I would like to thank Dane Wilder...

[aceonbass]

Thanks Rich, but Larry Davis did that. While it does look nice, I felt/feel that the routing required for it could compromise strength in a very stressed area. Time will tell.

[johnallg]

I didn't do the checkered binding or the white finish...and I can't say who this belongs to...but here is the cresting wave version of my potato headstock.

Love that shape! Can this reshape be done to a MG head that will remain MG?

[HydrasBreath]

yeah that cresting potato looks sweet. If I ever get a conversion done I'd go for that headstock.

[weemac]

I didn't do the checkered binding or the white finish...and I can't say who this belongs to...but here is the cresting wave version of my potato headstock.

Dane -- that checkered bound potatoe headstock is gorgeous !!

+1 and apart from that it looks like it means busness!

Eden.

[aceonbass]

Love that shape! Can this reshape be done to a MG head that will remain MG?

Maybe. The conversion involves new headstock wings (which up to this point have always been maple, with the exception of the jarah wings on my bass), and the extension (a scarf joint) can be partially hidden by the larger vintage style plexi truss rod cover.

[JackTheRipper]

Heres how they did it in the late 70s/early 80s with the 4008. However Dane's modded ones are a very sensible option..

Eden.

What struck me as odd about the bass on eBay was the string orientation. In my (limited) experience with 8 and 12 string basses, the fundamental string (eg, the fat one) is strung such that when you are holding the bass in the playing position, the fundamental string is closer to the ground and the octave string is on top. The bass on eBay is opposite of that, but the bass Dane modified and the other pic here in this forum is strung in the standard orientation. The only real issue with this is the tuners - their orientation if small and large tuners are used.

In any case, I suppose that's a preference thing and these basses are beauties and I'd love to play one.

--jack
1977 4001 Mapleglo
2010 4003 Mid
2011 4003 Jetglo
2012 4003 Ruby ???

[ram]

I didn't do the checkered binding or the white finish...and I can't say who this belongs to...but here is the cresting wave version of my potato headstock.

Dane -- that checkered bound potatoe headstock is gorgeous !!

Rich, I couldn't agree with you more. Dane has a great eye for form. Here is the 'sisters' (I think numbers 1 & 2):

and a close up of the head stocks:

You can't see it real well here but the original plans called for pretty much the same thing on the 4004L as was on the orig. Dane modified it as to give it more proportion and a 4004 feel to it. Which I can say it has! Everyone who sees this bass are blown away by it.

Bruce Johnson (fantastic luthier) made it all happen.

My original fear for the bigger headstock was weight - I didn't want head dive. But another neat feature here is the larger & smaller tuners make it very easy to know where you are with out much effort when tuning. Going on, I think, 4 years now and no issues with neck, headstock or playability. A superb look and a superb instrument.