Official Luthiers Forum!

Is there an ergonomic spacing rule for tuners? It appears that my Taylor has a headstock length of 7 inches. The size of headstock and tuner spacing seems much more than the Martins. Based on your experience what do you find is the best tuner spacing and headstock size. (I am partial to the Kevin Ryan style of headstock myself).

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A higher purpose for wood.
Rich Smith
Issaquah, WA

I think it depends on the size of the guitar, and what if any inlay you have. I am building a guitar similar in size to an L-00 with no headstock inlay and will go about 5.75" in this case.

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David White, Toronto

"All my favourite singers can't sing."

Mine will be based on the 000 - 14 fret to body.

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A higher purpose for wood.
Rich Smith
Issaquah, WA

If youre free lancing it do a full scale mock up on paper of your headstock to check string route from tuner to nut is good and also to check generaly asthetic look of the lay up. Especially important on a 12 string ...dont ask me how I know this!!

If it looks right then it is right (so long as you have room for the tuners!!)

My last archtop build the headstock is too elongated to my eye..... only by maybe 1", but it's still..... JUST...... too long

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My soundclick xx luthier blog xx luthier soundclick

My headstocks are about 7.5 inches long - a typical Martin paddle is about 6.75, but htey have the flat top.

Tuners - I space the two Es about 1 3/4 from the nut, then 1.5 between holes. The holes are 1/2 to 9/16 in from the edge if going on most headstocks. Martins need less as the headstock really tapers to the nut, so 1/2 inch for the D/G, 7/16 for the two Es ... the B/A are in line between those two at 15/32 .... otherwise the B and A will hit the E posts ...DAMHIK .... take a close look at a Martin .... you will see the spacing changes as the tuners buttons protrude more on the Es, and the strings just miss the E posts ....

Thickness .. check your tuners first, but most need a headstock thickness somewhere between .500-.600 - I shoot for .580

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Tony Karol
www.karol-guitars.com
"let my passion .. fulfill yours"