Do I have a Gumbyhead?

[kiramdear]

My 320 dates from Aug. 82. Do I have the smaller or the larger headstock? I have the last photo for comparison but I'll be danged if I can say with certainty which one I've got.
I'm leaning toward smaller but can someone say for sure?

[collin]

You have the smaller headstock (luckily!) Same as my Dec. '81 320

IMO, the large gumby headstock is terrible...and nice only on 50's style Rics- c58's and Capri's and only because they are historically accurate.

Cheers,
-Collin

[kiramdear]

Thanks, Collin, I'm happy you said that. The difference is subtle to one who just hasn't seen enough ricks in person
When else did they use the larger?

[paologregorio]

Defnitely not a Gumby. If the guitar has the old style Kluson type tuners, then it's not a Gumbyhead, with the exception of the C58, I think.

[deaconblues]

The '50s headstocks are nothing compared to the REAL Gumbys from the '70s...

[deaconblues]

Here's a real Gumby from the '81 catalog.

'50s headstocks aren't typically considered Gumbys...they came way before the era of Grover tuners.

[tennis_nick]

an 05 330 currently in my possession is a MUCH bigger headstock than a 78 370, so 70's weren't that bad.

[paologregorio]

Here's a real Gumby from the '81 catalog.

'50s headstocks aren't typically considered Gumbys...they came way before the era of Grover tuners.

cf75x-5.jpg

Very true.

[paologregorio]

an 05 330 currently in my possession is a MUCH bigger headstock than a 78 370, so 70's weren't that bad.

I think 70s guitars still had the small headstock for the most part, didn't they? I thought Grovers, along with the larger, "Gumby" headstock, only came in after Klusons were unavailable.

[jdogric12]

They made guitars in the 70s?

[deaconblues]

They made guitars in the 70s?

They were in disguise as basses!!

[blue330]

Does the small headstock on my '82 330 make its butt look fat? I sort of think so! I know that the big headstocks are seen as sort of gross but now I think that on the hollowbody Rickenbackers they're more in proportion with these pretty big guitars. The large-ish head on my '06 330 looks pretty right, I think. Likewise I'm coming around the to the big, more-Bigsby-like head on the '72 Stratocaster. Headstock sizes seem to evolve sort of like lapel and tie widths, hemlines, and heel heights. Hmm, there's a term paper...

[TheWonders]

hmmm... Gumbyhead.... always learning something new at the RRF.

Does a 1999 340 have a Gumbyhead... inquiring minds want to know?

[deaconblues]

hmmm... Gumbyhead.... always learning something new at the RRF.

Does a 1999 340 have a Gumbyhead... inquiring minds want to know?

Yep...I think they only switched back to smaller headstocks in '06 or '07.

Here's a modern 340 JG with the small headstock at Dave's Guitar:

[wayang]

I think they all look like Gumby...