues the clean line.

Rosewood Board - matching headstock, adding the third color of a natural just looks out of place to me. Matching just completes the look - Kind of like coordinating shoes and bag (Right BP )

That sums it up fo rme.

 

[Colin]

I prefer non matching, even though my Y2D is matching. I'd swap but the Birdseye is ridiculous

 

[Larry]

Colin your Y2D is amazing. Nice top.