Official Luthiers Forum!

I'd like to add some variety to my current project by making it a 'slothead'. The neck I am using was joined with a 1/2" peghead, and my veneer/rosewood cap adds an eighth of an inch to the headstock thickness, a total of 5/8". But I don't know the thickness that a slotted headstock needs to be.

I'd appreciate some guidance.

Thanks!

_________________
Peter Havriluk

No, That's not even close. You need 13/16" Min. for most tuners.

It needs to be as thick as your slotted head tuners require, and they do vary. The Gotoh tuner has a base plate that is 16 mm wide - that’s about the same as your 5/8 thickness, but gives no allowance for centering or the protrusion of the shaft end past the head plate. Off the top of my head I’m saying about 19 mm. I have a couple in progress, so I can measure those tomorrow.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

The Waverly slothead tuners are the narrowest I’ve found and let you go a little thinner (~2mm) than the Grover. I’m building a slothead w/ Waverly at the moment. Next time I’m in the shop I’ll measure them for you, if you like.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

3/4 inch

_________________
John Hall
blues creek guitars
Authorized CF Martin Repair
Co President of ASIA
You Don't know what you don't know until you know it

The Rubners I’m using on my latest have a side plate width of 0.72”. So 13/16” would be a good peghead thickness for those.

_________________
Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"

Thanks, everybody!

I'll hold that thought for another project.

_________________
Peter Havriluk

Add a backstrap to make up the difference on the one you're working on.

I did that, and if you want do do an 8 string you might squeak by with 11/16ths using mandolin tuners (always have your tuners on hand before making the final decision).