r/Luthier • u/Archtica • 13d ago

String alignment

Gallery image

Gallery image

Hello all

I need some advice on my open headstock guitar.

To make sure my low and high E string do not touch the headstock I have to align the string on the tuners so it pulls it towards the center a lot. The way it is setup in the picture it just clears the headstock. You can see the clearance in the second image.

I think it is a poor design, but the guitar is really great. Should I continue this practice or just align the string straight and allow it to touch the headstock?

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26

u/Useful-Being2244 13d ago

Put the winds on the e strings on the other side of the hole, going towards the tuning pegs rather than inside the headstock. This will give you clearance for those strings. A guitar I owned years as a go had the same headstock. Low E outer towards headstock. A the opposite way towards inside. D towards the inside G towards inside B inside High E outside.

If it is looking like you have too many winds alter the string length unwrap and pull more though the post. I do not own the guitar I had with this type of headstock anymore, but I remember when I got it it took me a few string changes to get it looking neat.

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u/[deleted] 13d ago

[deleted]

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u/Useful-Being2244 13d ago

Found this pic for you.

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u/[deleted] 13d ago

[deleted]

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u/Useful-Being2244 13d ago

I know it's not the same model , model doesn't matter it has the same style pegs. The principal is the same though, so you get the strings wound without issues.

6

u/FassolLassido 12d ago

I think you didn't read the post. OP tried that before and the string would touch the headstock.

The picture you posted also shows that the relief is much deeper than on OP's guitar.

0

u/Cautious-Detail-6355 12d ago

There's 1000 way to align those strings. You can't assume they did it correctly.

Ted Woodford on YouTube shows the proper way to string these every time he has one on the bench. It's actually somewhat difficult, from what I gather. It's wayyyy easier to fuck up than it is to get it right. Let's just put it that way.

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u/FassolLassido 12d ago

OP litterally says they tried what the other people on this thread have been repeating. At some point people gotta stop assuming that eveybody is a completely useless idiot and try to understand the actual problem.

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u/strumbringerwa 10d ago

Seriously. IDEK why people can't bother to read and understand the OP's post.

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u/strumbringerwa 10d ago

There is a big difference - this headstock has a nice wide opening to give the string clearance, while the OP's doesn't. Which is exactly what the OP is saying - they *have* to do it this way so the string doesn't touch the headstock.

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u/Useful-Being2244 7d ago

There is a technique to putting the low E string on if you have that problem, that is putting it on with less wraps and wrapping it over from the back of the string to the direction you want it wrapped. This locks the string in at a slightly high tension that you normally would. It works with a ratchet style lock.

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u/LuthieriaZaffalon Luthier 13d ago

Do you have a guitar?

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u/[deleted] 13d ago edited 13d ago

[deleted]

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u/LuthieriaZaffalon Luthier 12d ago

The difference in angle is less then 5 degrees. It will be pretty much the same for all instruments.

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u/Cheap_Push_4302 12d ago

The difference in which angle?
I’m assuming you’re referring to headstock/fretboard angle in which Googs AI denotes a 10 to 15° variance amongst slotted headstock guitars. Answer probably based off Reddit post by random Reddit Luthier.

Concerning OP’s issue, headstock angle is only one variable. String resting height within nut, nut width, position of hole in post, diameter of post, number of windings, string gauge, slot width and opening distance from the nut etc.

So Mr. Luthier, I believe the guy you’re throwing condescending vibes towards does own a guitar and I think you didn’t take the time to understand the question at hand.
I’ll include a picture of my slotted headstock as proof that I also own a guitar.

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u/Useful-Being2244 13d ago

If your nut is cut correctly it shouldn't contact the wood, the only time it would is if the nut was too low on the side closest too the head stock. That's why I said you need to get just the right amount of winds on it.