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Head design to protect tuners?

Posted by Tim Latham on July 29, 2012 at 5:33pm in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion

On the build I'm doing now I want to try a design on the headstock that when I tote my GBG over my shoulder with the Headstock down, that if I bump something It won't knock off or out of tune my tuner heads.  Am I crazy or has someone tried this type of design?  I did a long search of photos here and there and just about everywhere have not seen anything.  The closest design I've seen that will protect tuners, is on them store bought traveling guitars. Those tuners are usually on headless guitars and placed down in the body. 

While I'm plucking around the house I might want to step out in the garage or step out in the yard.  I most probably just swing it around my back and head off.  I've been careful and have not had any trouble hitting the tuners on my 3 & 4 stringers.  I Sure have had some hard bumps though.   Now I'm thinking on the 6 string build I'm doing, why not try something different.  I'm about to order tuners and have the neck and headstock just about ready to mock up.  I fear the wood needs to be cut and shaped around the tuners when their location is determined.  But will tuning be a pain if this is done?  I'm going to use 3x3 tuners with a ^ shape headstock.  I've added extra wood to my headstock and made it wider to have extra wood to work with.  I'm thinking of the tombstone tuners but really like the chrome skull.  With string tension is the skull hard to tune?  

Any Ideas?  I'm sure wandering.   

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Replies

  • Jantan ux August 12, 2012 at 1:30pm

    Maybe you can use this type of tuners 78Vheadstock4.jpgI think that you can protect them better than other type tuners

  • Tim Latham August 3, 2012 at 6:37pm

    Now Bad Finger there is a chance you and I are from the same era.  Dad always said Pi$$ on retirement spend it all!!  So I did not listen to my Dad either.  Glad I didn't cus I'd be gator butt deep in debt and my toes would not have an end to them.  I always drug my feet when walking and stumped my toes.    Don't know why, now just ware shoes all the time cus I can afford them.  I got tired of having a stumped toes.  When I get my tuners I'm going to lay out for slots to protect them and see how it looks.  I want it to be functional but cool too.

    dj, I'v seen and heard about those lockable tuners.  I might be a bad thing to hit a door facing and knock off a tuner head though and it is locked?  My challenge is to design the head to not knock the Pi$$ out of the tuners and knock them off.  I enjoy just slinging it over my shoulder and taking off.  Just something to do you know.  I love picken and strumming.  I got to figure out how to slow down and learn a song now. 

    Thanks for the input.

    Maybe one steel bar bent in a "U" shape around the tuners imbedded into the headstock??  Chrome about 1/4"od Uh, there is another thought, close to the cage idea above?  I got to get on CB Gitty and get stuff ordered!! Later guys!

  • Jantan ux August 3, 2012 at 4:01am

    I have read that some tuners are lockable.They don't move or something like this.

    • The Phrygian Kid > Jantan ux August 3, 2012 at 9:01pm
      They don't 'lock' like you are imagining, they clamp onto the string end so they can function with less than one whole wrap on the post. They're used with gitts with whammy bars and other benders so that the string comes back in tune better when you unbend it.
      I don't think there is any 'right' answer here, encasing the tuner knobs also inevitably makes it more frustrAting to tune up, so it's always gonna be a tradeoff.... You could use zither pins or screws that require some kinda tool to tune up too, but a string or two will inevitably need a tweak every time you pick it up, best thing you can do IMHO is train your ears so that tuning up is not a chore :)
  • Bad Finger (Eric) July 31, 2012 at 9:43pm
    My old man would say "watch where the hell yer walking!"But then again, I didnt much listen to my old man and instead invented ways for me to do what I wanted with minimum ill effect.

    What about a slotted headstock?
  • Tim Latham July 31, 2012 at 7:30pm

    Wait a minute!  Anonyous pick is that the Swamp Witch?

    • the anonymous pick > Tim Latham July 31, 2012 at 7:45pm

      nope  ..  not  one of my swamp witches  ..   this was  pre swamp witch   ..    i  called  it  "rea  n tea   ;-)    since they are tea boxes  ;-) 

       

      my swamp witches   can  be    found  /  ordered  here http://swampwitchguitars.weebly.com

       

      ;-)

      • Tim Latham > the anonymous pick July 31, 2012 at 7:53pm

        The knot holes for sound holes are so cool.  Great job.

  • Tim Latham July 31, 2012 at 7:27pm

    That is what I like about this place! There are no rules and it is ok to think out of the BOX!! Thanks everyone for your ideas. I have not thought about the one Goldsmith brought out on turning the tuners to the inside. When I get my new tuners I’ll have to lay them out and check this out.

    Hey Anonymous pick, I’ll bet that picker you posted rest really sets nice on the leg while sittin down picken. That’s pretty cool. I started to try the yardstick one time and was afraid the wood too soft but I reckon it really don’t matter when you’re just having a good time.

    Now Strat I have to say
    You answered a question
    In the simplest way
    until you confused me
    In the funniest way.
    I know I’ve read about that
    Swamp Witch,
    but can’t remember who made the bitch?

    Thanks again for all the fun and I’ll post a photo of the build I’m working on. I’m about to fiberglass my steel tube in and then I’ll begin shaping the neck. I’ve still got a ways before needing to cut up the headstock.

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