Headstock modification

[CPike]

I'm toying with the idea of modifying a headstock to make it more compact and lighter. It's a Fender style scroll pattern, straight (not angled). I want to remove the G tuner from the end and place it on the lower side (3+1), then re-shape the end of the headstock (basically lopping off the rounded end of it). I also want to shave off about 1/4in of wood from both the top and bottom edges - effectively turning the traditional size into a much more compact peghead.

My question is this: assuming I'd be removing approx. 25-30% of the material, would the remaining wood be strong enough to hold the tension of the strings? Also, is the fact that it's straight and non-angled have any bearing on the structural integrity of the resulting smaller headstock?

.cdp

[darkstorm]

making the headstock thinner would be a bad idea which could make it unstable. Lopping off wood from its end where there are no tuners is fine. You state your gonna move the G string tuner. Just make sure you leave enough wood thickness between top ends of tuner shaft holes and edges of headstock. And dont mess with headstocks thickness.

[CPike]

Thanks! Oh, I wasn't going to alter the thickness at all - I just meant I want to remove wood from the edges. Right now, the holes are about 3/4in from the edge - lotsa wood there. I'm thinking it should be ok to trim the edge down so it's about 1/2in from the holes...

.cdp

[Slowgypsy]

I'd say you're good to go. No down-sides that I can see.

[FunkMetalBass]

I don't think you'll be risking any sort of structural integrity with that plan. Go for it.

[darkstorm]

Originally Posted by CPike

Thanks! Oh, I wasn't going to alter the thickness at all - I just meant I want to remove wood from the edges. Right now, the holes are about 3/4in from the edge - lotsa wood there. I'm thinking it should be ok to trim the edge down so it's about 1/2in from the holes...

.cdp

Half inch or little more should be fine. As best I can tell, on my espltd f154 the holes themself are right at half inch distance from edge of headstock for closest to edge one.

[bass rocks]

no pics no neck

[CPike]

Update: the headstock mod went well - no problems. Thanks for all the helpful input!

.cdp

[Jeff 66]

pics, dude.

[mech]

I've done this to several Fender type pegheads with good results. I've noticed the "dead spot" has either gone away or been reduced and neck dive is non-existant.

The large tuner holes in this one were plugged, the front and back veneered, front edges chamfered and new holes for Goto types drilled.



Glad your mod went well.
mech

Edit: I do make sure the tuners are lined up for a straight pull on the strings.

[CPike]

I'll try to get some pics of mine by the end of the week. It's really nothing special, though. I just wanted it to be simple, not flashy - but also not dorky, either. The original headstock was the standard Fender Precision shape (the bass is an early '70s Japanese P-bass knockoff by "Ventura"). I kept the original (Schaller) 11/16'' holes, which were the same needed for a cannibalized set of old Ibanez machines. The weight difference was significant because the Ibanez machine gears had a smaller compact footprint despite the full-size shafts.

@mech: Funny you should mention it, but the dead spot (typical 5th fret on G str "C") is completely gone now and the note sustains as much as any other! I used to use a Fat Finger to compensate for this but no more...

Again, pics later this week -
.cdp

[CPike]

As promised, pics of the headstock mod...

The original shape was the standard Fender P-bass style...

.cdp

[CPike]

...and lastly...

.cdp

[96tbird]

that looks cool, nice job!