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Laminated Headstock?
https://www.luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10123&t=54113
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Author:  Colu41 [ Wed Apr 21, 2021 7:12 pm ]
Post subject:  Laminated Headstock?

So I am about 92% done with my first build. Messed up a lot, cursed a lot, but was fun, and I learned a great deal on what to do next time and more importantly what NOT to do.

Anyways, as soon as I string up this one I will be starting on a Tele style for my daughter. I found a mahogany neck piece that she loved, come to find out it is only 24" long. I have a great deal of Ash of similar size board. Could I laminate a Headstock onto the mahogany? Or is that a recipe for disaster? I really don't want this piece of mahagony to go waste but, any tips would be great!

Author:  Barry Daniels [ Thu Apr 22, 2021 9:46 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Laminated Headstock?

That wouldn't be a laminated joint, but you could do a scarf joint. Quite common in fact.

Author:  Colu41 [ Thu Apr 22, 2021 10:01 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Laminated Headstock?

Barry Daniels wrote:
That wouldn't be a laminated joint, but you could do a scarf joint. Quite common in fact.


Thanks. I'll have to look into how that's done.

She wants hers to be very "unique" so, adding a small piece of a totally different specie of wood on the head would be perfectly unique. Lol

Author:  Freeman [ Thu Apr 22, 2021 5:59 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Laminated Headstock?

I do scarfed head joints all the time - that is my standard for an angled head like a Gibson or a Martin. It has several big advantages over the old sawn angled heads - it is much stronger in the weak area of the truss rod route and it is much more economical of wood. It only really works for angled heads however, for a Fender style I would follow Leo's lead and make it one piece.

There is a discussion going on at another forum right now - I made a contribution at post #16.

https://www.tdpri.com/threads/angled-he ... e.1069433/

If you have any questions let me know, I've got lots of examples. And yes, you can graft on different pieces of wood, add a volute, laminate the head plate - lots of options to make it unique.

Author:  Colu41 [ Thu Apr 22, 2021 7:40 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Laminated Headstock?

Freeman wrote:
I do scarfed head joints all the time - that is my standard for an angled head like a Gibson or a Martin. It has several big advantages over the old sawn angled heads - it is much stronger in the weak area of the truss rod route and it is much more economical of wood. It only really works for angled heads however, for a Fender style I would follow Leo's lead and make it one piece.

There is a discussion going on at another forum right now - I made a contribution at post #16.

https://www.tdpri.com/threads/angled-he ... e.1069433/

If you have any questions let me know, I've got lots of examples. And yes, you can graft on different pieces of wood, add a volute, laminate the head plate - lots of options to make it unique.


Thanks! I'll check out that thread. I am doing another Fender style guitar so. I'll really have to look into what I can do.

Author:  Freeman [ Thu Apr 22, 2021 8:44 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Laminated Headstock?

Colu41 wrote:
Thanks! I'll check out that thread. I am doing another Fender style guitar so. I'll really have to look into what I can do.


Remember a couple of things about the Fender design. It was intended to be built by basically not very skilled people using some simple jigs. Its pretty easy to do with a band saw, belt sander and/or oscillating spindle sander. I have been able to laminate thin veneers on them if you want to match other wood or make it unique. The fender design pretty much requires string "trees" (or "tees") to make the break angle work. The fender style curved truss rod with skunk stripe is a bit tricky to jig up but you can easily put a double acting rod in a fender style neck. On huge advantage is that if you drop your guitar you don't break the head (I feel people shouldn't be dropping their guitars....)

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