#16
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What a beautiful instrument. If it sounds half as good as it looks, WOW! What a beautiful instrument. The tuner buttons are outstanding!
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#17
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Here is something (in part) I wrote up back in 2012, when I first introduced the SSP headstock. It is a little bit "wordy." Straight-String-Pull (SSP) Headstock Intuitively this idea of lining up the tuning post with the strings in arrangement such that the strings remain completely straight with only a downward angle over the nut and saddle has been something I have been thinking of for years. This layout just seems to make sense. I have never been one to do something just to be different and much of my designs are steeped in tradition. When moving away from a conventional approach, there must be a significant advantage to the change before I will commit to it. The SSP headstock does have a non-traditional look for an acoustic guitar but the advantage of this design especially relating to intonation has convinced me to buck tradition and redesign my headstock. Laying out the tuners to that the outside diameters of the tuner posts line up (straight) in-line with the nut slots has advantages over the traditional angular layout seen on most steel string guitars. The friction of the string on the nut is reduced which helps in tuning as the line caused by the tangent string is theoretically the only contact made by the string “riding” on the top of the nut. Theoretically the nut would not need to be slotted per se as the spacing could almost be determined by the tuner posts much like the pins determine the spacing on the saddle end. The lack of (the angular) side pull of the string on the nut slot is eliminated thus reducing the friction to only the “bottom” (tangent line) of the string. Changes in tension caused when tuning or bending will less likely to be “pinched” that often occurs when using the conventional (angular) string alignment. Even in a properly prepared angular slot a “pinch” can occur as string gets held in the slot causing the string to suddenly move all at once (making the screeching ping sound) resulting in a big change in pitch. While this is an annoyance in attempting accurate tuning, it can also cause problems with string bending. The biggest advantage of the SSP is the reduction of intonation issues especially when the use of a fully compensated nut which is now standard on Osthoff guitars. Straight string pull has been around quite a while even seen on the Martin Stauffer style guitars of 1830’s. These guitars had an the tuners lined up similar to a Stratocaster with “Vienna screws” gear type tuners with all 6 tuning knobs protruding to the left. Creating a headstock for a modern steel string guitar with a straight-string-pull and three tuners on each side has its challenges as modern tuners will not fit into a symmetrical design. It is my preference to use Gotoh 510 Tuners on my guitars. This leaves for some challenging positioning of the tuners on the headstock while being still being able to create an aesthetically pleasing design. After a year of working with these different designs I came up with one that suits the needs from an engineering and ascetic standpoint. While this design certainly has a more “modern” look I still wanted to give a nod to some of the headstock tradition that came before. |
#18
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#19
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The guitar is a Baritone, with a 27.8" scale. To me it was a bit of a handful but the owner loves it. I was promised a recording (at some point.) If the owner doesn't mind me sharing it with the public, I will post it when it comes. |
#20
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Hi John.
I have become a big fan of your guitars just lately. There is an African Blackwood/Moonspruce SJ about, that has me crazy at the moment. I was ready to trade my "lifetime" guitar to acquire it, but hasn't happened just yet. I may be odd (I know I am) but to me the headstock design is one of the most important design features any builder can identify himself with. I think yours are THE best looking and designed headstocks out there today. I wish you well with all of life's other challenges and hope to talk to you about my own Osthoff very soon. |
#21
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Look forward to catching up at some point. |
#22
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While I am sort of on the tuner button thing, here are couple of others I was playing around with during the prototype/design process. While most of the time I will use wood, I had some material hanging around I decided to try out.
On the right (if I remember) is Molten Metal, and on the left, Gold Rush. |
#23
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It been a while since I have done an all koa guitar, so I started a Koa OM. It got set aside like many other things this summer, but I got going on it a little again. Hopefully I will have it ready soon. Here is a shot of the rosette.
And again, on the tuner button thing -> |
#24
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Turquoise?
Steve
__________________
"Naturally torrified, & unnaturally horrified, since 1954" |
#25
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Ummmm.... All the little black lines on the rosette connect! Holy cow - how did you do that?
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”Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet” |
#26
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An Ostohoff SJ just followed me home and I can't be more pleased! Hopefully you'll give us good news about that Blackwood Osthoff coming home with you!
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Eric Omega Braz MJ, 2011 Omega MJ Braz Baritone Ryan Cathedral ABW/Bosnian Build thread: 2011 Kostal Mod D Brazilian/German Build thread: 2019 Kostal MDW Brazilian/German Build thread:2019 Bigfoot Mod D |
#27
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Yes, well sort of. It is reconstituted stone, that is 85% turquoise. The rest of the 15% is some sort of binder material.
Isn’t there something about a magician should never reveal their secrets. Oh well, as mentioned above it is recon stone, and I made with four pieces. I did my best to hide my lines where the four piece mate. |
#28
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While I am on the rosette thing, here is a shot of a rosette I did before stepping out of the shop during the summer. It is on a rosewood OM that expect to be working on again next week. I did count the amount of pieces at one point, but I forget how many is in there. It is made up of maple, mahogany, rosewood and blue paua abalone. the rosewoods "spacer" at the 3 o'clock position will be under the fretboard.
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#29
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Holy Cow, that rosette is stunning John!!!!
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PS. I love guitars! |
#30
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Wow! Nuff said.
Steve
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"Naturally torrified, & unnaturally horrified, since 1954" |