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I haven't seen too many slotted heads for necks joined at the 14 th fret. Is there a reason why, perhaps a structural concern. I am planning to build a J-200 size guitar for my daughter, and we are thinking on a slotted head.

Thanks,
Tim

Thanks Todd,

Tim

I think Martin did a 12 string Dread slotted HS for I believe one of the Peter, Paul or Mary.

martin did a few 12 fret slot heads but they are uncommon . As Todd stated , it is only the tradition

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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

I like them. Here is a 14 fret jumbo (16") Larson brothers guitar with a slotted head stock.

I like them quite a lot, and the reduction in weight can be a useful offset on a 14 fret neck. Here's an OM in Ziricote and Sinker redwood:





As a plus, there are some really beautiful slot head tuners available these days. To wit:





Steve

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From Nacogdoches...the oldest town in Texas.

http://www.stephenkinnaird.com

Thanks for the replies, I think we will go with the slotted head. We are planning all Koa, with Ebony fret board, bindings, bridge and head plate. Also a tree of life vine on the fret board and abalone purflings on the top and back.

Thanks again,
Tim

Love that Larson Bros.

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"Preoccupation with an effect gives it power and enhances the error"
from "Your Owner's Manual" by Burt Hotchkiss.

You should also not feel restricted to 12 or 14 fret to the body, there is no law which says that these are the only options.

Here's a 13 fret to the body slothead.

Colin

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I don't believe in anything, I simply make use of a set of reasonable working hypotheses.

Todd - your comment highlights a question that has been on my mind lately...is there any reason aside from convention that a neck can't meet the body between two frets? That is the case on my first build (not intentionally) and I'm just wondering how badly I screwed up.

Going WAAAAAYY back, Martin offered the Vienna style head as well as the squared off "peg" head copied from Spanish guitars of the period. This "Peg" head (with friction pegs) was soon thickend and slotted to accept the 3-on plate tuners being made at the time in France by Jerome Thibouville Lamy ("Jeromes"). The "peg" head continued on with Ivory pegs (actually the cheapest option) for another seventy years or so.
When Martin made the transition to their 14 fret models in the 30s, the "peg" or paddle head was revived and you know the rest.

That's an interesting thought. One thing I can think of is that having a fret on the body join line gives you a reference so you know ho to locate the bridge, bridge plate etc.

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Formerly known as Adaboy.......

Good answer, Todd.

I'm pretty sure I'll never do it again as it seems there's probably no good reason to unless you don't know any better, which I didn't on my first.

Thanks!

I bought a Martin reject neck lot a few years ago. It had a perfectly good 14-fret slot-head dread neck in with standard necks. Only odd thing is the peghead veneer was glued on after the tuner slots were cut.

Pat

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formerly known around here as burbank
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http://www.patfosterguitars.com

I think that it's primarily a matter of looks...just looks better to have the fret aligned with the body.