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Very nice - I like the round ramps better from an aesthetic standpoint.

Will the strings rub aginst the round ramps??

Marc, I really lke your design.
It's interesting to me that before I scrolled down and saw the ramps, the crest looked traditional to me.
Then, when paired with the ramps, it went either way. (Is this making sense?) I guess what I'm trying to say is that you have a design that works either way. The slotted ramps make even the crest look contemporary, while the rounded ones make it look more traditional.
It affects the whole design, in my opinion.
Someone said they liked them both--so do I.
If only allowed to make one, I'd go for the round. But why not let your customers decide which they prefer?
If you need more clearance, you could always trim a bit more out of that round ramp. Martin's slotted headstock has the veneer carved back almost to the nut. (Which is a look I like.)
Anyway you go, nice work!

Steve

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From Nacogdoches...the oldest town in Texas.

http://www.stephenkinnaird.com

Marc;
The most important reason will come from you trimming the nut- to headstock area !
When you finally carve this area you may find the square ramps to close to the final outline of the headstock!
Unless you have already planned for this !
mike
www.collinsguitars.com

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Mike Collins

Thanks Colin, Bill

Michael, Gilberts are very unique, wide slot almost parallel with square tops, angular ramps, and a lot of space between the ramps and the nut, interesting, thanks for the link.

Harry, Shouldn't rub in either case, but it will be a close call with the round.

Steve, thanks, I thought the square would look more traditional but with all the feedback they are beginning to look more modern to me. BTW, I don't have any customers, I'm going to make at least five guitars first and gain some confidence in my work before I try to sell one.

Mike, thanks for the perceptive observation, I can tell by your website that you have done this many more times than me.

Yes, as you point out, the side taper trim to the nut has not been done yet and it could leave too thin of an area or an objectionable looking line, in the case of the square ramps, because of the lack of room. It might be just too big of a squeeze. In the drawing it looks okay, but I really won't know for sure until I actually do it.

Marc;
You may want to trim away as much wood as possible now to see if you final dimensions will leave you in a bad spot!
You have to center your f.b. and if anything goes wrong you could have a unbalanced look and be to close to the ramp area .
Best of luck !

Mike Collins

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Mike Collins

Marc;
By the way that's very nice workmanship there!
very clean and well balanced from side to side!

Mike

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Mike Collins

Mike,

Good idea, I appreciate the help, it's always a bad feeling to get a lot of work invested then find you have run into an impossible situation. I've done that before.

On the other hand, I usually have plenty of wood for my chiminea.

Marc, I really like your design with the square ramps. I think it really completes the whole design in a beautiful and bold (but certainly not too weird) way, with the straight lines at the bottom mirroring the straight lines of the crest. It makes an elegant and original statement, but with a clear reference to tradition. The round ramp one looks boring and wimpy to me by comparison.

This is probably irrelevant to you, but I'll post a pic of one of my steel string heads. I like it pretty well, but I don't think I'll do another crest like that.

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Todd Rose
Ithaca, NY

https://www.dreamingrosesecobnb.com/todds-art-music

https://www.facebook.com/ToddRoseGuitars/

[QUOTE=Todd Rose]
... It makes an elegant and original statement, but with a clear reference to tradition. ....
[/QUOTE]

Thanks Todd, that's exactly what I'm looking for.

[QUOTE=Todd Rose]
...This is probably irrelevant to you, but I'll post a pic of one of my steel string heads. ...
[/QUOTE]

Not at all, when I'm working on the something, I always like to see examples of what others have done. Very nice, I like the shapes of those ramps, with those curves matching that well you must have invested some time with the needle files. BTW I like slotted heads on SS.

Also, your tuners meet perfect in the center, mine don't always do that.Marc38971.3341087963