Headstocks

[2112]

What is with the headstocks on the newer Rick basses. I have noticed that they aren't quite the same as the 4001's that I have. They seem to be fatter, especially the top "hook". They really don't look right to me.
I've noticed this on the newer 4003's whereas the older 4003's that were out in the mid 1980's still looked like the older 4001's.

[rickenbrother]

Thomas, there is thread with a similar discussion in the guitar section. You must be referring to what we've been calling the bulbous headstock. My guess is that the headstock is bigger and better now to help beef up sound, add to the sustain and help eliminate deadspots. It also makes the headstock stronger. The headstock has changed quite a bit over the years in size and shape, The 4003 and the 4004 do not have the exact same headstock size and shape either.

[jps]

You will see variations in the shape of the bass headstocks going all the way back to the first ones in the '50s.

[jwr2]

The short story is headstocks have gone back to looking more like 60s headstocks ... The headstocks got shorter when the necks got the skunk stripe in the early 70s ... the shorter headstock was phased out completely in the late 90s. And the current headstock seems to have 2 versions ... one is a little longer than the other, but both are longer than the 70s short headstocks.

[2112]

Thanks! I knew I'd get some answers here!

[rictified]

During the early 70's when they used the Wavy Grovers there were even smaller headstocks made for several years. Mid 70's they got bigger and they stayed pretty much the same until the mid-late 80's when they seemed to start to get bigger again.

[jwr2]

Players whos first Ric bass was a 70s bass sometimes prefer the smaller headstock and fatter bodywings like the 70s basses had. But my first Ric was a 68 4001 so to me that is the shape that looks right.

[rictified]

Early 70's 4001's had both small bodies and small headstocks, the bodies got fatter a little later along with the headstocks during the mid 70's.