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Angle of the Head

Posted by DogFace on October 31, 2013 at 5:33pm in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion

I have built 3 cbgs and have run into the same issue every time. I haven't used the scarf joint method. I've just cut/sanded the head to about 5/8" (I can't remember exactly) so that the tuners can fit with room to wind some string. The problem I have run into is that the angle from the nut to the tuner post is almost 0. I have had to do some fanagling to fix this.

Have any of you had this issue when using a straight neck design and not an angled head/ scarf joint?

I have started 2 more builds, but these are using a scarf joint neck design. Without having a lot of tools, this has proven to be a pain in the butt. I'm kinda making it up as I go... but I guess that's part of cbg building.

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Replies

Groucho November 5, 2013 at 12:35am

I am lacking in power tools as well. What I've done is use a coping saw to cut an angled piece off of the headstock. Then flip the piece over and glue the two flat sides together. That will give you an angled head.

The cut from the blade and then sanding the rough outer sides smooth should take enough off the wood so that the tuners poke through enough to wind the strings around.

Call it "the poor man's scarf joint"....
- jabes > Groucho November 5, 2013 at 6:47am
  
  i've made a couple of dozen guits and all my heads were done like this, no problems at all.
  - RTZGUITARS > jabes November 5, 2013 at 4:31pm
    
    If you need a string tree the fender type only cost $ 3. this is what I do to keep the joint straight.
    
    And John is right you need to wind the strings down lower
Brendan deVallance November 1, 2013 at 9:15am

I added a bit of wood to the underside of the headstock to help coax the tuners into the right spot.
ChickenboneJohn November 1, 2013 at 7:59am

There's nothing wrong with what you've made, other than the fact you haven't put the strings on right. Leave more slack so you get several winds round the string posts and always wrap them DOWN towards the headstock to increase the break angle..problem solved.
jeff maurer November 1, 2013 at 7:41am

i do the scarf joint. and i do it without power tools. its not that hard to cut with a hand saw. the trick is to get the two pieces glued and clamped without sliding
- Mark Lindsay > jeff maurer November 1, 2013 at 11:28am
  
  Hi Jeff. Here's how I keep the parts from sliding around when I clamp a scarf joint: http://www.cigarboxnation.com/video/how-i-clamp-a-scarf-joint
  - Rouxdy Blues > Mark Lindsay November 5, 2013 at 2:20pm
    
    That's what I do as well and it works really well.
- darryl kernaghan > jeff maurer November 1, 2013 at 8:02am
  
  even the sliding is not much of an issue,just leave a little "green" on the head to trim later,a little bit of sanding,trimming and you,re done,if sliding sideways is an issue,just clamp a temporary fence to maintain alignment
The Phrygian Kid November 1, 2013 at 7:32am

Well as it appears to be show and tell time I'd say for the future consider this if you don't have the tools for a scarf join, it's only a drill and a couple sharp chisels away, super string and plenty down action ;)