Gibson Headstock degree

[Mzzy]

Hi everybody,
I´m kind a surching this about a week still haven´t an answer.
I read in a 335 forum Gibson changed the headstock from a 17° to a lower 14° angle in 1965.
Gibson changed back to the 17° in the 1973.
I swear the 1997 Howard Roberts Fusion, I once had had a 14° angle and also a friends 1998 es 135 has 14°.
Any info?
Thank you

 

[Mats A]

I could be wrong but i believe they didn't change back to 17 degrees before sometime in the later 80's.

 

[irocdave12]

Mine was also 17 degrees until it fell over. Now it's at 90 degrees

 

[DarrellV]

FWIW Here's what they said on another Gibson forum about it....

'Gibson currently uses a 17 degree headstock angle, but has not always.

In 1966, Gibson changed the headstock angle from 17 to 14 degrees in order to strengthen the neck behind the truss rod adjustment cavity. The 14 degree angle adds more wood. They would also use a volute (an extra protusion of wood) in the same area from '69 to '81.

Gibson returned to the original 17 degree headstock angle in 1973.

YMMV

 

[ARandall]

I think 83 was the year the headstock angle changed.....along with a number of other changes taking the LP back to most of the pre norlin construction details.

 

[DarrellV]

Mine was also 17 degrees until it fell over. Now it's at 90 degrees

Been done for centuries before.....

 

[mudface]

Been done for centuries before.....

Yeah,....88 degrees would be awkward for a case.

 

[DarrellV]

Yeah,....88 degrees would be awkward for a case.

Did they even HAVE cases back then?

Prolly a leather sack or something.

 

[viking]

Been done for centuries before.....

Looks like a guitar neck on a cantaloupe.

 

[DarrellV]

Looks like a guitar neck on a cantaloupe.

LOL!! And yet they are the humble predecessors of all modern string instruments.
Outside of Cellos and violins etc that are bowed..
Not all of them have the crazy back bent headstock, of course!

 

[Mzzy]

Like i said, the 1998 ES 135 has a 14° neck!!!??????
(left one)