330 Small Headstock Years?

[HeavySoul]

Can anyone tell me what years 330 have small headstocks?

[godber]

There's some crossover in production but around 1984 was the change to the bigger (50's style?) I'd say.

[HeavySoul]

Thanks Mark, do you know when they change back to smaller headstocks? I understand that the latest 330s have small headstocks (I could be wrong, it has been known ).

[godber]

Again there is a transition period, but 2007 would be when the new smaller shape came in - and very welcome they were too!

[egosheep]

I think the bigger headstock's came about because of the tuner change. The Schallers were bigger and needed more real estate on the headstock.

[electrofaro]

I think the bigger headstock's came about because of the tuner change. The Schallers were bigger and needed more real estate on the headstock.

Both my 340 and 360 have a small headstock as well as Schaller tuners, thus that can't be the reason why they switched to bigger headstocks around 1984, unless the Schallers also became smaller?

[egosheep]

I think the bigger headstock's came about because of the tuner change. The Schallers were bigger and needed more real estate on the headstock.

Both my 340 and 360 have a small headstock as well as Schaller tuners, thus that can't be the reason why they switched to bigger headstocks around 1984, unless the Schallers also became smaller?

I'm sure someone knows better than me, but I seem to recall hearing that. The Schallers used back then were bigger. When you look at the previous small headstocks, they are using Kluson style tuners, then some have stock Grover rotomatics, then others have the Kluson-like Grover slimline tuners. Then came the bigger headstocks and the Schaller era.

I realize the newer headstocks still use Schallers but I think it's a smaller tuner.

[jingle_jangle]

Schaller makes a mini (currently in use by RIC) and a larger die-cast sealed tuner. I'm not sure how the use of these intersects with the size changes in headstocks.

I can tell you about my 360WB (a 1982), which has the largest paddle headstock I've seen. It was apparently drilled for Schallers, but fitted with Grover Rotomatics. The result of this mismatch is that the tuning keys for the Grovers have less than 1/16" clearance with the headstock. It arrived in my hands in 2005 with the paint badly chipped around most of the tuners as a result.

[electrofaro]

I realize the newer headstocks still use Schallers but I think it's a smaller tuner.

Schaller makes a mini (currently in use by RIC) and a larger die-cast sealed tuner. I'm not sure how the use of these intersects with the size changes in headstocks

If the smaller Schaller is about the same price as the bigger one, then it would make sense to use the small ones and make the headstock smaller to cut some costs.

[egosheep]

Schaller makes a mini (currently in use by RIC) and a larger die-cast sealed tuner. I'm not sure how the use of these intersects with the size changes in headstocks.

I can tell you about my 360WB (a 1982), which has the largest paddle headstock I've seen. It was apparently drilled for Schallers, but fitted with Grover Rotomatics. The result of this mismatch is that the tuning keys for the Grovers have less than 1/16" clearance with the headstock. It arrived in my hands in 2005 with the paint badly chipped around most of the tuners as a result.

It's interesting that your 82 has a paddle headstock. I'm going to drive to Ohio in January to pick up an '83 330JG(July 83, specifically), and it has a small headstock. It has Rotomatics now, but you can see the extra screw holes from either Grover Slimlines or Klusons which were on it originally. I have a NOS set of the Slimlines which I will be putting on it to take it back to original. I'm hoping the bigger Rotomatic washers don't leave a mark on the headstock face. If so, it may need to be sanded and clearcoated.

[HeavySoul]

Anyone got a comparison shot of a large and small headstock? Also why are small headstocks preferred?

[egosheep]

Anyone got a comparison shot of a large and small headstock? Also why are small headstocks preferred?

[egosheep]

The smaller headstocks are closer to what a vintage headstock looked like on certain guitars, so it's a look that a lot of people find attractive. Larger headstocks have their place in Ric history, too though... such as the 50's Capri headstocks. But for most Ric's I prefer the smaller sizes, with kluson style tuners.

[deaconblues]

I don't think that last picture is correct. The slimmer headstock on the right labeled "1990" was only produced on the 1997(ish) and up 325v63. All other models were produced with the large headstock until about '07.

My '93 330 has the center style.

[egosheep]

I don't think that last picture is correct. The slimmer headstock on the right labeled "1990" was only produced on the 1997(ish) and up 325v63. All other models were produced with the large headstock until about '07.

My '93 330 has the center style.

That's serial # K34666. I thought it seemed odd as well, but the date is correct.

I wasn't really going by dates, I just wanted to show a comparison of big vs small. I thought a matching background would be easier to compare side by side.

Edit: upon checking the register, it's clear that a lot of 355's in 1990 had the smaller headstock.