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December 2001
Posts: 7233
Location: The Great Pacific Northwest | Been thinking about this for awhile....
I think the Ovation Headstock is one of the best, if not the best overall Headstock design of any guitar. I don't know who came up with the original design, and don't know if they really thought that far into the future but it's subtle and unique and never seems to look out of place on the guitar, most ANY guitar. Headstocks do not seem to get much attention or thought, in some cases even from the manufactures.
A lot of time, like in the case of Gibson and Fender, and well.. most all the others... the headstock looks nice and fits a couple of models, but not all. This is not bad, as they certainly have several variations that work on other models, but that's my point. Ovation's headstock, pretty much works on most of the models.
Sure the dimensions vary slightly, but you can spot an Ovation headstock from across the room, front or back, you know it's an Ovation, and I think that's pretty amazing. I even put Ovation necks on some other brand solid bodies, and they work.
Many of the other brands, when I look at the guitar, I'm picturing the engineers thinking while looking at a brand new solid body.. "man, what a great design for the body and neck, too bad we're stuck with that headstock they designed 30 years ago for wooden boxes."
Anyway, just wondered if anyone else felt this way. I also like some other headstocks, not so much for uniqueness, but usually because the lines and detail flow with the rest of the guitar. Speaking of which, even when Ovation made a departure with the UltraGS, they added the routing that matches the body routing to make it unique. I still think they should have used the standard Ovation headstock like on the UltraGP, but the GS is a nice one and unique just the same. |
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Posts: 4996
Location: Phoenix AZ | Couldn't agree with you more. It's a design that has stood the test of time and does look good on just about any model of Ovation. |
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December 2001
Posts: 7233
Location: The Great Pacific Northwest | Ok, I just walked out of my office for posting this and noticed an example I hadn't given much attention to before. My OFC-II next to a 12-String Pacemaker. Talk about two drastically different guitars. But even with one being a slot-head 12-string, the other a sleek 6-string with open back tuners... That wing on top with the Ovation logo is basically the same, looks great and is functional, equally, on both guitars.
And talk about working on different guitars types, the other two guitars on the wall are a VXT and a Breadwinner.
Hats off to ever came up with that design initially, if anyone even knows. |
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March 2003
Posts: 555
Location: Wooster, Ohio | I like the overall design, it is very functional as well in that it indents the tuners so that they had a straighter pull on the strings. Its top fan does leave the ends or tips vulnerable to getting its wings clipped. Only issue I see.
Steve |
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August 2005
Posts: 3736
Location: Sunshine State, Australia | I've always thought that the Ovation headstock is just another plus in the long list of things that make Ovations great.
Definitely distinctive. I reckon all the other guitar manufacturers would be a little envious of one of the most distinctive shapes in the guitar world. The other being Fender's Strat/P Bass shape.
I don't seem to like the solid body's headstocks though. They're a tad too 'fat' for my liking, but still miles ahead of the competition.
But... what the f@ck were they thinking when they designed that lightning bolt thing??? |
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Posts: 1227
Location: Connersville, Indiana | To me it just like looking at a Corvette. It looks great at any angle.
Kit Mann Ovation Plug it in |
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May 2008
Posts: 4996
Location: Phoenix AZ | Originally posted by kitmann:
To me it just like looking at a Corvette. It looks great at any angle. ... and the body is made of plastic. |
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February 2003
Posts: 2178
Location: the BIG Metropolis of TR | The headstock design (along with the bowl and diamond fretboard markers) was what drew me to Ovations in the first place...It was that "difference in design" that separated it from the traditional wood boxes and made it simply....UNIQUE (and beautiful!) |
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Posts: 9301
Location: south east Michigan | eggs-zackly.
well said. |
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Posts: 1433
Location: Right now? | I particularly like how the slotheads look. Oh, yes, I DO love my O's and A's ...
;)
Willa |
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February 2003
Posts: 2178
Location: the BIG Metropolis of TR | I remember when I first saw the headstock from the front, the wings/ears got my attention....but then I saw the side profile with the way it was scooped out, I said to myself "Wow! Cooool!...I like that!"
Also (as Miles & Willa mentioned) I think the wings on the slotheads just "Fit" naturally and makes it the most elegant looking slothead design of any brand.... |
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February 2003
Posts: 2178
Location: the BIG Metropolis of TR | I also tend to prefer the shape of the older style (fat/boxier/slightly tapered) slothead instead of the newer (sleek/more tapered) slothead (just me....I'm old and set in my ways ;) )
And when it comes to 12 strings....All other 12 string guitar headstocks look like a plank with tuners attached....BOOOORING!
The Ovation 12 string headstock looks neat, balanced, and rock solid! |
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Posts: 9301
Location: south east Michigan | Don't forget the skunk stripes.
Love the skunk stripes. |
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February 2003
Posts: 2178
Location: the BIG Metropolis of TR | Originally posted by Slipkid:
Don't forget the skunk stripes.
Love the skunk stripes. Yep! I like the way the skunk stripe showed through on the front of the wings. |
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November 2005
Posts: 4832
Location: Campbell River, British Columbia | Originally posted by Mr. Ovation:
Hats off to ever came up with that design initially, if anyone even knows. I think we know who knows, or knows who to ask..... |
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January 2009
Posts: 4535
Location: Flahdaw | I also like Seagulls headstock. Clean and very functional. Gibson and Guild I find too big....unnecessarily BIG.
Love the Adamas slothead the best. real purty |
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December 2003
Posts: 13996
Location: Upper Left USA | Using an oversized string winder on the No 3 & 4 tuners has always been a problem. No wonder so many Ebayers have knocked the ears off their guitars before selling them!
That Hockey Stick design that Alpep prefers is obviouslt the only way to go.
If you are mechanically challenged feel free to send me your guitars and I'll "Van Gough" them for you. |
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March 2005
Posts: 2791
Location: Atlanta, GA. | I've read, somewhere, who came up with the original design ... and who fine tuned it to what we now know and love.
Pretty sure Jim Rickard had something to do with it??? maybe.
BTW... I can usually spot an Ovation from a distance just by the shape of the top/sound board. It's pretty unique itself. Very proportional. |
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March 2008
Posts: 2683
Location: Hot Springs, S.D. | I don't think it was Rick. Whoever has a copy of "the book" can find the answer. |
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Posts: 15676
Location: SoCal | Chuck McDonough |
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September 2006
Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | Originally posted by 45flint:
I like the overall design, it is very functional as well in that it indents the tuners so that they had a straighter pull on the strings. Uh, Yeah! :cool:
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May 2006
Posts: 4232
Location: Steeler Nation, Hudson Valley Contingent | I'll go along with everything that's been said so far....
Except I like the newer, sleeker slot-head better than the older one. Even so, I still like the older slot-heads better than most of the other manufacturers out there. Also, although it's nowhere near a deal-breaker, I LOVE the glossed ebony overlay designs and the ones with abalone trim all the way to the logo.
And FWIW, I don't mind steamed broccoli, but I definitely don't want it carved into my headstock, standard or slot-head. YMMV. |
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Posts: 5881
Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | I've always liked the design of the headstock, the end taper, the paddles and their curved relief, etc. One possible downside is that the paddles can break off if knocked against something, which is an unfortunate consequence of the design. It has never happened to me, but we've all seen the photos of broken headstock paddles here. Then, again, we see alot of these headstocks, so maybe it is really no worse than for other guitars. |
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January 2009
Posts: 4535
Location: Flahdaw | I may have to buy a certain Adamas I've been thinking about just for the slotted headstock. |
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November 2008
Posts: 1119
Location: Michigan | Originally posted by WillaMuse:
I particularly like how the slotheads look. Oh, yes, I DO love my O's and A's ...
;)
Willa +1 |
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November 2008
Posts: 1119
Location: Michigan | There is something special about the old slotted headstocks...
...................UTE...........................................1767......................................1115..............
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December 2006
Posts: 6268
Location: Florida Central Gulf Coast | I consider this design the most eloquent of all!
I think this may have been mentioned before (sorry, Patch  ), wind your strings to the 'outside'. This will minimize the chance of the D and G strings rubbing the headstock (circled). <OK, OK... how would you word that?>
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December 2001
Posts: 7233
Location: The Great Pacific Northwest | twistedlim, the pictures like that really drive home the point. Totally different headstocks... yet still the same. |
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January 2006
Posts: 5881
Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | They don't get much cleaner than this (custom VXT) . . .
or fancier that this (OFC-I No. 5) . . .
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May 2006
Posts: 4232
Location: Steeler Nation, Hudson Valley Contingent | Originally posted by 2ifbyC:
[QB]
I think this may have been mentioned before... Okay, okay!
Is it my fault the guy at the factory wasn't a nylon stringer? :rolleyes:
But as coincidence would have it, I received from Al yesterday a lovely set of buffalo horn tuner buttons. (They look nice, and I prefer full-size buttons on my slot-heads, not the mini ones.) So I can finally put this one to rest.
I also re-tied the strings around the bridge; another slight factory tech faux pas.
BEFORE...
AFTER...
See?
There's a little traditionalist hiding somewhere in this Ovation nut. :p :cool: |
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December 2003
Posts: 13996
Location: Upper Left USA | Even when wounded in action they can retain their dignity and virtue!
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December 2006
Posts: 6268
Location: Florida Central Gulf Coast | Woody,
That fourth pic really dings da heart...  The rest are great 'recoveries'.
Patch,
One day I'd love to try out that beaut!!!  |
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September 2006
Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | Originally posted by 2ifbyC:
Woody,
That fourth pic really dings da heart... The rest are great 'recoveries'. |
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December 2003
Posts: 13996
Location: Upper Left USA | Apparently it was undergoing chemo... |
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August 2005
Posts: 3736
Location: Sunshine State, Australia | Nice thread, lovely pictures of the world's most elegant headstocks, then someone comes along and ruins it by posting one of these monstrosities.
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July 2005
Posts: 3410
Location: GA USA | Originally posted by dark bar:
Gibson and Guild I find too big....unnecessarily BIG. That's the one thing about Hamers that puts me off. The head just seems too large and kind of like a boat paddle. |
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September 2003
Posts: 9301
Location: south east Michigan | Love that seafoam green headstock. |
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November 2005
Posts: 1126
Location: Omaha, NE | I love how the arch on the headstock is evocative of the bowl. No accident there. I also love how the design is ever so slightly asymmetrical. Not so much as to be distracting...just enough to keep it interesting.
I also think the headstocks are attached to great guitars. That matters a lot too. |
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Headstocks... it it just me ?