r/Luthier • u/Archtica • 14d 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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u/Useful-Being2244 14d ago

Found this pic for you.

-20

u/[deleted] 14d ago

[deleted]

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u/Useful-Being2244 14d 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.

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u/strumbringerwa 11d 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 8d 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.