A General Preference For Teles

[Gypsyblue]

Well, they're both kind of bastardizations of the traditional violin headstock. Look at a violin, viola, cello, bass, etc. from the side and imagine the shape in 2D, do a few flips and distortions, and you have the Bigsby head.

My point is that they both have the same general idea, but each is different enough from the other to both be trademarked itself, and to not infringe on the other's trademark. Simply getting the idea for something from another product does not in and of itself constitute trademark theft.

Guitar history 101:

Here's a pic of an antique CF Martin guitar that some say was the inspiration for the Paul Bigsby/Merle Travis guitar:



And here's a pic of the actual guitar that Merle is supposed to have lent to Leo Fender and which inspired Leo to create the Telecaster:



Merle Travis used to tell everyone that he invented the Fender guitar. Don't know if it was Merle's idea or Paul Bigsby's idea for the headstock design, but it was probably inspired by the old Martin. Regardless, Leo copied it and used it for the Stratocaster.

[Kam]

I actually used to really hate the Tele headstock. Once I started liking Teles, it was still the one thing I hated about them. They've grown on me since then, though, and now I think a regular Telecaster looks odd without it. I prefer the Strat headstock over all and I definitely prefer it on Customs/deluxes/whatevers, but I think I prefer a standard Tele headstock on a standard Telecaster, if only by a small margin.

[guitfiddle]

Guitar history 101:

Here's a pic of an antique CF Martin guitar that some say was the inspiration for the Paul Bigsby/Merle Travis guitar:



And here's a pic of the actual guitar that Merle is supposed to have lent to Leo Fender and which inspired Leo to create the Telecaster:



Merle Travis used to tell everyone that he invented the Fender guitar. Don't know if it was Merle's idea or Paul Bigsby's idea for the headstock design, but it was probably inspired by the old Martin. Regardless, Leo copied it and used it for the Stratocaster.

Don't kid yourself...Martin copied the shape, too. There are numerous guitars, from before Martin existed, that have the same scroll that Bigsby later used.

/guitar 102

[Gypsyblue]

Don't kid yourself...Martin copied the shape, too. There are numerous guitars, from before Martin existed, that have the same scroll that Bigsby later used.

/guitar 102

I've never seen the distinctive Stratocaster head stock on any ancient lutes, mandolins, guitars or stringed instruments. Only on the Paul Bigsby guitars from the 1940's that preceded Leo's appropriation of that shape. If you have let's see some photos.

[ItsaBass]

I know where Leo got the idea for his Strat headstock. My point was that stealing a general idea but putting it in a slightly different form is not necessarily theft of a trademark. I don't think the Strat head could have been successfully challenged by Bigsby in court.

[kevlar3000]

I couldn't make up my mind....

[Myaccount876]

I HATE the strat headstocks on a tele. I'm all for advancements in the design of instruments as long as it doesn't contradict the purpose of the model. The way I see it, Tele = slab, Strat = carved and cut. I love the telecaster headstock on a tele, and the strat headstock on a strat. Oh yeah and for some reason the tummy cuts on the 2012 standard MIA teles turns me off. (I'm somewhat of a traditionalist when it comes to teles only, so don't mind me. )

It is just my preference and if someone else digs it that is cool, but the large headstocks are a turnoff for me.

[guitarkid4143]

The smaller, 50's style headstocks look better on the 2-pup guitars. But otherwise, I say CBS headstock.

-gk

[kevlar3000]

I HATE the strat headstocks on a tele. I'm all for advancements in the design of instruments as long as it doesn't contradict the purpose of the model. The way I see it, Tele = slab, Strat = carved and cut. I love the telecaster headstock on a tele, and the strat headstock on a strat. Oh yeah and for some reason the tummy cuts on the 2012 standard MIA teles turns me off. (I'm somewhat of a traditionalist when it comes to teles only, so don't mind me. )

It is just my preference and if someone else digs it that is cool, but the large headstocks are a turnoff for me.

Just so we all have our history straight.... This Deluxe is stunning IMO..

[guitfiddle]

I've never seen the distinctive Stratocaster head stock on any ancient lutes, mandolins, guitars or stringed instruments. Only on the Paul Bigsby guitars from the 1940's that preceded Leo's appropriation of that shape. If you have let's see some photos.

The exact outline on that Bigsby might be unseen before he made it, but scroll pegheads were around before Martin used them. The Strat scroll isn't just like the Bigsby one anyway, really.

[Lazarus1140]

I prefer the regular Tele headstock and also like that look on a Strat.

[subanots]

I love a CBS strat headstock on a tele.
Here are mine:

[Myaccount876]

Just so we all have our history straight.... This Deluxe is stunning IMO..

I should have mentioned those. I knew someone would bring them up, they are beautiful, even with the headstock, but if I had the chance I would still change it.

[dr. ad]

love this pic. it's as if your boy's first words were "now that's a fckin' tele"

[Petrovsk Mizinski]

I'm not fussed, I think it looks fine.
I'd be more concerned about how it plays, feels and sounds than whether the headstock is strat or traditional tele-style

[Mont97]

Not a tele user myself, although I would like to get one, but with a left handed bridge and the bridge single coil slanted the opposite way than normal (to fit the left and bridge)...

Sounds like a weird idea, but I heard someone says it gives a tighter bass end and rounder top end...

[appar111]

How many of you like the look of a Strat style headstock, be it Fender; large or not, or Charvel, on a Tele versus the traditional style headstock.

I like the Tele headstock and think it fits the simplicity of the guitar. However, I do like the look of a Strat style headstock on them, especially when they are hot-rodded a bit.

What's y'all's take?

I don't know if I'd say I prefer it, but it can definitely be a cool like, like you said, on hot-rodded ones. I have a striped EVH inspired tele that I did with a maple fretboard strat neck and single humbucker. I really dig that look together on this one!

[appar111]

I couldn't make up my mind....

Those yours? Cool look! How'd you do it? (not to derail the thread!)

[ImmortalSix]

love this pic. it's as if your boy's first words were "now that's a fckin' tele"

thank you

He LOVES guitars. When I turn him loose in the basement, he will (literally) crawl over the Strat and PRS to get to the Teles and Les Paul.

Brings a tear to my eye!

[Kam]

...he will (literally) crawl over the Strat and PRS to get to the Teles and Les Paul.

your son has a bright future ahead of him.