The Reversed headstock of the C64 model.

[uwe]

"I can justify upside-down Strat headstocks even without Hendrix, they have different string tension with those headstocks."

Hasn't Herr Westheimer relegated that to the myth department? On an identical scale, the tension of two equally gauged strings tuned to the same note will always be the same (manufacturing differences between the strings excepted) irrespective whether they end directly after bridge and nut or still go on for a while. What's beyond the bridge saddle and nut is irrelevant except for saddle and nut pressure me thought. (Dave Westheimer citation needed.) 

Uwe

[ilan]

It makes sense. So the "Compensator" tailpiece, that didn't work either?

[ilan]

You mean RIC had lefty headstocks in the earlier days?

They didn't, but if I was going to give a lefty bass to the guy from the Beatles, I think I'd have someone in the factory custom make a mirror-image headstock and nameplate for that bass.

[Dave W]

The tension doesn't change. The feel certainly changes. I read elsewhere that the proper physics term for this is compliance.

If you have the chance to compare normal and reversed headstock Strats at the same time, you'll be able to tell the difference. Or if you have a guitar with a locking nut, by comparing the feel of your longest string with the string clamped and unclamped.

But the pounds of tension needed to bring the string to pitch won't change.

[Blazer]

The tension doesn't change. The feel certainly changes. I read elsewhere that the proper physics term for this is compliance.

If you have the chance to compare normal and reversed headstock Strats at the same time, you'll be able to tell the difference. Or if you have a guitar with a locking nut, by comparing the feel of your longest string with the string clamped and unclamped.

But the pounds of tension needed to bring the string to pitch won't change.

Well I don't know if the reversed headstock makes a significant influence on the way a strat plays but my Voodoo Strat IS my best sounding guitar.

[eb2]

The string length in relation to the nut and bridge does have an effect on the instrument.  I can't remember the physics involved, but the reason a MM Stinkray has the G tuner where it does was that Fender figured out that dead spots on a P bass were a result of the longer G string.  Moving it changed the tension with it in tune, and got rid of the dead spot.  Somebody will know what it involves.  So - from all I recall - a compensator tailpiece does effect the instrument, as does reversing the headstock.  Maybe minor, but I don't think it is a myth.  But then again I don't recall all the details either.

[Dave W]

Maybe that's what MM claimed at some point long ago, but I've found all sorts of basses with the "Fender dead spot" including my Gibson EB-0L with it's 2+2 headstock and the occasional MM. I don't think string length has anything to do with dead spots.

[Blazer]

The string length in relation to the nut and bridge does have an effect on the instrument.  I can't remember the physics involved, but the reason a MM Stinkray has the G tuner where it does was that Fender figured out that dead spots on a P bass were a result of the longer G string.  Moving it changed the tension with it in tune, and got rid of the dead spot.  Somebody will know what it involves.  So - from all I recall - a compensator tailpiece does effect the instrument, as does reversing the headstock.  Maybe minor, but I don't think it is a myth.  But then again I don't recall all the details either.

If that's really the case here then why did Leo Fender return to using a four-in-line headstock for his Post-musicman G&L basses?

[eb2]

I believe the reason for that is that Music Man owned the design - not Leo Fender or his own company which manufactured them for Music Man.  Even though he did design it.  The leap from the Sting Ray to the L-1000 is pretty tiny, and in general the differences are the lack of active controls and the headstock design reverting to an older Fender vibe.  MM would probably have sued if G&L had those features, and Fender did sue G&L for using the older headstock.  The L-1000 is an altered Sting Ray the way that bass was an altered Mustang.

But then this is wavering way of Rickenbacker territory.