Headstock angle

[AndyMania]

I was just wondering is the angle of the headstock critical? What is the average or recommended angle for it?

 

[John Ruiz]

From what I've seen, the angle typically falls between 10-13 degrees.

 

[mikeyswood]

I would say 10° to 15° but yep, what John said. (Fenders have about a -1.5°ish tilt)

 

[John Ruiz]

I would say 10° to 15° but yep, what John said. (Fenders have about a -1.5°ish tilt)

I didn't realize Fenders had an angle at all. The more you know... I wonder why they would bother with such a small angle, I can't see it making much difference, but then again, I'm no physicist.

 

[mikeyswood]

The way that they cut their necks from 4/4 stock causes the angle.

 

[HogieWan]

I didn't realize Fenders had an angle at all. The more you know... I wonder why they would bother with such a small angle, I can't see it making much difference, but then again, I'm no physicist.

note the (-)

 

[Rickett Customs]

Then again, if you had 0 angle, you probably need to taper the tuning machines out a bit on the back of the headstock, so that they are lower to the headstock....... yep 10 to 15, but 15 is the stopping point for me. I could live with a 15 on a guitar, but probably not a bass...

 

[Rocky McD]

Maybe on Fenders, when under string tension, they come out to Zero. Also, I have never seen a Fender headstock broken off like Gibsons do quite regularly.

 

[Rickett Customs]

Maybe on Fenders, when under string tension, they come out to Zero. Also, I have never seen a Fender headstock broken off like Gibsons do quite regularly.

Alot of Gibsons didn't have a volute either, they were an accident waiting to happen

IIRC, most were 14 deg. too. I think some of the old ones had volutes, but that may have been just the guitars. I think the 60's T birds didn't have volutes then either.

 

[mikeyswood]

Also, I have never seen a Fender headstock broken off like Gibsons do quite regularly.

That may have more to do with the difference in Maple v. Mahogany than construction style.

...and yes, any instrument that does not faceplant the ground has a much better chance of survival...

 

[AndyMania]

Ok thanks guys.

 

[ZolkoW]

That may have more to do with the difference in Maple v. Mahogany than construction style.

I don't think so, the Gibson headstocks have runouts, as they carve it from one piece of wood. I'll never understand that


just for reference: my flat 3+3 head doesn't need a string tree, I used 21mm blank for the back of the neck, and 6mm flat radius FB.
my 4 and 5 strings (4+1) need a string tree, for the longest string.

(-1.5degree.... )

 

[mikeyswood]

Are you saying that you believe the strength of an open and short grain wood to be equal to that of a long and closed grain species?

 

[Cy_Miles]

I know. Lets build about 100 mahogany necks with no angle, and 100 maple necks with 10 to 15 degree angles. Knock them about for a season or two, and see which is more important, design or wood species.

My half-educated guess is it is a combination of the two.

I do like the topic though, as I have been trying to learn to design my own axes, as well as helping some other's sort through all of the opinions.

I had friend who took his vintage LP Jr in to the repair shop with a broken headstock, and the repair tech said "Don't worry, it's not a real LP until it's had it's head broke once." His words not mine!

 

[DerHoggz]

I had friend who took his vintage LP Jr in to the repair shop with a broken headstock, and the repair tech said "Don't worry, it's not a real LP until it's had it's head broke once." His words not mine!

Its amazing they don't attempt to remedy this, but why should they if people are still buying.

 

[M0ses]

I know. Lets build about 100 mahogany necks with no angle, and 100 maple necks with 10 to 15 degree angles. Knock them about for a season or two, and see which is more important, design or wood species.

You're a fool!!!!


.....

You need control groups, of course. You should also have 100 mahogany angle and 100 maple no-angle (-1.5).

 

[Cy_Miles]

You're a fool!!!!


.....

You need control groups, of course. You should also have 100 mahogany angle and 100 maple no-angle (-1.5).

You know, for a second all I saw was "Your'e a fool!!!" and I was all-like *** man!???

I then saw the control group comment and put flame thrower down before I hurt someone. Pheww! that was close.

Well, I figured the thousands of G1bs0n and F3nd3r necks out there could serve as the control group.

 

[GrinchBass]

Its amazing they don't attempt to remedy this, but why should they if people are still buying.

We've got a winner!