donslow Posted May 16, 2020 Share Posted May 16, 2020 Hey all, quick question if I may?! just received a new neck in the post, looking to cut down the headstock to something smaller as I’m not a huge fan of the larger bump at the bottom despite now printing off 17 templates (all wrong size one way or another) I can’t get one to “work” With the existing wood! then I tried this... (picture below) on the face of it, despite the template being too small to line up with the existing tuner holes, can anyone see anything that would/could go disastrously wrong before I start sanding/cutting?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stub Mandrel Posted May 16, 2020 Share Posted May 16, 2020 That won't look right if you use the original holes and leave the bit at left in place. It will look even worse if it sticks out on a 'stalk' like that. Why not use a Prit stick to put a sheet of clean paper on the face of the headstock, then just sketch off the bump. I think it nees to lose very little more to get that 51 Precision look? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
donslow Posted May 16, 2020 Author Share Posted May 16, 2020 5 minutes ago, Stub Mandrel said: That won't look right if you use the original holes and leave the bit at left in place. It will look even worse if it sticks out on a 'stalk' like that. Why not use a Prit stick to put a sheet of clean paper on the face of the headstock, then just sketch off the bump. I think it nees to lose very little more to get that 51 Precision look? Thanks so much for the reply @Stub Mandrel the bit on the left, I was going to look at possibly rounding that off a bit more so possibly printing that size template off again and the moving it down currently, the “top” hole lines up so was thinking “maybe if I move it down so the bottom hole lines up...” the bit on the left could be sanded to suit the template that way?! terrible idea?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stub Mandrel Posted May 16, 2020 Share Posted May 16, 2020 Only you can decide, but 'putting back on' tools are hard to come by. Whatever you do, avoid having a 'stalk' between the nut and the headstock proper, that will look odd. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
songofthewind Posted May 16, 2020 Share Posted May 16, 2020 Let us see what the headstock looks like naked, first of all, then we can hose you down with ideas. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
donslow Posted May 16, 2020 Author Share Posted May 16, 2020 12 minutes ago, songofthewind said: Let us see what the headstock looks like naked, first of all, then we can hose you down with ideas. this is the headstock from the original eBay listing, not sure why I didn’t think it looked too bad... 11 minutes ago, songofthewind said: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
donslow Posted May 16, 2020 Author Share Posted May 16, 2020 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
donslow Posted May 16, 2020 Author Share Posted May 16, 2020 Must just be me but it looks a little....bulbous... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stub Mandrel Posted May 16, 2020 Share Posted May 16, 2020 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stub Mandrel Posted May 16, 2020 Share Posted May 16, 2020 A bit, but the rest of the profile looks ok. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
songofthewind Posted May 16, 2020 Share Posted May 16, 2020 Vast and bulbous. Actually, I think it would look fine if you just straighten the lower edge so that it is a bit more parallel to the top edge, where the tuners will be. Check James Trussart's website for his lovely steel bodied Teles. They have a headstock shape that is just slightly Stratty. Very nicely proportioned. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
donslow Posted May 16, 2020 Author Share Posted May 16, 2020 10 minutes ago, Stub Mandrel said: Definitely more of the streamlined kind of look after...just can’t seem to find a template that will fit/match what I have :-s 7 minutes ago, songofthewind said: Vast and bulbous. Actually, I think it would look fine if you just straighten the lower edge so that it is a bit more parallel to the top edge, where the tuners will be. Check James Trussart's website for his lovely steel bodied Teles. They have a headstock shape that is just slightly Stratty. Very nicely proportioned. Will have a good looky and get the pencil out, thankyou for that Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ricky 4000 Posted May 16, 2020 Share Posted May 16, 2020 17 minutes ago, donslow said: Is that Jazz width at the nut, rather than P? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheGreek Posted May 16, 2020 Share Posted May 16, 2020 There isn't a lot of headstock on a Tele and it wouldn't take much to ruin one by taking off too much. Working with a coloured paper template might give you a better idea what you will get, white just blends in with the natural finish. Paint 3D will let you play around with bendy lines without you actually committing to anything which might cost you money. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
donslow Posted May 16, 2020 Author Share Posted May 16, 2020 17 minutes ago, Ricky 4000 said: Is that Jazz width at the nut, rather than P? Sure is... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
donslow Posted May 16, 2020 Author Share Posted May 16, 2020 (edited) 8 minutes ago, TheGreek said: There isn't a lot of headstock on a Tele and it wouldn't take much to ruin one by taking off too much. Working with a coloured paper template might give you a better idea what you will get, white just blends in with the natural finish. Paint 3D will let you play around with bendy lines without you actually committing to anything which might cost you money. Hmmm never thought of that, if I can work it out, might give that a whirl! where I’ve put the white paper on it, looks ok to my eyes, I’m just wondering if there’s something glaringly obvious that I’ve missed that could go wrong, shape or proportion wise Edited May 16, 2020 by donslow Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stub Mandrel Posted May 16, 2020 Share Posted May 16, 2020 This is the effect of just taking off about 3mm at the most. As @The Greek says you really only want to take off the minimum: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
donslow Posted May 16, 2020 Author Share Posted May 16, 2020 1 minute ago, Stub Mandrel said: This is the effect of just taking off about 3mm at the most. As @The Greek says you really only want to take off the minimum: Tis a very good point, wondering if I should just learn to live with it now?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ricky 4000 Posted May 16, 2020 Share Posted May 16, 2020 (edited) 33 minutes ago, Ricky 4000 said: Is that Jazz width at the nut, rather than P? 16 minutes ago, donslow said: Sure is... I think the temptation may be to take too much wood off, because visually, the proportions of the Telebass / early P headstock come partly from the wider 40mm nut... so I'd maybe just take the lower hump down a bit, but what do I know? (rhetorical). Edited May 16, 2020 by Ricky 4000 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
donslow Posted May 16, 2020 Author Share Posted May 16, 2020 26 minutes ago, Ricky 4000 said: I think the temptation may be to take too much wood off, because visually, the proportions of the Telebass / early P headstock come partly from the wider 40mm nut... I think you might be right Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kodiakblair Posted May 16, 2020 Share Posted May 16, 2020 Areas to concentrate on. Overall length. The wee area heading up the E tuner, tiny wee bit sanding. The rounded tip,get that right 👍 For the bottom curve to work,place the template on the back and mark the bare wood as the headstock leaves the nut. Move the template up to the rounded tip, make a mark as the tip sweeps to the bottom curve . Move the template again,swinging it until you came join both marks. I'll see about getting a photo or 2 posted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
donslow Posted May 16, 2020 Author Share Posted May 16, 2020 4 minutes ago, kodiakblair said: Areas to concentrate on. Overall length. The wee area heading up the E tuner, tiny wee bit sanding. The rounded tip,get that right 👍 For the bottom curve to work,place the template on the back and mark the bare wood as the headstock leaves the nut. Move the template up to the rounded tip, make a mark as the tip sweeps to the bottom curve . Move the template again,swinging it until you came join both marks. I'll see about getting a photo or 2 posted. Thank you for that, quite insightful although I do have to admit, you lost me a bit with all the swinging and moving and marking of the tips and curves, some pictures (if you can) would be massively appreciated and might help worm it into my skull a bit... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
donslow Posted May 16, 2020 Author Share Posted May 16, 2020 thanks for all the comments and tips so far guys (and gals?!) has given me some food for thought before I make it look like I attacked the headstock with a butter knife and teaspoon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Delberthot Posted May 16, 2020 Share Posted May 16, 2020 This is a Warmoth tele headstock with a jazz width nut if that helps. It's one I had made a few years ago. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
donslow Posted May 16, 2020 Author Share Posted May 16, 2020 (edited) 8 minutes ago, Delberthot said: This is a Warmoth tele headstock with a jazz width nut if that helps. It's one I had made a few years ago. I like the look of that, pretty much what I’m going for...not too bulbous but still close enough to look decent and not get confused/mistaken with the real thing Edited May 16, 2020 by donslow Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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