Hi from the UK
I'm about to build my first strumstick and would like to use the McNally headstock design (simple to make) but does anyone know of tuneers where the string hole on the shafts are staggered to keep them in line with the strings like the McNally's?
Dave
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I use jumbo fretwire for the zero, it makes it really easy to get nice low action, and is much easier than cutting a nut with proper slots that don't vibrate or are too deep. I did one, and I never did another!
When you use the zero fret, though, you want your tuners to line up with the path of the strings as much as possible. That goes for a slotted peghead like above as well as a scarf joined head or cutaway head. You also need a pretty good break angle over that zero fret, or some sort of string tree if you find the angle is not enough.
I use jumbo fretwire for the zero, it makes it really easy to get nice low action, and is much easier than cutting a nut with proper slots that don't vibrate or are too deep. I did one, and I never did another!
When you use the zero fret, though, you want your tuners to line up with the path of the strings as much as possible. That goes for a slotted peghead like above as well as a scarf joined head or cutaway head. You also need a pretty good break angle over that zero fret, or some sort of string tree if you find the angle is not enough.
That is a Stew-Mac 3-on-a-plate guitar tuner, and it has two sets of holes drilled in each post, so you can get more flexibility on how it wraps on. I just ran the strings over the zero fret in shallow nicks I filed in with a triangle file. Others I've made like this have had a bit of slippage, so I've put in two tiny guide screws for the highest and lowest strings to keep them in the slot.
Hi Diane, you say that you thought the McNally fingerboard is to narrow, I agree most strum stick type instruments seem very narrow to me as well. What width would you sugest for the fingerboard and what scale length would you suggest considering I would like to make one thats tuned D-A-D.
I also like the way you've done the pegboard, I might just steal your design!!!
Andy in U.K
Thanks for your suggestions guys - really appreciated. I like the idea of the double drilled tuners a lot but if I can't get any in the UK I guess drilling shouldn't a problem.
Dianne - is that an extra thick fretboard to give a better string break - great idea. Seems like it make construction of the headstock real easy. A bit of fretboard on the back of a straight piece of beech perhaps?
Yup, I just stick a piece of fretboard on the back of the headstock, and you've got a dogleg neck. You can see how they line up, the zero fretline is aligned with what would be a zero line on the back of the head - if you were goofy enough to put frets on the back of the head.
I think that one is maple and a cherry fingerboard/head.
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