Luthier altert: building your own guitar

[ken_j]

Anyone have any groovy ideas for headstock lettering or artwork? I found some simple stick-on raised lettering that I could do...
maybe KBF or FLETCHER..... but something more artistic might be better.

Gsat-head.jpg

I signed mine with a fine gold paint pen. These are available at most artist supply stores.

[jps]

maybe KBF or FLETCHER

Maybe a shorter version, say, LECHER?

[brammy]

or how about Lecter?

hannibal-lecter.jpg (8.83 KiB) Viewed 1369 times

.....LECTER GUITARS.....
FEARED THE WORLD OVER

[doctorwho]

Kent, how about a drawing of a man making an arrow? (The definition of "fletcher" is a person who makes arrows.)

[brammy]

thats true..... EXCELLENT idea!

I've always figured that one of my ancestors back in Jolly Old England was making arrows for Robin Hood.... or perhaps the soldiers who were chasing Robin Hood. Either way, I'd rather be inside the castle making them than running around being shot by them.

The feathers on an arrow are called the "Fletch"

[kiramdear]

i think it's a perfect idea.

[ken_j]

The high E string is probably at or litter longer than 24-9/16" measurement. The low E string is probably at or a litte longer than 24-3/4" measurement. The 24-3/4" is more of an average or what the longest length ends up being after intonation. Right or wrong technically that is how they do it.

Years ago Rick advertised the 4001 basses as having 33-1/2" scale. This was a compensayed measurement as the actual scale was 33-1/4". Today it is speced out at the 33-1/4" scale length.

Apparently my explaination is not correct as JH sent me a PM stating how they measuse scale length. It is 2 times the distance from the nut to the 12th fret. This is how I always measured it so I guess I really don't know what "compensated scale length" is. Sorry for the error.
I do have a few RIC catalogs from '85 stating the 4000 series basses as having a 33-1/2" scale length. Perhaps just a mis-print.

Edit: per JH a mis-print.

[jingle_jangle]

Quoted scale length is a mathematical concept.

Compensation can make each string's scale length vary from its neighbors. Compensation allows for the variation from the mathematical length of the actual string, allowing for cross-sectional diameter (thickness), the amount of stretch required to depress the string from its free span to contact with the fret, and the variation in pitch resulting from this.

[ken_j]

Thanks Paul. Perhaps Gibson just rounded off the number.

[brammy]

i think it's a perfect idea.

yea... I like that first pix I put up, but it was just a photo, not for sale. If anyone stumbles across some sort of pendant or small item that might be suitable, please let me know.... thanks in advance.

Here's a dwg of the headstock that I'm using for my wood cutting:

[jps]

Why not incorporate the arrow design into the headstock shape?

[brammy]

Woah, NELLY!

Its an interesting idea, but I'm sticking with a Rickenbacker-ish theme.... and besides, I've put a lot of work in getting the current headstock shape just right (lots of 1:1 prints and cutouts).

Here is the current state of the body and neck:

[kiramdear]

Kitty seems to approve.

[brammy]

yup... Qweequake is a big Rickenbacker fan.

[brammy]

I've just ordered this pendant from ebay... its about 2.5" long.

I'll file off the chain ring..... should fit the headstock nicely.... hopefully.