Headstock Ideas

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Wichita Sam on February 23, 2010 at 7:33am

fretted, frettless, slide, picked, scarf neck, not, slotted, padddle, fender style modern art..... where would you like to start?
how are you equipped for tools?

There's a few thousand pics in the photo file that should give you some great ideas.... After that, we can give you some more ideas... You're also welcome to roam around my photobucket account... over 1000 pics, mostly CBGs...

http://s275.photobucket.com/home/WichitaSam/index

get back to us and we'll help you with a killer headstock.

the best,

Wichita Sam

Permalink Reply by Steven Downer on February 24, 2010 at 2:47pm

cool.. I like this:

http://s275.photobucket.com/albums/jj317/WichitaSam/?action=view&am...

and this
http://s275.photobucket.com/albums/jj317/WichitaSam/?action=view&am...

but very much this:
http://s275.photobucket.com/albums/jj317/WichitaSam/?action=view&am...

what went into the last one you did?

Permalink Reply by Wichita Sam on February 24, 2010 at 8:26pm

The last one was actually done for me by ron marr, "Blind Doughboy" in SW Missouri.... it's a scarf jointed oak neck with "wings" of canary and blood wood that is then bandsaw'd into an abstract pattern.... Not that hard to do once you're comfortable with working scarf joints and bandsaws.

I still have one that he build for me on the shelf... If you need design help, let me know....

sit down with a piece of paper and just start schetching....

the best,

Wichita Sam

Steven Downer said:

cool.. I like this:

http://s275.photobucket.com/albums/jj317/WichitaSam/?action=view&am...

and this
http://s275.photobucket.com/albums/jj317/WichitaSam/?action=view&am...

but very much this:
http://s275.photobucket.com/albums/jj317/WichitaSam/?action=view&am...

what went into the last one you did?

Permalink Reply by ChiBob on September 25, 2010 at 2:50pm

Probably a dumb question, but I'll ask it anyway: When the headstock is broader or thicker or slanted back from the neck, it has to be a separate piece of wood, right? And if so, it would have to have a truss rod or some such strengthening to prevent it from collapsing. Please correct me or clarify. Thank you.

Permalink Reply by Wichita Sam on September 25, 2010 at 8:57pm

Well, yes, mostly, sorta..... If you're building a headstock design that is wider than the neck, you generally just glue "wings" onto the side, and then cut out the shape you what. Assuming you use good wood glue, between smooth surfaces, that is more than strong enough to hold up to the strain of tuners.

In necks that angle away from the plane of the top of the neck there are two options. First, start with a thicker than necessary neck stock, cut away from the bottom of the neck for the actual "neck' part and angle cut the head stock portion. But... mostly, people doing angled headstocks are making "scarf" joints. These are secured with glue joints. and if done right are plenty strong.

search "scarf joint" and you should get a lot of info including pics.....

hope this helps,

the best,

Wichita Sam

ChiBob said:

Probably a dumb question, but I'll ask it anyway: When the headstock is broader or thicker or slanted back from the neck, it has to be a separate piece of wood, right? And if so, it would have to have a truss rod or some such strengthening to prevent it from collapsing. Please correct me or clarify. Thank you.

Permalink Reply by ChiBob on September 25, 2010 at 10:54pm

Thanks a lot, Sam! You have definitely upgraded my understanding of these things. So the" wings" will hold with appropriate glue. Like Gorilla glue? Or Elmer's Carpenter's? I'll definitely look up scarf joints; thanks again.

Wichita Sam said:

Well, yes, mostly, sorta..... If you're building a headstock design that is wider than the neck, you generally just glue "wings" onto the side, and then cut out the shape you what. Assuming you use good wood glue, between smooth surfaces, that is more than strong enough to hold up to the strain of tuners.

In necks that angle away from the plane of the top of the neck there are two options. First, start with a thicker than necessary neck stock, cut away from the bottom of the neck for the actual "neck' part and angle cut the head stock portion. But... mostly, people doing angled headstocks are making "scarf" joints. These are secured with glue joints. and if done right are plenty strong.

search "scarf joint" and you should get a lot of info including pics.....

hope this helps,

the best,

Wichita Sam

ChiBob said:

Probably a dumb question, but I'll ask it anyway: When the headstock is broader or thicker or slanted back from the neck, it has to be a separate piece of wood, right? And if so, it would have to have a truss rod or some such strengthening to prevent it from collapsing. Please correct me or clarify. Thank you.

Permalink Reply by Naz Nomad on September 26, 2010 at 1:18am

ChiBob said:

So the" wings" will hold with appropriate glue. Like Gorilla glue? Or Elmer's Carpenter's? I'll definitely look up scarf joints; thanks again.

Use a PVA glue (Titebond is very popular over there in the US - Evo-Stik here in the UK), and clamped properly, your joint will generally be stronger than the wood itself. (Try breaking one apart and you'll see).

I wouldn't use Gorilla Glue as the glue expands while setting. Ok, this will fill tiny gaps but is a weak joint as the expanded glue contains entrapped air bubbles.

Permalink Reply by Wichita Sam on September 27, 2010 at 5:25am

gorilla glue? gods above no! Gorilla glue is only good for furniture with sloppy joints... it expands as it dries. Any good wood glue, slightly contracts pulling the joint together. gorilla glue will push joints apart, misaligning them...

ChiBob said:

Thanks a lot, Sam! You have definitely upgraded my understanding of these things. So the" wings" will hold with appropriate glue. Like Gorilla glue? Or Elmer's Carpenter's? I'll definitely look up scarf joints; thanks again.

Wichita Sam said:

Well, yes, mostly, sorta..... If you're building a headstock design that is wider than the neck, you generally just glue "wings" onto the side, and then cut out the shape you what. Assuming you use good wood glue, between smooth surfaces, that is more than strong enough to hold up to the strain of tuners.

In necks that angle away from the plane of the top of the neck there are two options. First, start with a thicker than necessary neck stock, cut away from the bottom of the neck for the actual "neck' part and angle cut the head stock portion. But... mostly, people doing angled headstocks are making "scarf" joints. These are secured with glue joints. and if done right are plenty strong.

search "scarf joint" and you should get a lot of info including pics.....

hope this helps,

the best,

Wichita Sam

ChiBob said:

Probably a dumb question, but I'll ask it anyway: When the headstock is broader or thicker or slanted back from the neck, it has to be a separate piece of wood, right? And if so, it would have to have a truss rod or some such strengthening to prevent it from collapsing. Please correct me or clarify. Thank you.