kwfolk1 - Posted - 07/02/2011:  09:06:25

Peghead astethics whichareis your favorite & why?

My personally favorite is the ODE scroll design circa 1964-65.  But, I have to admit that, owing two, I'm bias.  While nice, the redesigned ODE, Baldwin & OME pegheads do not hold the same appeal, IMHO.  Not all that fond of the of ODE's Harpoon scroll peghead or the ODE or Gibson's bow ties.  Vega and Gibson scrolls are okay, but I still think the 1964 - 65 ODE's nailed it.

FYI: Pictures of the Baldwin, Vega & OME pegheads can be found on my Hangout Homepage.

Edited by - kwfolk1 on 07/02/2011 09:54:46

The Pope - Posted - 07/02/2011:  10:53:31

I am quite taken with the Gibson double-cut peghead...

beegee - Posted - 07/02/2011:  12:00:54

I like this one, a cleaner version of the Gibson top-tension shape:

The Old Timer - Posted - 07/02/2011:  15:23:34

The Gibson fiddle and double cut are my favorites. Some of the OLD Fairbanks are very nice too.

Kevin B - Posted - 07/02/2011:  15:29:25

I like the Gibson fiddle headstock because it was employed on the first Mastertones and the shape is really classy.

beezaboy - Posted - 07/02/2011:  16:56:06

I always liked this Kay.  I think it is from the 1940's.

Edited by - beezaboy on 07/02/2011 16:58:44

Kay

El Dobro - Posted - 07/02/2011:  17:59:17

This is my favorite, a Gibson variation of a Gibson top-tension peghead.

OM45GE - Posted - 07/02/2011:  18:12:18

I don't think it gets any better than this:

jims38134 - Posted - 07/02/2011:  19:04:18

<-----

josh95843 - Posted - 07/03/2011:  07:58:07

gibson double cut unbeatable. one that i like alot though is the early transitional 1s with the coke bottle peg head

dmiller - Posted - 07/03/2011:  10:54:22

There's so many good looking pegheads out there, it's hard to choose just one favorite.

But (that being said) - - - I've always really liked this one, with the banner.  

stanger - Posted - 07/03/2011:  11:52:10

This is the original C model peghead.

It's just like the D, but with no binding. The inlays were all placed by hand individually in Colorado-there was no template- so each varies. Notice the inlay placement differences between this one and the D above.



This C is pretty rare. I've never seen another, and doubt I ever will. They cost almost as much as a D, but had only snowflake inlays in the neck- they were too plain for most bluegrassers, and too fancy for the folk players back then. I was lucky, and bought this one last year. In all respects other than the inlays, it's identical to the Baldwins.

This particular banjo was made after the Baldwin buyout. Chuck was allowed to fill his back order list, and the back orders were streamed into the Baldwin production. This may have been the last original C made. It was probably made in 1967.

It's all original, except for the head and the addition of 2 spikes. The action is perfect, and the banjo sounds swell. It has the nicest matching wood in the rim of any banjo I've ever seen- it almost looks like a single piece of wood.

There are lots of very beautiful peghead shapes and inlay patterns in them. This one has been my fave ever since I first saw it in 1965.

regards,

stanger

Edited by - stanger on 07/03/2011 12:00:14

Original C peghead

stanger - Posted - 07/03/2011:  12:04:22

I gotta say all the pegheads here are just beautiful!
regards,
stanger

chadp - Posted - 07/04/2011:  09:03:38

I've always been a huge fan of the Buckbee double teardrop. 

RB100 - Posted - 07/04/2011:  09:47:05

Coke bottle shaped 1's and 2's...simple, functional, and understated, yet elegant!

Bill

McUtsi - Posted - 07/04/2011:  10:11:11

OME Juggernaut...the shape,the inlay work and,not least,the "OME" lettering...I enter

an altered state of mind just looking at it...there´s a bit of All-American magic for

You...4th of July and all...McUtsi

BrittDLD1 - Posted - 07/04/2011:  11:39:08

I'm not the modest type...

Edited by - BrittDLD1 on 07/04/2011 11:41:04

kwfolk1 - Posted - 07/04/2011:  12:05:17

Britt, that definitely is one nice looking peghead.  I also really like that griffin.

wbelm - Posted - 07/04/2011:  12:25:19

I very much like the Ode and Ome designs. One of my favorites is this old Fairbanks design.

lazlototh - Posted - 07/04/2011:  14:44:19

Can't just pick one. I am partial to Orpheums. The first one is a copy of a Carlin 350+ which I think is a copy of an Orpheum.

The other one is a Orpheum Super Special copy that my luthier friend is finishing up (for a year now!)

Edited by - lazlototh on 07/04/2011 14:46:53

350+ Copy?

Orpheum Copy Peghead

rudykizuty - Posted - 07/04/2011:  15:04:26

Oh my....there are so many good designs to choose from. Well, there's the early Fairbanks/Vega Whyte Laydie design with the Griffin peghead. The Paramount A is a standout to me, as is the design on the Weymann Orchestra models from the 1920's. But Flossie Herner's boy is a born and bred lover of all things B&D. I consider myself blessed to actually own two of the most lovely pegheads I've ever seen. By the way.....the rest of these two aren't too shabby either ;)

Edited by - rudykizuty on 07/04/2011 15:07:12

rudykizuty - Posted - 07/04/2011:  15:07:36

Hmmm....image load won't work for the second one.....here's the link.

banjohangout.org/myhangout/pho...umid=2449

Edited by - rudykizuty on 07/04/2011 15:12:01

stelling man - Posted - 07/04/2011:  15:49:30

Anything made by Geoff Stelling..

STELLING MAN

steve davis - Posted - 07/04/2011:  15:57:12

My '08 Cox Kentucky 5

dmiller - Posted - 07/04/2011:  17:38:07

quote:

---

Originally posted by BrittDLD1

I'm not the modest type...

 

Here's my hand-rendering of the original OME Renaissance peghead, I designed,

back in 1989. The perimeter shape is Chuck Ogsbury's.. All the crap in the middle

is mine... as is the griffin on the 1st fret.

 

 

 

 

Best-

Ed Britt

---

Dang!  You designed that one, Ed??  That's another one I've admired for years.  

Good looking "crap in the middle" there.  

5stringpicker2 - Posted - 07/04/2011:  18:19:57

The Vega style Peg Head is my favorite.

( I  )====='----<::)

Edited by - 5stringpicker2 on 07/04/2011 18:20:44

sugarinthegourd - Posted - 07/04/2011:  18:21:44

I've always loved the trapdoor Gibson "snakehead" design:

Edited by - sugarinthegourd on 07/04/2011 18:28:51

NYCJazz - Posted - 07/04/2011:  18:32:51

 Pure Roaring Twenties...

jbalch - Posted - 07/04/2011:  18:55:03

Ed that Ome design is Fantastic!

I've always liked the old Bacon flowerpot.  This on is on my 1994 Reiter Grand Concert:

I like the B&D tenors too...this is a 1934 Special #2

Edited by - jbalch on 07/04/2011 18:57:26

jfb - Posted - 07/04/2011:  19:14:24

The Gibson pre war double cut..its an artform in itself

Paul R - Posted - 07/04/2011:  20:15:20

Here's an original Orpheum peghead, which has a shape that's pleasing to my eye. And if you want to see "crap in the middle", try this inlay by Tony Duggan-Smith (late seventies), from a banjo made with "old" Liberty hardware. He used mother of pearl, abalone, silver, maple, rosewood, ivory, and brass.

Jim Yates - Posted - 07/04/2011:  20:15:35

Lots of lovely designs.  I'm really glad that there are more than one.

Tom Robison - Posted - 07/04/2011:  20:40:24

I always like a correctly shaped fiddle peghead.  He's one that was hand cut and inlayed by Larry Brown.  Currently being worked on by Chris Cioffi.

Tom

jbalch - Posted - 07/05/2011:  05:50:06

This one has to rank with the best-of-the-best. It is the first Jubilo ...made for David Emery by Bob Flesher. 

trapdoor2 - Posted - 07/05/2011:  08:47:59

I rather like this one of Bob's. That's what is on my Cotillion...

I am also partial to the Lange 'Paramount' style peghead...and, of course, the Stewart Special Thoroughbred pegheads with the wire inlay.

slowdeath - Posted - 07/05/2011:  10:17:54

Guess I'm crazy, but i love the Gibson 00 shape.  Dunno why but i was surprised no one else piped up for it.

beezaboy - Posted - 07/05/2011:  16:33:10

No one has mentioned Puntolillo's Majestic design.  They are, uh..."distinctive"(?)

banjoworld.de/Majest47.htm

dmiller - Posted - 07/05/2011:  19:08:49

quote:

---

Originally posted by beezaboy

No one has mentioned Puntolillo's Majestic design.  They are, uh..."distinctive"(?)

banjoworld.de/Majest47.htm

---

carlb - Posted - 07/06/2011:  05:55:14

Check out the Chubby Dragons on these Bacon Professionals:

sugarinthegourd.com/BaconProfe...nlays.pdf

They're all a little different from each other.

Edited by - carlb on 07/06/2011 05:57:00

wbelm - Posted - 07/06/2011:  07:27:30

Carl, very nice post, i also love the early chubby dragons

wbelm - Posted - 07/06/2011:  07:34:06

For the very ornate peg head how about this: 1896 Fairbanks and a 2010 Doug Unger presentation-grade

Peg Head (photo by Jason Burt)

Headstock (photo by Jason Burt)

ZEPP - Posted - 07/06/2011:  11:21:26

As far as shape goes, I'm with the OP.  Here's my 1964 Ode, which I bought new.  I just loved the headstock!  (Still do.)

My 1964 Ode's Peghead

NYCJazz - Posted - 07/06/2011:  12:33:03

Bacon & Day #6 Ne Pus Ultra

jbalch - Posted - 07/07/2011:  15:34:41

quote:

---

Originally posted by NYCJazz

Bacon & Day #6 Ne Pus Ultra

---

 I think the #6 is one of the best looking banjo B&D made...

Banjorb3 - Posted - 07/07/2011:  16:13:42

quote:

---

Originally posted by slowdeath

Guess I'm crazy, but i love the Gibson 00 shape.  Dunno why but i was surprised no one else piped up for it.

---

 I agree.  It's beautiful in its simplicity.

Ken

jm7 - Posted - 07/07/2011:  16:30:18

beezaboy - Posted - 07/08/2011:  06:35:22

Like that Lynbrook from Brooklyn!

Houdlett Factory

dculgan - Posted - 07/08/2011:  11:13:33

My favorites are the S.S. Stewart standard peghead, and the George Washburn from the same period, both very similar. Also the Boucher fiddle scroll design, the only asymmetrical one I really like.  D. Culgan

gottasmilealot - Posted - 07/08/2011:  11:46:28

I like the old Liberty Banjo Co headstocks.