Official Luthiers Forum!
https://luthiersforum.com/forum/

Strange Headstock
https://luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10101&t=55687
Page 1 of 1

Author:  Ken Nagy [ Thu May 25, 2023 4:00 pm ]
Post subject:  Strange Headstock

I saw this build in my feed. It said it was a 12 string, but I only see 6 tuners. It took me a while to find out how the thing works. A Rickenbacker 620/12

It is a very compact, and cool looking head. Not sure I'd want an electric, a 12 string would be cool. But it is a very interesting build; I'm only up to 12. There are like 40 of them.

Time killer!

https://youtu.be/kJueJHnJsb0

Author:  Chris Pile [ Thu May 25, 2023 4:20 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Strange Headstock

Yes, indeed. That is a Roger Rossmeisl design, intended to keep a longer peghead from making the guitar neck heavy. Roger would rout through the peghead, and cross-drill the holes - then laminate a piece of maple on the back of the peghead to enclose it. He was a clever guy! It also makes it easy to know which machine head you want when tuning the guitar.

Author:  Hesh [ Fri May 26, 2023 4:43 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Strange Headstock

It's a clever design like Chris said but I hate them and I am not alone. They are a pain in the arse to restring and the very thick barrel for the high strings results in slipping of say a .009 if you don't tie it on. It already takes 3 years ;) to restring a 12 for a busy, commercial shop and this is the most time consuming design I know of.

Author:  Chris Pile [ Fri May 26, 2023 8:23 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Strange Headstock

Locking tuners, brother.

Author:  kfish [ Fri May 26, 2023 9:32 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Strange Headstock

It's the price you paid for being a Byrds fanatic. I bought a new 360/12 in 1967 and I loved the look of the headstock, but it was a pain to change strings. The template he made looks good with the slots open and string changes would be easier, but I assume strength would be an issue with that.

Kent

Author:  ballbanjos [ Fri May 26, 2023 10:21 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Strange Headstock

Lyon and Healy tiples from the 20's had a somewhat similar configuration for the 10 tuners. Although they were all slot head tuners, alternating the buttons up and down allowed the tuners to be placed much closer together than a more conventional slot head.

Dave

Author:  Hesh [ Fri May 26, 2023 10:40 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Strange Headstock

Chris Pile wrote:
Locking tuners, brother.


Yeah that would be a huge improvement.

Author:  Ken Nagy [ Fri May 26, 2023 11:35 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Strange Headstock

kfish wrote:
It's the price you paid for being a Byrds fanatic. I bought a new 360/12 in 1967 and I loved the look of the headstock, but it was a pain to change strings. The template he made looks good with the slots open and string changes would be easier, but I assume strength would be an issue with that.

Kent



I don't think that I'd be too worried with 18mm thick maple.

The videos make me think about planning steps out.

Page 1 of 1 All times are UTC - 5 hours
Powered by phpBB® Forum Software © phpBB Group
http://www.phpbb.com/