why is a Strathead so important?

[spencer4hire]

Re: Why is a Strathead so important?

The SLS style headstock is awesome! If I want a strat headstock I'd buy a Fender. The PC1 headstock is not that bad looking. I have 2 Charvel Traditonals one 95 and one of the Japanese models they both have that headstock. My first guitar Charvels CHS1 has it also.

[shreddermon]

Re: Why is a Strathead so important?

The strathead has a strong history with the Charvel line, especially the earliest SDs. Charvels were pretty much ONLY stratheads, until the pointyhead from Randy's Jackson V was introduced to the Charvel line later on. Some Jackson bolt-ons have had stratheads as well, but to a lesser extent.

It is also desirable because - under threat of legal action by Fender - J/C had to stop building them, and it was "verboten" for so many years. Hence, it was "rare", from a collectors standpoint.

I think ultimately, though, the bottom line is this: guitarists are a very traditional bunch, and are reluctant to accept new designs. Or even variations of old designs. Hence, many folks dislike for the mid-90s Charvel and prior PC1 headstocks. (...Both of which, I thought, were fine. Nonetheless, I'd take a strathead instead any day of the week. [img]/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img] )

And I think the strathead looks absolutely killer on the PC1's Dinky body w/24 frets. I like full sized strats very much, too. But I prefer Dinkys somewhat. Besides, that's an nice way to further differentiate this Jackson strathead from the Charvel line. And it's VERY cool to, at last, have it on a standard "production" guitar. ...If only they'd allow the same with the Charvel line.

[kmanick]

Re: Why is a Strathead so important?

It's amazing to me that so many people have been waiting for GMW to "UnVeil" their new headstock. If Lee comes out with a neck that is exactly like the strathead necks that have been coming out of his shop all along (profile , width , frets, feel, quality etc) but he has a quasi strathead head stock on it, is that really going to kill his sales?
My GMW (BLUE Q) neck is absolutely amazing, and honestly I could give a sh*t what the headstock on it was as long as it plays and feels the way it does.
As long as it's not a ridiculous looking headstock , I don't see what the big deal is. [img]/images/graemlins/scratchhead.gif[/img]

[Sunbane]

Re: Why is a Strathead so important?

[ QUOTE ]
I like the SLS headstock, but only on certain stuff. It looks best as a seven string headstock. The guys in Divison have them on their sevens, and it looks way better than seven on a side.

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Although I dislike the SLS stock a lot, I'll have to agree to that. The 4+3 SLS looked pretty nice on the Blair Witch Rhoads for instance.

I hate the way it looks on the SLS/SLSMG, and I don't like it on the KV2T either.

[jwoods986]

Re: Why is a Strathead so important?

First off, the SLS headstock IS ugly - on any shape. Now, as far as the strathead, it depends on the guitar. Of course, it looks good on a strat-shape, i.e. if you were to order a custom shop bengal or crossed swords, it's got to have a s-head - the pointy just doesn't work. But I agree with j2379 about them not looking right on odd-shaped guitars like a star.

[pro-fusion]

Re: Why is a Strathead so important?

--I like the SLS headstock.

--The whole strat headstock thing is overrated. It's cool for the folks who want to recreate something from the past, but J/C is all about the pointies, if you ask me. That's a big part of what made the company famous, and more than just another boutique strat shop.

[jwoods986]

Re: Why is a Strathead so important?

[ QUOTE ]
It's amazing to me that so many people have been waiting for GMW to "UnVeil" their new headstock. If Lee comes out with a neck that is exactly like the strathead necks that have been coming out of his shop all along (profile , width , frets, feel, quality etc) but he has a quasi strathead head stock on it, is that really going to kill his sales?
My GMW (BLUE Q) neck is absolutely amazing, and honestly I could give a sh*t what the headstock on it was as long as it plays and feels the way it does.
As long as it's not a ridiculous looking headstock , I don't see what the big deal is. [img]/images/graemlins/scratchhead.gif[/img]

[/ QUOTE ]
Well, about 4 posts went up in the time it took me to write mine above -lol. Nick, I've thought the same way sometimes. Like, I know there are people on here that are holding off on ordering a GMW until they see the headstock and I'm thinking, "that's crazy it's still gonna be a well made, great playing guitar". But then I see pics of GMWs or Charvels w/s-heads, and they look awesome, and I realize the headstock is a big deal. For example, I don't like the SLS headstock and will never buy a Jackson that has one.
Edit - another example. The Snakeskin Jackson Strat I bought from (and sold back to) you. I thought it looked great (and played superb) but I remember looking at it thinking, "A Strathead would be perfect on this".

[Newc]

Re: Why is a Strathead so important?

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They really missed the mark with an otherwise awesome guitar, the KV2T. Imagine how many more they would have sold if it had the standard pointy headstock.


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They did do one - http://www.mattsmusic.com/korinaKV.htm - and it hasn't sold.
Have the SLS-headed models been selling? Yup.

The SLS head IS a pointyhead, you twits [img]/images/graemlins/poke.gif[/img]

As for a Strathead on a Charvel or PC-1, it's going to drive people who are not "in the know" into Fender's camp more than it will bring them to the Jackson/Charvel camp, because Jackson/Charvel models lose a bit of their identity when they lose the traditional C/J headstock.

Graphics won't maintain that identity, because I don't see many graphic Charvels out there in the new line - yeah a Bengal and the EVH, but I'm talking about production/standard models hanging on the walls and in player hands with Warren's Strat graphics and the others from the 80s, not just a handful of "famous faces".

But as long as the people who missed out on them in the 80s can get new copies of them now, it's all good [img]/images/graemlins/toast.gif[/img]

[StukaJU87]

Re: Why is a Strathead so important?

Newc, can I buy the one at Matt's for what I paid for my RR1T? They were made the same year. Answer=NO. I inquired about it. $1000 more. [img]/images/graemlins/fart.gif[/img]

The SLS headstock sold because that is all they offered to the public on a USA Select KV2T. I am sure that if the KV2T had a (and I'll specify this for you) 6 on a side regular pointy headstock it would be as popular as the RR1T.

[shreddermon]

Re: Why is a Strathead so important?

[ QUOTE ]
As for a Strathead on a Charvel or PC-1, it's going to drive people who are not "in the know" into Fender's camp more than it will bring them to the Jackson/Charvel camp, because Jackson/Charvel models lose a bit of their identity when they lose the traditional C/J headstock.

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[img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] Newc, with all due respect, bro, where do you come up with this stuff? [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

I mean, that statement might be (remotely) possible at the low-priced entry level guitar, with clueless 10 year olds just starting out. i.e., Squires, Epies, cheap import Jacksons. But most of the people buying $1k-plus guitars like Charvels and PC1s are intelligent and brand-aware enough to NEVER mistake the J/C brand identities with Fender's. Apples and oranges, my friend. ...No. More like apples and broccoli. Strathead or no. [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

[Newc]

Re: Why is a Strathead so important?

Only $1K more for a NAMM model? Not bad [img]/images/graemlins/poke.gif[/img]

IMO, and following the Strahead Logic, a 3x3 pointy head on a KV would sell more even in direct competition with a traditional J-head on the same body because of the Gibson V link - people are used to seeing a V with a 3x3 head, and a pointy V body with a pointy 3x3 head is closer to the Original Design than a pointy V with a typical Jackson head.

However, on the other foot, you do end up with an "almost" or "wannabe" appearance just like with the old PC-1 head - it will still be viewed as a "wannabe Gibson V" just like the PC-1 was viewed as a "wannabe Strat" among the Puritans.

[jwoods986]

Re: Why is a Strathead so important?

[ QUOTE ]
The SLS headstock sold because that is all they offered to the public on a USA Select KV2T. I am sure that if the KV2T had a (and I'll specify this for you) 6 on a side regular pointy headstock it would be as popular as the RR1T.

[/ QUOTE ]
+1

[StukaJU87]

Re: Why is a Strathead so important?

[ QUOTE ]
Only $1K more for a NAMM model? Not bad [img]/images/graemlins/poke.gif[/img]



[/ QUOTE ] Well you were crowing about how it had a pointy and STILL hadn't sold. Now you have your answer. [img]/images/graemlins/poke.gif[/img]

[Newc]

Re: Why is a Strathead so important?

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
As for a Strathead on a Charvel or PC-1, it's going to drive people who are not "in the know" into Fender's camp more than it will bring them to the Jackson/Charvel camp, because Jackson/Charvel models lose a bit of their identity when they lose the traditional C/J headstock.

[/ QUOTE ]

[img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] Newc, with all due respect, bro, where do you come up with this stuff? [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

I mean, that statement might be (remotely) possible at the low-priced entry level guitar, with clueless 10 year olds just starting out. i.e., Squires, Epies, cheap import Jacksons. But most of the people buying $1k-plus guitars like Charvels and PC1s are intelligent and brand-aware enough to NEVER mistake the J/C brand identities with Fender's. Apples and oranges, my friend. ...No. More like apples and broccoli. Strathead or no. [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

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Yeah. Ok. [img]/images/graemlins/toast.gif[/img]

[veliyasin]

Re: Why is a Strathead so important?

[ QUOTE ]
They did do one - http://www.mattsmusic.com/korinaKV.htm - and it hasn't sold.
Have the SLS-headed models been selling? Yup.

[/ QUOTE ]
Waste of Korina body with fugly paint and fugly inlays. I was ready to buy that guitar if it wasn't for those two reasons. Just my two cents.