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So, I was originally going to just do one post with this one and #9, but my computer kept freezing when I tried to do that many pics. #10 is a ziricote/ black top cedar slot head that I actually finished before # 9 but only because I had issues with the finish on #9 so it sat curing a lot longer. This is the last of my ziricote guitars for a long time I think. This is my third one and the only one(fingers crossed) that hasn't developed cracks. This is the second that I have done with this slot head design, which I really like working with. It has a turned steel post connecting the top section of the head. I wish I had done some inlays on it, but I'm still in my infancy for guitar building and thought it best to just build and get my numbers up and then add that part to the mix.
This one is extremely bassy which makes it a little unbalanced sounding, but it is really loud with lots of overtones. I'm not sure what kind of musical style it would work best for since I am mainly a strummer with just a little fingerpicking in my repertoire. But I have noticed that it sounds way better in alternative tunings like dadf#ad.

Interesting headstock design, guitar looks great. I love zircote how does she sound?

There's a lot of angle on your strings, going left and right after the nut, no?

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Francis Richer, Montréal
Les Guitares F&M Guitars

Yes there is a lot of angle left and right after the nut, and the strings do touch the headstock before reaching the tuners. Not really sure what to do to remedy this on future builds without tossing the design.

Well, you could put a string retainer but... you're not really cancelling the problem, you're just pushing it farer from the nut...
Sometimes we are constrained by some mechanical aspects of the guitar. Your design is aesthetically OK, but mechanically, it just doesn't really work. I don't say forget it, I say: you should review it. Everything is possible, but sometimes you have to do a step back in order to back a longer one foward after.

Good Luck!
Francis

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Francis Richer, Montréal
Les Guitares F&M Guitars

Just my personal opinion, but I find the headstock to be too large on this style of guitar, especially at its top end. In order to get your strings off hitting the wood, I would keep the basic design, but taper the whole top design in some, thus eliminating some of the angle that the strings travel. If needed, you could also bevel the inside edges of the inner piece of the headstock, possibly revealing veneer lines which would add some appeal (to some anyway). I think I would also narrow the design some at the nut end as well, then the E strings wouldnt have to angle so far to get to the posts. Another thing to try might be to narrow the size of the slots. Draw one out and see if it might work better for you.

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

very unique. I REALLY like the looks. I would, however, be very suspicious of the structural integrity (even with the metal post). I've seen minor drop fractures on guitar headstocks with normal girth design. This one would be unrepairable in my eyes and sensitive to breakage. With some alteration, I think you can achieve the same unique look, a more advisable string angle and a more structurally sound headplate. You've got a good look here....just needs some tweeking.

KB

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Wood Creations by Kent A. Bailey
EXCELLENCE IN SCULPTURE, CARVING, LUTHIER, ARCHITECTURAL MILLWORK AND DESIGN

http://www.kabart.com

tossing the design.

Beautifully done guitar, but toss the design. Non-functional, not aesthetically pleasing (form follows function, etc.) and like Bailey said, it's weak structurally.