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last night I started to shaped the peghead and this morning I drilled the holes starting at 1-3/4" from the back of the nut. Then drilled each hole 3/8" dia. and 1-9/16" apart. Hope it works.

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"After forty-nine years of violin building, I have decided that the search for a varnish is similar to the fox hunt. The fun is in the hunt."
Jack Batts Maker and Repairer of Fine Violins

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"After forty-nine years of violin building, I have decided that the search for a varnish is similar to the fox hunt. The fun is in the hunt."
Jack Batts Maker and Repairer of Fine Violins

Very nice Chuck!

Do I see a binding ledge? What will you be binding it with?

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Lance@LuthiersForum.com

I'm not planing on binding. I just planed off an angle so the white maple veneer will show up better. It didn't work as good as I thought it would. I saw this done on a classical that someone posted on here. Must not have done it right.

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"After forty-nine years of violin building, I have decided that the search for a varnish is similar to the fox hunt. The fun is in the hunt."
Jack Batts Maker and Repairer of Fine Violins

Looks good to me, Chuck!

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Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars

Chuck,

Looks good.

Don't mean to rain on your parade, but did you check to see if the a and b strings will clear the two e string tuners? Often you'll see the two e string tuners a little closer to the sides of the peghead to provide clearance. Couldn't tell on yours for sure. If you look closely at the detail photos on the Martin site, you'll see what I mean. DAMHIKT.

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now known around here as Pat Foster
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http://www.patfosterguitars.com

Nicely done Chuck!
I like the maple veneer, good reveal.
Peter

Nicely done Chuck!
I like the maple veneer, good reveal.
Peter

Good going Chuck buddy!

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Ann Arbor Guitars

chuck,

Very nice, clean work. I think the bevel on the edge looks really nice.

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Gene

Politicians and diapers must be changed often, and for the same reason- Mark Twain

Thanks guys, but I think I did drill the holes wrong.

Good eye Pat. I didn't think to check that before I drilled the holes. Then after I placed the tuners in, I thought, "Huh?...wonder if those strings will clear the bottom tuners."
I do believe they are going to rub. The plans I have called for each hole to be drilled 1/2" from the side of the head.

I can see on your Avitar too that they are offset a bit. Any suggestions?

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"After forty-nine years of violin building, I have decided that the search for a varnish is similar to the fox hunt. The fun is in the hunt."
Jack Batts Maker and Repairer of Fine Violins

If this is a Martin neck and you didnt do any angle adjustment to the headstock sides, I can tell you from experience that the A and B strings wont clear the Ee strings if all of the holes are drilled at the same distance from the sides.

You can remedy this easily if you carefully route out about 1/16" on the A and B strings toward the center of the headstock. Make the holes oval using the same drill bit you used to initially drill the holes, dont just drill a bigger hole. The Gotoh tuner washers will cover the added hole area and it will be an invisible fix for the problem.......the voice of experience speaking

Looking good!

Ken

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Reguards,

Ken H

Todd's method will work nicely, but a bit overkill as this will be your own guitar, correct? If you were selling it, I'd do as Todd suggests...

If it's yours, just plug the holes for the bottom 4 tuners, and offset the center pair 1/32" towards the middle, and offset the low E pair 1/64" toward the edges. That should leave the clearance, and still be nicely covered by the washers. Next time, use Todd's spacing.

The reveal trick you saw worked because they used a real veneer, IE, thin(usually around .020'' or so). You headplate here is 1/16" thick, so the reveal doesn't show up as well. just keep that in mind for the next one, or if you follow Todd's method and pull this headplate off.

Thanks guys, I think I'll try what Ken says and waller out the holes a bit. I drew the nut slots on the neck and the A and B string is just going to touch both E/e tuners. I think the back of the tuners will cover the back also. These plans were printed by Scott Antes, I wish I would have thought of that before I started drilling, but just assumed they were right. That's what happens when I don't think things through.

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"After forty-nine years of violin building, I have decided that the search for a varnish is similar to the fox hunt. The fun is in the hunt."
Jack Batts Maker and Repairer of Fine Violins

Chuck,

I used the same drawing. By luck, I just happened to catch it.

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now known around here as Pat Foster
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http://www.patfosterguitars.com

What Todd said Mario said.

In a few months, this will seem minor. Or if you're lucky, it's minor now.

This experience will greatly reduce your chances of making the same mistake again. Better to get it out of the way now!

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now known around here as Pat Foster
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http://www.patfosterguitars.com