Tele -style headstock

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28-01-2013, 04:56 AM
GlennGP

Got around to doing the headstock today, after clearing some gutters. I swear, the previous owners of this place never did any maintenance. I filled my barrow three times with all the dead leaves, dirt and matted fibrous matter from just one side of the house. But I digress.

Having never shaped a headstock before (and with some advice from this forum) I did a practice cut on some laminated wood stuff I had sitting around. This was informative, in that it taught me the benefit of sawing a number of straightish lines to make a curve, instead of trying to force a jigsaw around too tight a turn.

http://pitbullguitars.com/wp-content...u-DSCN5979.JPG
28-01-2013, 05:03 AM
GlennGP

I got the template off the interwebs - in fact, from the pdf that Pablo put up on the "Fender style" thread. I chose the particular shape because it had the shallowest curves. Trying to keep it simple, here! Okay, it would've been simpler to do something with straight lines, but I also wanted something authentic.

So I traced the shape onto the kit headstock and we're ready to rock.

http://pitbullguitars.com/wp-content...5-DSCN5980.JPG

What the trained eye will see here, but I didn't until I got there with the power-tool running in a hot slot, is that the guide plate on a jigsaw won't allow you to finish the cut on the bottom edge, because of the transition curve up to the nut. Once I worked out what was going on I backed up and took a left turn, to the edge, and finished the cut by coming in from the nut end with a little hand saw.
28-01-2013, 05:06 AM
dingobass

Looking good Glenn :D
28-01-2013, 05:06 AM
Gavin1393

Looking forward to seeing it all shaped up! Always good todoa practice run, builds confidence! You will stil likely be as nervous when you cut into your headstock for real except now you have the expectation of the (good) result!
28-01-2013, 05:10 AM
GlennGP

Steady fellas, you're gonna love what comes next ...

Also, I still had to cut the indented curve a bit shallow, because the jigsaw blade just wouldn't make the turn.

http://pitbullguitars.com/wp-content...5-DSCN5981.JPG

So, from this point I got out the rasps and sandpaper, to bring the shape right in to the template.

The template also came with the reverse shape, including the transition shape, and I decided to take that on too.
28-01-2013, 05:15 AM
dingobass

Wow, Glenn Is going right off!

Great work Mate, good to see you have the confidence to go the whole hog with your head stock.
28-01-2013, 05:15 AM
GlennGP

Here you can see the reverse side of the headstock, and at the left hand end, you can see the difference between the template and the original transition. I'd already started with the rasp when I took this pic, as you can see.

http://pitbullguitars.com/wp-content...9-DSCN5982.JPG
28-01-2013, 05:20 AM
GlennGP

Here's a close up of the worked reverse of the headstock, prior to sanding. I think I have a bit to learn about using rasps, there were a couple of really deep grooves in this work that took a lot of sanding to remove! However, I got the shape I was looking for.

http://pitbullguitars.com/wp-content...k-DSCN5983.JPG

... and it did clean up nicely.

http://pitbullguitars.com/wp-content...7-DSCN5984.JPG
28-01-2013, 05:23 AM
GlennGP

So, the finished product, ready for Wudtone:

http://pitbullguitars.com/wp-content...7-DSCN5985.JPG

http://pitbullguitars.com/wp-content...y-DSCN5986.JPG
28-01-2013, 05:39 AM
stui

Quote:

Quote from GlennGP on January 27, 2013, 14:23
So, the finished product, ready for Wudtone:

http://pitbullguitars.com/wp-content...7-DSCN5985.JPG

http://pitbullguitars.com/wp-content...y-DSCN5986.JPG

Looks fantastic Glenn! Kudos for going the whole hog on the design, you're a braver man than me!
28-01-2013, 05:50 AM
GlennGP

It's my bit of OCD - once I start doing something I have to finish it. I couldn't live with the front being right and not the back.

I am amazingly happy with the result!

GGP
28-01-2013, 06:04 AM
Gavin1393

Looks terrific! Reckon you have a handle 'pun not intended' on those rasps!
28-01-2013, 06:33 AM
GlennGP

Just looked at my template again and realised I forgot about the top corner near the nut - needs to be rounded off instead of being left angular.

Alternatively, I may just leave it as it is, and that can be my personal touch. (It would also be lazy, but I'm fighting that, I really am!)

GGP
28-01-2013, 08:07 AM
GlennGP

Quote:

Quote from Gavin1393 on January 27, 2013, 15:04
Looks terrific! Reckon you have a handle 'pun not intended' on those rasps!

I love puns. I love the way they make my children groan.

GGP
28-01-2013, 09:45 AM
GlennGP

Quote:

Quote from dingobass on January 27, 2013, 14:15
Wow, Glenn Is going right off!

Great work Mate, good to see you have the confidence to go the whole hog with your head stock.

Apparently there's a work around for almost anything, so I'm not afraid to take a chance. If things go wrong I'll just down tools and ask you!

GGP
28-01-2013, 09:47 AM
GlennGP

Quote:

Quote from Gavin1393 on January 27, 2013, 15:04
Looks terrific! Reckon you have a handle 'pun not intended' on those rasps!

Was it the "groove" remark?

GGP
28-01-2013, 02:20 PM
dingobass

Quote:

Quote from GlennGP on January 27, 2013, 18:45

Quote:

Quote from dingobass on January 27, 2013, 14:15

Apparently there's a work around for almost anything, so I'm not afraid to take a chance. If things go wrong I'll just down tools and ask you!

GGP

Seeing as you are taking your time and thinking it through before you leap, there should be no need for a "work around" with this build.

Well done that man!
30-01-2013, 10:53 PM
pablopepper

Top notch work there Glenn, I particularly like how you went the extra mile and shaped the back too. It looks ace!
31-01-2013, 12:46 AM
GlennGP

Quote:

Quote from pablopepper on January 30, 2013, 07:53
Top notch work there Glenn, I particularly like how you went the extra mile and shaped the back too. It looks ace!

Thanks Pablo, I'm really pleased with the result.

For those playing at home (or casually browsing through) please note I've never done this before, I just had the template and the tools available, and I wasn't afraid of having to clean up a mess. It really wasn't that hard. Planning was the major part of the job - execution only took about 2 hours.

GGP
31-01-2013, 04:08 AM
keloooe

Quote:

Quote from GlennGP on January 30, 2013, 09:46

Quote:

Quote from pablopepper on January 30, 2013, 07:53
Top notch work there Glenn, I particularly like how you went the extra mile and shaped the back too. It looks ace!

Thanks Pablo, I'm really pleased with the result.

For those playing at home (or casually browsing through) please note I've never done this before, I just had the template and the tools available, and I wasn't afraid of having to clean up a mess. It really wasn't that hard. Planning was the major part of the job - execution only took about 2 hours.

GGP

I wish I had a disc sander...
31-01-2013, 08:06 AM
GlennGP

Quote:

Quote from keloooe on January 30, 2013, 13:08
I wish I had a disc sander...

Mate, you don't need a disc sander, you just need determination.

Oops. Got that in spades. Back in my box.

GGP