Reverse headstock; yeah or nay

[skydawg]

I just looked at the MF stupid deal of the day and was wondering if anyone actually prefers the reverse head stock? It looks ackward to me.

[esteban]

I like it, but it also depends heavily on the shape of the headstock and guitar.

[Legba]

I don't prefer it, but for some reason I want one, and $399 ain't bad.
Just not going to buy another guitar right now.

[Guitarmoog]

Go for it. I have a white Reverse Special from Soundcontrol/Turnkey in the UK, and it is a lovely MIM strat. Rolled fingerbouard edges on a pretty thin neck, the maple us nice with an amber tint, and the PUPs, which I'd expected to want to change, are keepers for me.

I payed the same price in UK Pounds, and I still think i got a decent deal, so you'll thank yourself at $399.

There was an earlier thread on them last time this came round, with some pics, here: http://www.tdpri.com/forum/stratocas...%24-399-a.html

[boris bubbanov]

So, they're back, this time in black.

I think if you blocked the trem, you could probably function OK.

The problem I found on a lightly played NOS one in Oly White was that the strings were not new nor stable, and I was having a heck of a time chasing the tuning around, even though I was string bending very little and staying off the whammy basically altogether.
The tuners are nice; the hardware looks nice but this is not the wonderful US source stuff all the way through the guitar (except pups) like the Jimmie Vaughan is. And the intermediate 'C' neck is no where as cool as a Jimmie V.

Yes, the guitar sounded great, but I was playing it thru a used '53 Champ.

Do you use that 10 percent coupon for this, or that returned GA-5?

[mudbean]

Sorry, just looks wrong.

mud

[94bamf]

Originally Posted by boris bubbanov

So, they're back, this time in black.

I think if you blocked the trem, you could probably function OK.

The problem I found on a lightly played NOS one in Oly White was that the strings were not new nor stable, and I was having a heck of a time chasing the tuning around, even though I was string bending very little and staying off the whammy basically altogether.
The tuners are nice; the hardware looks nice but this is not the wonderful US source stuff all the way through the guitar (except pups) like the Jimmie Vaughan is. And the intermediate 'C' neck is no where as cool as a Jimmie V.

Yes, the guitar sounded great, but I was playing it thru a used '53 Champ.

Do you use that 10 percent coupon for this, or that returned GA-5?

I don't believe this to be correct, I have two of these in Oly white, it has the american vintage trem also with vintage string spacing. I don't think there is much difference between the JV strat and this other than neck shape and pickups. I have zero tuning problems with either of mine, and the frets are finished perfectly, nice low action with no fret buzz. Not sure if the neck is actually 7.5 radius, cause it doesn't feel different than my standard MIM strat.

The only bad or questionalble part on the whole guitar that I can find is the pickguard which is very thin and warps easy.

I have never played the Tex Mex pickups, but I do have some Texas Special pickups in another strat, and I think the ones in this guitar sound way better IMO.

[Joe Chaney]

i want this one

[boris bubbanov]

Originally Posted by 94bamf

I don't believe this to be correct, I have two of these in Oly white, it has the american vintage trem also with vintage string spacing. I don't think there is much difference between the JV strat and this other than neck shape and pickups. I have zero tuning problems with either of mine, and the frets are finished perfectly, nice low action with no fret buzz. Not sure if the neck is actually 7.5 radius, cause it doesn't feel different than my standard MIM strat.

The only bad or questionalble part on the whole guitar that I can find is the pickguard which is very thin and warps easy.

I have never played the Tex Mex pickups, but I do have some Texas Special pickups in another strat, and I think the ones in this guitar sound way better IMO.

Hmmm.

I'm wondering if this model is 'off radar' and isn't considered when general statements are made. You can ask a bunch of the fellows here, and what you will hear is the Jimmie Vaughan has the full complement of US specifications vintage style parts (except pups), when no other MIM model has them.
I do know that a lot of would be customers of this model were caught off guard when they discovered it was not US made, but Ensenada made.
I don't want to perpetuate any myths. If you have a US source bridge assembly, I'd love to hear more about it. I notice that Bill Callaham makes no mention of this model one way or the other.
Perhaps I should try another under different circumstances. I was seriously drooling over this early Champ, and I was annoyed when the strings kept changing pitch, which I could have handled had the stock been conventional or even a small reverse shape. The pickups sound pretty good, I felt.

[Guitarmoog]

This is an MF exclusive (and Soundcontrol in the UK). I emailed Fender when I got mine in white, and they sent me the specs. I don't know how I feel about posting things emailed to me on the web, but I suppose this clears a few controversies. On the tuning, mine is fine after fitting a set of .010s, setting the trem how I like it (high - with about 3 semitones up on the G), lubing contact points with nut sauce, and stretching the strings well. Anyway, here's the specs Fender sent:

Model Name: FSR ‘60s Reverse Special Stratocaster®
Model Number: 013-1302-(Color#)
Series: Classic Series
Body: Alder
Neck: Maple, Modern “C” Shape with Reverse Headstock,
(Gloss Polyurethane Finish)
Fingerboard: Rosewood, 7.25” Radius (184mm)
No. of Frets: 21 Vintage Style Frets
Scale Length: 25.5” (648 mm)
Width @ Nut: 1.650” (42 mm)
Hardware: Chrome
Machine Heads: Fender®/Ping® Vintage Style Tuning Machines
Bridge: Vintage Style Synchronized Tremolo
Pickguard: 1-Ply White (on 305), 3-Ply W/B/W on (306)
Pickups: 3 Left Hand Vintage Style Single-Coil Strat® Pickups with Staggered Pole Pieces, Alnico Magnets, Aged Covers and and Reverse Angled Bridge Pickup
Pickup Switching: 5-Position Blade:
Position 1. Bridge Pickup
Position 2. Bridge and Middle Pickup
Position 3. Middle Pickup
Position 4. Middle and Neck Pickup
Position 5. Neck Pickup
Controls: Master Volume,
Tone 1. (Neck Pickup),
Tone 2. (Middle Pickup)
Colors: (305) Olympic White,
(306) Black,
(Polyester Finish)
Strings: Fender Super 250R, Nickel Plated Steel,
Gauges: (.010, .013, .017, .026, .036, .046),
p/n 073-0250-006
Unique Features: Reversed, Large, '60s Style Headstock,
3 Custom '69 Single-Coil Strat® Pickups with Greay Bobbins,
Aged Knobs and Switch Tip,
Vintage Styling
Source: Mexico
Accessories: Deluxe Gig Bag
U.S. MSRP: $999.99
Specs: Product Prices, Features, Specifications and Availability Are Subject To Change Without Notice
INTRODUCED: 2/2007
DISCONTINUED:
DISCONTINUED COLORS:
COMMENTS: The Olympic White is an exclusive for MF/GC
WRENCH SIZES: .050” Saddle Height Adjustment Wrench, p/n 0018531000

[lupowitz]

Originally Posted by Joe Chaney

i want this one

Who wouldn't.
Dweezil once put it up on auction, but it did not reach reserve. Some say it was 1 million USD.
(For the record, this is the famous Hendrix-strat, burnt by Jimi, owned by Frank Zappa, now played by Dweezil Zappa)

[garytelecastor]

One of the big advantages to a reverse stock is that the lower strings have a greater length and this adds to presence.

[boris bubbanov]

I see in a couple places where the reviewers describe installing a MIM specs Callaham trem upgrade kit. If this is so, and given the tuners are fender/pings and not Gotoh 'Klusons' (thx guitarmoog), then MF did not specify or get the fancy US components.

I recall SRV used this big reverse headstock, but the pickguard ( and trem ) was conventional. Olympic White.

[94bamf]

Originally Posted by boris bubbanov

I see in a couple places where the reviewers describe installing a MIM specs Callaham trem upgrade kit. If this is so, and given the tuners are fender/pings and not Gotoh 'Klusons' (thx guitarmoog), then MF did not specify or get the fancy US components.

I guess I should have been more clear in my first post. I cetainly can not verify where these componets are made, or if they are the same ones used on American guitars. I do know for a FACT that the bridge/Trem assembly is NOT the standard MIM part, because it has wider string spacing, a different longer trem block, and different wider string saddles. If they make a Mexican vintage trem assembly with vintage string spacing, then that might be whats on this guitar, regardless it is different than a standard MIM strat. I have no idea who makes the tuners either, but they are certainly much higher quality than the standard MIM tuners and they are the vintage Kluson "Style" tuners..

[Doug Ferguson]

I'd find it awkward to work with, having to reach under the headstock to tune and restring. No doubt you could get used to it, but after 35+ years of tuning a strat from the top, I don't think I'd make the effort to try at this point. Yep, that's me: Stuck in the mud.

[Rob J]

Don't like 'em. Don't like the way they look at all, anymore than I like the look of wearing my blue jeans on backwards.

No.1 Awkward to tune.
No.2 Awkward to work the zipper.

Some things just weren't meant to be.

[Guitarmoog]

Surprisingly, after a month or so of playing it, I actually find the reverse head easier to tune on the fly, so much so that I keep grabbing the bottom of my tele's headstock when I switch to it. I suppose it's because my hand is already 'under' the neck when I'm playing, so it's not as far to go to the bottom of the head as it is to move your whole arm to reach over it.

On the trem, it's definitely vintage spacing, as I measured it to get a new block after I snapped the trem bar inside it (DON'T use those little black springs!!!). I think its the same one used on MIM classics. From the Calaham site, it is only mexican standards that have the thinner spacing, not the classics. That said, my tech, who tried to remove the bar end, says it was very soft metal.

[Sarge]

I like the reverse headstocks...anything that deviates from the norm is good by me.

[Kid Klash]

I'm not much for the way it looks, but I'll bet it's easy to tune for a lazy guy with long arms...

[blueshawk1]

They catch my eye when I see one, but I don't think in the long run, I'd like it.

[aznrambo481]

I'm not a fan... for some reason. A righty with a lefty strat headstock just looks wrong. To me, it partly seems like a gimmick for Hendrix-wannabees (not meant to be an insult to anyone here, just my observation of why it's popular). It's also annoying, since I like to look at tuners which I turn them. I'm sure the longer bass strings, shorter higher strings, and reverse pickup do something to the tone... just not bothering to figure it out

[Bill]

To quote Mr. Ed, "Nay!"

[777Brad]

It's not for me.

[gitarjoe]

I will take one in white. I like a little change.

[boris bubbanov]

When I grow up I wanna be like Dick Dale.

His model is something I would buy, and would not give a care how others reacted.

The question is, could I play it, even a little?

[94bamf]

I was out at the Musicians Friend warehouse yesterday, they had two black reverse headstock strats hanging on the wall in "new" condition, not returns or blems and I noticed some pretty fair fret sprout on the black ones. They also had two white ones hanging with zero fret sprout. Kinda interesting how one color would have it and the other wouldn't. I guess if anybody here bought a black one, report back and let us know if it has some sprout. My uncle bought one of the black ones, so I will report back myself..

I did notice that the black ones have a 3 ply pickguard while the white ones are single ply.

[Hockey Rocker]

I haven't posted here in awhile, mostly because I've been playing my Olympic White Reverse Headstock Strat that I snagged on the cheap on that Stupid Deal Day. Great guitar. Love it. It is indeed a 7.5 (maybe 7.25, my gauge is made of paper) radius V neck, and I really like the feel. Up until now, I've been a fan of the "satin finish", but the tinted, aged, gloss of this reverse headstock neck just feels great. I'm still as slow as ever, but the neck feels fast to me. Plus the guitar just sounds like a Strat. I've played a bunch of Strats over the years but this is the sound I've always had in my head. I love this guitar. By the way, it is noisey as hell at loud volumes. The pickups certainly do hum. I don't care. I love this guitar.

[Sombras]

I'd say no. Unless you're Hendrix it just looks silly.

[cdhopkin]

Originally Posted by lupowitz

(For the record, this is the famous Hendrix-strat, burnt by Jimi, owned by Frank Zappa, now played by Dweezil Zappa)

Well actually it's only the body that was burnt by Jimi. Dweezil found it among his dad's things and Frank had a partscaster built from it. The story is on Curves, Contours and Bodyhorns - a documentary on the Strat from '94 (wish I had it)

[thekillingjoke]

Hey, if the neck's comfortable, why not? A V-shape with a 7.5 radius sounds pretty sexy to me.

[Veitchy]

I love the idea, go for it. Heres some inspiration.
Lefty Neck on Righty Body.JPG

[Michaell]

nay

hype

& gimmick

[mwaym]

nay

[kinkstah]

Reverse headstocks look bizarre to me, but I suppose it's a question of habits... I never tried one, but I feel like it'd be awkward to restring and tune. At first sight, I'd say... "nay".

[cRaZY Tom]

I can't see any advantage at all...I think you could get away with it if you where in an 80's hair metal band but not these days.

[jclark]

Originally Posted by Sombras

I'd say no. Unless you're Hendrix it just looks silly.

+1; Nay from me as well.

[Tim73]

I don't mind them but I wouldn't actively seek one out to buy it.

[OldMan]

Originally Posted by mudbean

Sorry, just looks wrong.

mud

+1

[pullchord]

Do we not do more bending of the B and high E strings than the other four (G excepted)? And isn't the amount of force necessary to bend a string from it's normal fretted note up a half or whole tone directly proportional to the length of the string? I find it way easier to bend the same gauge high E string on my Les Paul than on my Strats or Tele's. For this reason, the reverse headstock makes a lot of sense to me. The exception here of course is having a locking nut. I remember seeing a locking nut on a Fender years ago that had a single-lever release instead of 6 individual screws and clamps. Love to find one of those. My old Strat has a Tele headstock that's been cut like a Music Man "4 over 2" style. Makes bending the B & E a bit easier...

[BuddyLee]

Kirk Hammett played a reverse headstock too... not a Fender though.

Jimi ain't the only one.