Rob's PBA-5 (PBG Custom)

[ThreeBbass]

I've been spending a bit of time trying to decide what to do with the headstock on this build.
I don't much like the clover-leaf style tuners, so I opted to get some Gotoh style tuners to replace the ones that came with the kit.
The clover-leaf tuners fit into a ferule, that fits into the 19mm pre-drilled holes in the headstock.
To my surprise ... the body of the replacement tuners was only 15mm in diameter.
This presented me with a problem, and an opportunity ...

I'd been thinking about the shape of the headstock and thought I'd like to do something a little different.
I've also been considering other mods that I could add that would make this a different instrument from my other basses. I came up with a revised plan ... 5 string with high C instead of low B and add a Hipshot Extender on the E string so that I can de-tune without hassle.

I spent some time mucking around with a few different layouts that I could use with the existing headstock and finally settled on something similar to a Gibson Flying V or Alembic Persuader.

I filled the existing holes with some tassie oak dowel, cut the headstock to shape, drilled new holes the right diameter in new locations (after a lot of measuring) and got a piece of maple veneer and fixed it to the back. I've still got to do the veneer on the front ... another job for later on ...

I'm pleased with the outcome so far ...

[andrewdosborne]

Neat job, did you use a drill press?

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[wokkaboy]

nice job Rob and love the new Flying V style headstock shape. How are you going to hide the dowel from the front ? paint it solid or a veneer ?

[cade711]

Very handy mate, looking good

[WeirdBits]

Nicely done.

[Simon Barden]

Nicely done. So you've gone for a Gibson style end-of-board nut rather than the original Fender style one. Was that to help with the veneer fixing, or do you just prefer that style of nut?

[wazkelly]

Looks great. Very much along the same style as a Gibson Grabber.

[ThreeBbass]

Neat job, did you use a drill press?

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Hi Andrew,
I just used a speed bit on my powerdrill, took it slow and made sure the neck was clamped to to bench.
A drill press would definitely have made the job easier, but I don't have one at my place ...

[ThreeBbass]

nice job Rob and love the new Flying V style headstock shape. How are you going to hide the dowel from the front ? paint it solid or a veneer ?

Thanks Woks,
I've got another piece of veneer to use on the front face ... that's the next job!

[ThreeBbass]

Nicely done. So you've gone for a Gibson style end-of-board nut rather than the original Fender style one. Was that to help with the veneer fixing, or do you just prefer that style of nut?

Hi Simon,
I've got a Warwick nut that I'm using with this one. I removed the old nut and all the material behind it, but left myself a small problem by exposing the channel that the truss rod runs in. I'll probably just put a small piece of veneer over the spot and try to make it invisible.