I hate to say it, but my favorite non-Fender strat headstock is.....

[TIM5150]

 

[Wyzsard]

I love Strat and Tele headstocks, but they got nuthin' on:

View attachment 1128474

Yep, my fave as well.

 

[Wooly Fox]

I think we're in agreement the G&L headstock doesn't belong here but the Espada headstock is very nice.

 

[gimmeatele]

I kind of give PRS some props for using their headstock design (flipped over) on a Strat body just to shake things up - they definitely didn't have to run their design past Fender's legal team.

I understand the comments about the Suhr headstock - it does look pretty generic, but they also offer a couple of other designs that you can get when you order a custom build.

But there are only so many ways you can do a Fender headstock so they do become kind of generic. Except the James Tyler headstock:

That is one butt ugly martian!!!!

 

[rdjones]

 

[RomanS]

 

[ahiddentableau]

Suhr made a big mistake with their headstock in my opinion. It looks like a cheapo strat.

It pains me to say it because they make nice guitars that I would be very happy to own and play, but I 100 percent agree with you. The Suhr headstock says "that 100 dollar rental guitar your parents made you start on when you took your first lessons" to me. And as mentioned, they're far from the only boutique maker you could say this about.

I think may have something to do with the fact that the Fender shape is so great and iconic. Like it's so iconic that all the other builders accept that they'll never be able to design one anywhere near as good, so it pushes them into the whole Bart Simpson "can't win, don't try" philosophy.

 

[ahiddentableau]

I love Strat and Tele headstocks, but they got nuthin' on:

View attachment 1128474

This would be my choice, too. Love the Guild headstock. Classy. Although picking a 3x3 seems like cheating somehow.

For 6 inline I think maybe I'd choose Parker. Sleek and modern, and doesn't try to go head-to-head with Fender. Some of the Japanese ones are decent, too. Ibanez. Even Jackson. Not my style or vibe but for what it is it works.

 

[loudboy]

I don't mind the PRS one either. Actually I don't mind their guitars. It's just the Creed vibe I need to get over.

This might help...

 

[24 track]

My favorite head stocks are either 3 on a side or 6 on one side, go figure

 

[GRAVITY-LHP]

Here are some I’ve owned

Nash, Good…

Collings, Great! Still own it!

Dano, good but meh

Novo, pretty good. Interesting for sure

Xotic, In person, very good… better than you'd think.

Suhr, Great.., I really dug it… JS should have gone with this version more.

Also great… maybe better than the red sparkle.

This last one…. For me, no. It's attached to a great neck for sure. I tried to like it 3x but it didn't grow on me, nor did the complete guitar (and I really wanted it to).

As much as I’ve tried to step outside of Fender and Gibson, only the Collings stuck beyond the big two, and I think it’s the best looking headstock in the business. (the Collings).

For Fender type guitars… I think Fano headstocks are Uber cool.

 

[BCS1980-UK]

This is a custom headstock made by guitarbuild.co.uk that I used on my partscaster:

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

This would be my choice, too. Love the Guild headstock. Classy. Although picking a 3x3 seems like cheating somehow. . . .

But but but! I read the rulebook cover to cover!

 

[Anita Bonghit]

Silvertone

 

[fleezinator]

These two look like they’re related…

View attachment 1128500 View attachment 1128501

Schecter definitely has a relation thing going on:

 

[fleezinator]

The telecaster headstock took a long time for me to come around to. Strat headstocks are so iconic I never even questioned it.

I love my PRS & the headstock design makes a lot of sense to me

It's even echoed down into the moon inlays:

 

[Fiesta Red]

I kind of give PRS some props for using their headstock design (flipped over) on a Strat body just to shake things up - they definitely didn't have to run their design past Fender's legal team.

I understand the comments about the Suhr headstock - it does look pretty generic, but they also offer a couple of other designs that you can get when you order a custom build.

But there are only so many ways you can do a Fender headstock so they do become kind of generic. Except the James Tyler headstock:

I’m sorry, I’ve always thought that was one of the ugliest and weirdest looking headstocks…almost looks like it was designed by a corporate focus group.

No offense to anyone who loves it.

I’ve played a couple of the guitars and they were ok-to-good, but I just couldn’t get over that headstock.

 

[Tricone]

I have always thought Grosh guitar 6 in line was a great design.

 

[Tricone]

My favorite headstock design is:

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

Some of those guitars need accessories.

View attachment 1128504

What are those two little holes about?

=O.