Why has Gibson reintroduced the big ugly Norlin headstock starting from 2015?

[guitarnut_1]

Boy I HATE that big 70's headstock! Is HJ really trying to fully ruin this company! AFIK 2016 and 2017 have the same headstock on the non Custom Shop line.... what a bummer!

 

[agquake]

They've been back long before 2015. Here's a 2012 Standard

 

[TheLateGreatJC]

They have been using the big headstock for a good few years now.

 

[Jignant]

Thank you for early 90's era Les Pauls...

 

[woof*]

Yep....bad

 

[Crossroads]

IIRC, part of the reasoning was to be big enough to accommodate the E tuners.

 

[AParrotLooksAt4O]

Have it on my '61 Reissue SG.

I could not possibly care any less.

 

[Bertiman]

Looks like the same headstock on my 2004 LP Std...

 

[Rhythm Rocker]

I have it on my '06 SG '61 ri and on my '78 SG Custom. Yeah, it's a Norlin era. I know...for shame!

I like them. A lot.

 

[Guitarworks]

I don't have a problem with them, just like I don't have a problem with fat strat headstocks - I like the wide and narrow ones equally well in the case of both Fender and Gibson. I mean, how much wider are they, really? I think the difference is negligible.

 

[IPLAYLOUD]

The new headstock is not as large as the old Norlins.

 

[guitarnut_1]

the original 50s headstock is just a lot prettier.... I think they are doing this to justify the monster prices they are charging on the Custom Shop line.... that just sucks. Next LP I will buy will be a 90s one. Or a historic.

And yeah.... I can spot the difference in size from a mile distance. I don't have a problem with the greenish inlays on the 90's Classics, but I definitely don't like the larger headstock.

 

[Average Joe]

Never liked the wide headstock. Looks oversized to most of the classic designs, and full bindings just make it look even bigger.

The one I wish they would use more is the small one on the ES346, martino sig, etc. I know a lot of people dislike it, but I like how it doesn't break the flow of the lines

 

[guitarnut_1]

Never liked the wide headstock. Looks oversized to most of the classic designs, and full bindings just make it look even bigger.

The one I wish they would use more is the small one on the ES346, martino sig, etc. I know a lot of people dislike it, but I like how it doesn't break the flow of the lines

that headstock has one advantage: tuning stability should be better, as the strings go STRAIGHT to the tuners after the nut, no angle to the left and right.

The headstock on the Grosh Set Neck is pretty much the same (I have one of these and it kills!):

 

[sshan25]

Have it on my '61 Reissue SG.

I could not possibly care any less.

That's because the original '61 SG's had big headstocks.

 

[Stev0Griffin]

Because the bigger the headstock, the bigger the toanzzzzs. I thought this was common knowledge.

 

[johnh]

I used to absolutely hate 70's style Fender headstocks, but plenty of folks love them. Over time they've grown on me. Maybe the same thing is happening here.

 

[27sauce]

Because Gibson USA is balls deep in Norlin Part II

 

[Carbohydrates]

Never liked the wide headstock. Looks oversized to most of the classic designs, and full bindings just make it look even bigger.

The one I wish they would use more is the small one on the ES346, martino sig, etc. I know a lot of people dislike it, but I like how it doesn't break the flow of the lines

This is the best Gibson headstock, no doubt. the straight string pull is a huge benefit, and I imagine the lessened mass would be nice on lighter bodied guitars with a little neck dive.

 

[EADGBE]

More wood equals more sustain.