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Head design to protect tuners?

On the build I'm doing now I want to try a design on the headstock that when I tote my GBG over my shoulder with the Headstock down, that if I bump something It won't knock off or out of tune my tuner heads. Am I crazy or has someone tried this type of design? I did a long search of photos here and there and just about everywhere have not seen anything. The closest design I've seen that will protect tuners, is on them store bought traveling guitars. Those tuners are usually on headless guitars and placed down in the body.

While I'm plucking around the house I might want to step out in the garage or step out in the yard. I most probably just swing it around my back and head off. I've been careful and have not had any trouble hitting the tuners on my 3 & 4 stringers. I Sure have had some hard bumps though. Now I'm thinking on the 6 string build I'm doing, why not try something different. I'm about to order tuners and have the neck and headstock just about ready to mock up. I fear the wood needs to be cut and shaped around the tuners when their location is determined. But will tuning be a pain if this is done? I'm going to use 3x3 tuners with a ^ shape headstock. I've added extra wood to my headstock and made it wider to have extra wood to work with. I'm thinking of the tombstone tuners but really like the chrome skull. With string tension is the skull hard to tune?

Any Ideas? I'm sure wandering.

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Permalink Reply by Rich on July 29, 2012 at 6:01pm

I don't know if this is possible with six strings, but I made one like this ( photo) due to a visualization error. It may work for you.

Attachments:

Rich 6 cbg headend.jpg, 420 KB

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Permalink Reply by Tim Latham on July 29, 2012 at 7:50pm

Thanks, this is kinda what I have in mind. Just wandering if it is hard to get your fingers on the tuners? I think once I get my hands on some new tuners I can start laying it out.

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Permalink Reply by Ron "Oily" Sprague on July 29, 2012 at 8:02pm

Tim,

I have a TravelerGuitar. Yes, the tuners are protected. But it is a slight pain to tune. It's not impossible, but it is a pain.

Hmmm. You could try a cage arrangement. Or why not try a soft option, like...a golf club sock? They're padded, goofy looking, your college mascot may appear on one. Or make a sock monkey headstock cover.

Just tossin' out ideas...

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Permalink Reply by the anonymous pick on July 29, 2012 at 8:09pm

well you could get crazy like me . lol

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Permalink Reply by Ron "Oily" Sprague on July 29, 2012 at 8:12pm

That's really kewl. Kin I have one in gold?

>:-E

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Permalink Reply by the anonymous pick on July 29, 2012 at 8:29pm

lol .. "pass it by .. tis not for you " ;-)

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Permalink Reply by Ron "Oily" Sprague on July 29, 2012 at 8:50pm

Eftsoons, desolation shall be my lot
For wishing for what mayest not.
Tis ever said, one's life's a bitch,
When having only ONE Swamp Witch.

>:-E

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Permalink Reply by Josiah Goldsmith on July 31, 2012 at 8:42am

You could cut a big hole in the middle of the head and recess around the edges, then install the tuners facing inwards (so the knobs are all together in the middle) then you've got the rest of the head surrounding the knobs so you can't knock it out of tune. Am i making any sense?

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Permalink Reply by Tim Latham on July 31, 2012 at 7:27pm

That is what I like about this place! There are no rules and it is ok to think out of the BOX!! Thanks everyone for your ideas. I have not thought about the one Goldsmith brought out on turning the tuners to the inside. When I get my new tuners I’ll have to lay them out and check this out.

Hey Anonymous pick, I’ll bet that picker you posted rest really sets nice on the leg while sittin down picken. That’s pretty cool. I started to try the yardstick one time and was afraid the wood too soft but I reckon it really don’t matter when you’re just having a good time.

Now Strat I have to say
You answered a question
In the simplest way
until you confused me
In the funniest way.
I know I’ve read about that
Swamp Witch,
but can’t remember who made the bitch?

Thanks again for all the fun and I’ll post a photo of the build I’m working on. I’m about to fiberglass my steel tube in and then I’ll begin shaping the neck. I’ve still got a ways before needing to cut up the headstock.

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Permalink Reply by the anonymous pick on July 31, 2012 at 7:37pm

tim that leg rest is actually a potato masher and a chrome bracelet stretched out .. and its detachable .. i actually rarely use it ..

but this guitar is by far my fav to play . and was my 2nd ever build . glad ya like it . its cool to have the tuners inbetween the pickups ,, but , the strings wrappig aroud the back was a pain in the ass design . .. ;-)