Silent Guitar Scratch build ideas

[Zandit75]

Just a suggestion...

As this is a somewhat radical (and irreversible) alteration to the headstock it may be wise to 'test' your shape on something else first, just to ensure it works with the tuners, clearances and angles. I'd grab a piece of something softish like pine in the gernal shape of the headstock paddle then do a rough cut of your design to check it works as planned and get some experience with cutting the shape.

Good suggestion Weirdy, I've got a piece of 19mm laminated pine out in the shed that would be perfect for that. It's even big enough to do 2 headstocks.

[Zandit75]

That's going to come up lovely Zandit, nice work!

Thanks Frankie, Still a little rough around where the neck joins to the veneers, but there's no point trying to get it perfect just yet!

[Zandit75]

So, taking Weirdy's suggestion and running with it, I spent the afternoon playing around in the shed. I had some 18mm laminated pine plank that I used to cut out a blank and see if there is no interference between the strings.
Don't you just love it when the image you have in your head just works!!

Using my template, I used a nail to poke through and give me an idea of where the tips of my tuners would be.


I then marked out center lines along the edges and worked out the hole positions.


Drilled to a depth that would allow the tuners to sit in place. Drilling these first will also eliminate tearout when I cut out the center section.


Hmmm, not too bad if I do say so myself!!

[Zandit75]

Drilled the other side, and started on the centre!

Note to self, Take more time on the actual build, and don't go so close to your line to minimise tearout!!


Cleaned up one side to see how the tuners looked in place.

[Zandit75]

Then I kept labouring away with the file to clean up the inside. I'm quite surprised how much heat builds up in file!!

Once the shaping was "good enough" I inserted the tuners, realised I've lost one of the black washers and used some fishing line to act as strings to see what my clearances are like.


Middle left hand tuner is junk, and I'm going to write these off to a bad and rushed decision. Time to lay out a little more money and get a decent set of tuners.


Just an FYI, Locking tuners do not hold onto fishing line very well, and its a PITA to try and hold some tension on six lines in a rough plastic nut, while trying to take a photo with your phone in the other hand!!


Some observations, I will need to scallop out a champher on the lower edge of the cavity to allow the two E strings clearance, which I was pretty sure would be needed anyway. I may have to wait until I get the new tuners before committing to the final cut, as they may be slightly different dimensions to these ones.
I have a black Graph Tec nut on the way, so I will cut out the slot for the nut when that gets here.

Overall, very happy with todays progress!

[robin]

Gee Wiz Zandy, your mock up is better quality than my real thing.

Effie "How embarrassment!" Old timers will get that reference. lol.

[Dedman]

I have to say this is going to be brilliant!

Sheesh, Robin, you just aren't effluent like us.

[Zandit75]

Gee Wiz Zandy, your mock up is better quality than my real thing.

Effie "How embarrassment!" Old timers will get that reference. lol.

Haha, Yeah I probably went overboard with the detail. I'm like that sometimes!
I seriously think you are selling yourself short your own standards Robin, if this comes out anywhere near your builds, I'll be over the moon!

BTW, I'm old enough to understand the reference, but I was never a fan of the show!

[Zandit75]

I have to say this is going to be brilliant!

Sheesh, Robin, you just aren't effluent like us.

Geez Dedman, it's a bit early to be calling it brilliant! I have a long road ahead of me still!

[Dedman]

Dude! that's encouragement, you work stuff out then later if I need to do something similar I can just look back at your thread