So why did CBS change the Strat headstock in the 70's anyways? Just wondering.

Well first off they changed the headstocks circa 1966 (technically you may find a few late '65s with the large headstock and a few early '66s with the small headstock; transitions with Fender are never very clean).

I've always heard it was to streamline production - by the time CBS bought the company in early 1965 Fender was using that large headstock on Jaguars and Mustangs. The original Jazzmasters had headstocks that were in-between the Strat and the large headstock but I'm not sure if Leo moved that model to the large headstock before the sale or if CBS made that change. The other student models at that time (the Musicmaster and Duo-Sonic) had Strat headstocks pre-sale. So in January 1965 Fender probably was using 4 different headstocks (Tele, Strat, Jazzmaster, and Jaguar) and 2 different neck heels (the more squared-off Tele style and the rounder style used on all the other guitars) and 2 scale lengths (25 1/2" and 24"). There might have been 3 scale lengths but I think the ultra short-scale 22 1/2" from the 50s Musicmasters and Duo-Sonics had been retired by 1965.

Therefore it makes sense to try to get rid of a few headstocks. The Strats were starting to become slow sellers so it made sense to "retire" that headstock and move as many models as possible to the "standard" large headstock. Remember, Fender was considering killing off the Strat in the mid-60s until some guy named Hendrix started using them. In fact, 1967 was the lowest production year for the Strat in it's long history.

I guess the Tele's consistent popularity, particularly in Country music, saved it from being converted to the large headstock - at least until 1972 when Fender came out with the Telecaster Deluxe (the 2 humbucker version of the Tele with the large pickguard and LP-style controls).

^Correct, I just have some more info When CBS bought out Fender, they wanted to push their guitar brand since people wanting guitars was booming, kind of like back in '07 and '08 with Guitar Hero and Rock Band, everyone thought since they could push a plastic button on a plastic guitar, they could suddenly play the real thing and expect to be good at it right away.. anyway.. it was all about getting their product out there.. if Little Billy sees George Harrison playing a Fender on the Bill Sullivan show, Billy will want a Fender. With the bolder black logo and the bigger headstock to accompany it, it was a way to make sure everyone saw what kind of guitar their favorite guitarist was playing... and then that person buys that guitar... I personally like the bigger headstock because hey its more wood on the guitar and makes it more resonant...

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1965 Fender Precision Bass, 1994 Fender '54 Reissue Precision Bass, 2007 Applause Celebrity, 2011 Fender American Special Jazz Bass, 2012 Squier Vintage Modified Jazzmaster, 2013 Fender American Special Stratocaster, 2013 Gibson LPJ

As my dear, late mother used to say: "Just because".

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Bill

Personally, I don't like the fact that they used the big headstocks on Squiers. I liked being able to identify a big head strat as a classic guitar. Squiers kind of took that away.

They changed it because it looks more awesome that way!!
That silouette is how I identify a Stratocaster!
All of my heroes played a large headstock.....Hendrix, Trower, Blackmore, Lowell George, and countless others!!
Just about all of my 13 Stratocasters have the large headstock!
It just looks cooler.......period!!


Ahhhhh..........

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^^^^
Jep, just this.

Cheers,
Robin

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Close - the big headstock lasted until the "Smith Strats" came out in 1982 (there was some transition in late 1981 on into 1982) but the Smith Strats did have the large CBS headstock logo.

The "Transition" gold logo lasted from 1965 through at least 1967 and maybe into 1968 but 1968 was the transition year to the black CBS logos.

The "Modern" logo was a silver and pretty similar to the old 60s transition logo; they started on the 1983 2-knob Standards and the Elites from the CBS years, and were again used on the American Standards/Pluses/Plus Deluxes/Ultras until 1995 when the Spaghetti logo came back on these models.

Yup, I think Leo thought the larger headstock was more awesome.

Back in the 70s, when I had posters of the abovementioned guitar heroes on my walls, the smaller headstock was just thought of as "old fashioned" by my group of friends. But of course fashions change. What goes around comes around.

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Member #26797
My other guitar is a Strat.

"Go big or go home."


That's what I always say at least.

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It seems that you actually say:

"Go big and reverse or go home."

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Member #26797
My other guitar is a Strat.

Haha well, that too! I guess that's the ultimate test. Turn it upside down. If it looks puny, you've got the WRONG headstock. Something about the reverse/big headstock combo is just great to me.

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Yeah, my old friend, Jeff Fisher, thought the large headstock just "looked heavier" than the small. I had to agree.

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Member #26797
My other guitar is a Strat.

Couldn't agree more. And not that it truly makes a functional difference, but for some reason I just think the bigger headstock oozes cool. I think it just has to do with the famous players who have used them, but nonetheless, I like that they stand out from the majority of other strats out there.

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OV5Hm3tScm0

I think the big headstocks look soooo goofy. The smaller ones are just right and proper!
Everyone knows that!!