Headstock Designs

[mikewaz]

Hey all -

This is my first post to the board - though I have lurked for a while. I built a StewMac kit many years a ago. Then, I did one (fairly) scratch project shortly after that.

I'll be starting a KMG kit once it arrives. As I'm working on that kit, I'll also undertake a scratch build. (Actually, I've already started the scratch build by making the neck blank.) I figure doing my scratch build in tandem with the kit will help reenforce what I learn from the KMG kit.

I designed a few headstock profiles yesterday and have attached them. I'd love to hear any thoughts on them before I decide on my pick from these. I want to be fairly sure that my pick doesn't look too much like some else's design. At this point, I'm leaning toward B or C.

Thanks!
Mike

[Danl8]

Nice drawings! Designs are nice, too. I would pick one and go with it. If it isn't traced from a known makers work you should be good to go.

PS: what software did you draw these on?

-d.

[johnnparchem]

All of the designs look great. I like your selection. If I had to pick one for myself I would go with C although I like E as well.

[mikewaz]

I created them with Adobe Illustrator. I use that program at times for work.

With B and D, I'm wondering if these would be tougher to route with a template and flush bit. And tougher to bind too. I don't mind a little extra work or challenge, but also don't want to design myself into a corner.

[MaineGeezer]

When I created mine, I did a Bing search http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=gui ... &FORM=IGRE

It spits out more images of guitar headstocks than you would believe. (I'm sure Google would do the same.) I didn't see any using an ogee curve on the top, so that's what I used. Subsequently, I've found at least one other instance of somebody using that shape, but at the time I thought it might be unique.

All of your designs have their own appeal. Whichever one speaks to you is the on to use.

[ruby@magpage.com]

Is there a problem with copying a head design if you are an amateur and not selling anything? What about someone like Gibson that has had a mustachey looking thing, but the actual shape changed quite a bit? What about the MArtin shape that everyone seems to use?

Ed

[MaineGeezer]

I doubt it. You could always check with the maker and see if they have trademarked their headstock shape, but as long as you make no pretense of your guitar actually being a Gibson (or whatever), I don't see a problem. Besides, who is going to complain?

People build (for example) Gibson J45-shaped guitars all the time, as well as Martin OM-shaped guitars and dreadnoughts galore.