Official Luthiers Forum!

What is the angle you prefer for the scarf joint on a slothead? And why? I see different recommendations ranging from 10 to 15 degrees.

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Brad Hall
Mystic Dawg Guitars

I use 15 degrees, slotted or not. It gives me a break angle that works well, it was the angle recommended in the book from which I learned how to build, and I just don't feel a need to change it to something else.

I use 14 for solid and 10 for slotted. With a slotted headstock there is extra angle on the strings due to the position of the tuners.

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Josh House

Canadian Luthier Supply
http://www.canadianluthiersupply.com
https://www.facebook.com/canadianluthiersupply?ref=hl
House Guitars - Custom Built Acoustic Instruments.
http://www.houseguitars.com

I have always used 15 degrees for both just because I am jigged up for it. I think 10 degrees for a slotted headstock would be better if for no other reason then the high break angle with 15 makes it really tough lifting strings tuned to pitch out of the nut slots when cutting them. It's a pain to have to de-tune and re-tune.

Other than that I don't think it makes too much difference.

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It's not what you don't know that hurts you, it's what you do know that's wrong.

10 degrees classical, 15 slotted, (adjustable jig)

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The name catgut is confusing. There are two explanations for the mix up.

Catgut is an abbreviation of the word cattle gut. Gut strings are made from sheep or goat intestines, in the past even from horse, mule or donkey intestines.

Otherwise it could be from the word kitgut or kitstring. Kit meant fiddle, not kitten.

I use 10 degrees for a slotted headstock because the tuner posts are below the head plate so there is plenty of break angle as Josh says. You have to be careful with your design with steeper angles because the D and G strings can ride on the wood more easily. Also there is less stress on the headstock with a shallower angle and a longer glue joint if you are use a scarf joint.

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Ken Franklin
clumsy yet persistent
https://www.kenfranklinukulele.com

You only need 7* break angle over the nut anyway. I use 12* for my classical guitars, but I know someone that uses 7*, which probably gives him a 10 plus break angle.

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Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars

We (KMG) angle the HS 15 degrees both slotted and paddle --- same as Martin.

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Ken Cierp

http://www.kennethmichaelguitars.com/

I do em all at 14 degrees. I have absolutely no idea anymore why I selected that number

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Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"