Critique headstock designs

[BobWestbrook]

This is my first shot at coming up with some headstock designs. I'd appreciate feedback from my learned and esteemed colleagues (and those not so). Scathing insults, brutal sarcasm, and nasty aspersions regarding my intelligence level welcome.

[tdogg]

dont forget, form follows function. figure out where the tuners NEED to be and then design the headstock shape around that.

[stflbn]

They all seem rather 'knobby' and 'clunky' to me. And I personally feel there's an important symmetry between headstock and body shape that's important.

[BobWestbrook]

I had a 4+1 tuner layout in mind - here they are, very rough

[enemybass]

was going to comment on what the last two remind me of then thought id better not
so ill just post this

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_L-7h8cQ_XK...logo-early.jpg

[tdogg]

Originally Posted by BobWestbrook

I had a 4+1 tuner layout in mind - here they are, very rough

one problem i see here is the fact that the strings will intersect and touch other tuners if you lay them out like this. i see what youre going for though.

[Stanley Design]

I like the first one.

[bongomania]

Originally Posted by BobWestbrook

I had a 4+1 tuner layout in mind - here they are, very rough

So 3-in-line on the top side, and two spaced widely apart on the bottom side? I don't think that would look good.

Also (figuring BEADG) if you look at the E and A tuners, the "ears" would interfere with each other or at a minimum be difficult to manipulate.

[PasdaBeer]

the only one i would consider is hs2t.jpg, but not as a 4-1

[Stanley Design]

You could make them bigger to allow more space between. (as in just make the holes smaller in the photos)

[Lonnybass]

Don't forget, you're only marking where the holes are going to go in the headstock, but you still need to take into account a few other factors:

1) the length of the tuning machine keys

2) the size of the tuning machine heads

3) the size of the backside of the tuning machines

Lonnybass

[snaverb]

I'm not feeling any of those, sorry

[BobWestbrook]

I took #1, which I like the best, tweaked the shape just a little, and added the actual tuner hole size and positioning as it is on a Fender 4+1

Thoughts?

[Bocete]

How would you position your tuning pegs on that one? Hardly possible.

Function and usability first, design second.

[limit6]

Originally Posted by Bocete

How would you position your tuning pegs on that one? Hardly possible.

+1

[Bardley]

Originally Posted by Bocete

How would you position your tuning pegs on that one? Hardly possible.

Function and usability first, design second.

+1

I can't see where the tuner ears would be.

[BobWestbrook]

Uhhh -- doh! You guys are good - thanks for the education!

[bongomania]

Here's a couple of adjustments:



Note that even here though, the A string would run into the E string's post, so you'd have to use a string tree to reroute it.

[Rocky McD]

I think Fender got it right from the very start. 4 in row is easy to reach, theyy all turn the same way, and the wires can leave the nut and go straigt to the peg. On 2+2/3designs, they are hard to reach and I always forget which way to turn it. But I do agree with others, If you want a totally new design, lay out the pattern for the machines first and then design around that.

[BobWestbrook]

You guys have been extremely helpful. Here's a revised 3+2 design which I think addresses the issues stated: