Thunderbird IV Bass Limited

[nofi]

speaking of which, i always wondered why sx had to change their headstocks. there are many more faithful renditions of fender's design out there. a lot of boutique 'fender' basses come to mind as well as tons of cheap knock offs.

[dadagoboi]

speaking of which, i always wondered why sx had to change their headstocks. there are many more faithful renditions of fender's design out there. a lot of boutique 'fender' basses come to mind as well as tons of cheap knock offs.

Fender has a trademark on it's headstock shape and does enforce it in the US  with licenses and suits, etc.  I use Allparts MIJs which are licensed.

The old SX headstock can be trimmed to closely resemble the modern Fender shape.  My theory is Fender told them they could build Squiers, maybe even Fenders for them if they changed the SX so it couldn't be modified that way.  So they did.  Anyway, that's my theory.

Modded original SX headstock

[Pilgrim]

Maybe hell will freeze over first.    They do have to consider their target guitar market, any composite would probably not be considered.

I get that.  With the high prices they charge in the Gibson line, they have to pretend their instruments are at least 75% unobtanium.  Nothing so plebeian as a composite would be acceptable.

[Dave W]

I get that.  With the high prices they charge in the Gibson line, they have to pretend their instruments are at least 75% unobtanium.  Nothing so plebeian as a composite would be acceptable.

It's not just price, it's what the buyers expect, even in the economy Gibsons like the Melody Maker or the several faded models. Hagstrom doesn't have that problem, since the brand had been off the market for years and was reintroduced as a lower priced import line.

[lowend1]

speaking of which, i always wondered why sx had to change their headstocks. there are many more faithful renditions of fender's design out there. a lot of boutique 'fender' basses come to mind as well as tons of cheap knock offs.

The SX headstock change had nothing to do with Fender. As I understand it, Sterling Ball was the one who got his panties all bunched up over it.

[Nocturnal]

I always thought the SX headstock looked very similar to Lakland's headstock, but I never knew who forced the change. I think the current Ursa headstock is fugly tho. 

[exiledarchangel]

New SX headstocks remind me of Ibanez thingies. Maybe Ibanez should lawsuit em.