WTF headstock

Here’s the Avalon AV-2T made by the Fuji Gen Gakki Manufacturing Corp. in Japan. The guitar was designed in the late 1960s and we have to say, the longer we look at it, the more we kind of dig it. Look at this thing. There is A LOT going on here. The curled, mandolin-like upper bouts, the metallic pickguard, and of course, that eyebrow-looking, curly-q headstock. Read more here. Listen to this bad boy here.

I present to you something truly unique that you probably haven’t seen: The Gretsch TK-300 headstock. They should have called it something hockey-related like the “hat trick” or the “goon” instead. What do you think of the 1970s design? See more here.

Don’t let it be said that we neglect to mention our four string brethren here at WTF Headstock. Here we’ve got a doozy of a headstock from an Ovation Magnum bass. The shape is the same from Ovation’s electric and acoustic guitars but here we have it accentuated because of the width of the nut and the larger tuning pegs. It looks like some sort of wooden farm implement or paddle to me. Want to know more about the Magnum? Click here.

Martin makes great guitars and their iconic dreadnought headstock design may be the most classic of all. But what we have here is the headstock from a solidbody EM-18. They made these between 1979-1983. it looks like those pictures of boa constrictors that swallow prey larger than itself. 

No, no, no. It’s like the guitar was designed all the way until they got to the final two inches of the headstock and then they gave up. Wowzers. This is from a 1960s Teisco EP-10T. 

U.K.-based guitar makers Devil & Sons are taking relicing to the extreme. It’s relicing as performance art...I think. Link. 

Pictured here is the headstock from a Supro Belmont. The “Gumby-like” shape and overall design screams late 1950s. What do you think? It’s not too garish and it looks pretty good - especially with the binding and that great logo. Check out this blog post for more.

Here’s a headstock from a Fender Swinger. This 1969 project was meant to take advantage of surplus parts and market them as student guitars. It’s estimated that somewhere around 300 Swingers were made. The rest of the body was just as weird as the arrow-shaped headstock. Check out the whole body here. Did someone at Fender study this headstock when they designed the Fender Katana?

Here’s a headstock from the Lindert Guitars company which went out of business in 2002. The “thumbs up” shape was patented so don’t even think of stealing such a stylish design! 

The headstock from a Gibson Firebird. Gibson hired automotive designer Ray Dietrich to design the Firebird in the early 1960s. It’s reverse headstock with banjo-style tuners is one of the many features that made the Firebird stand out. What do you think? Does this headstock count as one of Gibson’s iconic designs?

Here's a headstock of the short-lived 1980s Fender Katana. It was meant to compete with the modern Jackson and heavy metal guitars at the time. It didn't. Yikes, Fender!

Interesting article on Fender guitar headstocks pre and post CBS. Could it be Fender changed the headstocks to a larger size due to...evolving television advertising? Link: http://www.ucreative.com/articles/fender-strat-headstock/

A headstock from a Musicvox Spaceranger guitar. The kind of headstock that causes a visceral reaction. Yikes!

The classic Martin acoustic headstock. Classic and clean.