Awesome to see the evolution of your headstock, Mark!

Thanks Glenn23!

Thanks Erithon, it’s fun to put this together. Guitar making is a journey. It goes through twists and turns, moments of inspiration, and unexpected surprises. The story of the Penelope headstock is representative of my guitar building journey as a whole.

There is a story behind the asymmetrical paddle (The Greta headstock), I’ll have to think that story through.

Thanks Nemoman, I appreciate you following along and your comments!
I hope to have part four up today.

Thanks everyone,
Mark

To Infinity and Beyond! Part Four
 

The open headstock was a success. A number of requests came through for this headstock on steel string guitars. Unfortunately I don't believe the Knilling pegs can handle the additional steel string tension.

When I started my Unlimited series I wanted to take a new look at every element of my guitars. As usual, the first model I did in the unlimited series was the Penelope guitar. I wanted to somehow give a nod to that open headstock cutout look. I was concentrating on sculpting wood on this guitar so when redesigning the Penelope headstock I emulated the look by scooping the face plate in a similar shape:

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4072/...53b0a3ca_c.jpg

While in process it occurred to me this design allowed me to address something I don't particularly like about headstocks in general which is when you lay a guitar on its back the bottom edge of the headstock runs right into whatever surface you've laid the guitar down on. To address this I cut a small upturn to the top of the headstock:

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4272/...8d348713_c.jpg

I don't see this working with a pillow top or a regular flat top because it would look like some Chinese or Russian aircraft carrier with that ramp on the top. With a scooped faceplate it accentuates the scoop and looks quite natural:

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7866/...e9d26478_b.jpg

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7847/...d199cc9d_b.jpg

It also adds a nice reflection up top that compliments the reflection coming off the volute on the bottom:

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4388/...43226be2_c.jpg

I've never been so proud of a new idea that nobody even notices until I point it out!

I also redesigned the embedded tuner cover so I could accentuate the sculpting with the color contrast of the nut:

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4365/...b72c3c77_c.jpg

Then everything changed. I designed a new model with an entirely new approach. I wanted a guitar model that the goal was much more about the art of the guitar rather than the art I put on a guitar. I made the Woodsman OO with a very vintage look built with old designs, old materials and old methods.

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4909/...50c67fc1_c.jpg

So where is the Penelope headstock? Well as we're getting to the end of the story it's time to address whats next. It's likely there will be a future old style birds mouth neck joint:

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7829/...0859f967_b.jpg

I have an additional method to approaching my design work now. Instead of showing what I can do, there can be more emphasis in enhancing the woods and basic designs to their best. Going back to my sculpted pillow top Penelope headstock design my concentration is to make the wood and the curves of the wood look great in a more natural way, which brings us back to the build at hand:

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7826/...d67bdd3d_b.jpg

Let me know if you enjoyed this kind of narrative taking a deep dive into the way I approach designing guitars.

Mark

I, for one, am enjoying this immensely. Your work is beautiful!

Keep it coming Mark, these little insights are fantastic!!

Thanks for following along DanR. Thanks for the kind words too!

Thanks Zandit75! That was fun to put together. Like Erithon said I probably should have made a separate thread for it though.

Always have appreciated your creativity with headstock designs, even the more austere ones:

http://i65.tinypic.com/2md592q.jpg

Thanks ukejon, I can't imagine how I would use the sculpted pillow top headstock on a fan fret. I just don't see that coming out well with an angled nut.

Here is an uptight gang of clamps holding down a headplate and fretboard:

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7877/...0c0fcd30_b.jpg

The situation is rife with tension..

Cool headstock ideas!
 

Thanks for sharing your artistry and ideas. I am enjoying the ride a lot!

I think they all are beautiful, and I personally gravitate to the simple designs.

Your ability to showcase the outstanding woods is really something wonderful!

Have FUN and carry on

Paul

Paul, thanks for following along. I have a nice line up of guitars to be built this year maybe even an uke. I have lot's of opportunities to try new things which makes having fun easy!
Thanks again.


Today while the the final assembly of the neck was drying I spent some time cleaning up the details of the body:

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7906/...83971075_c.jpg

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7856/...aae03114_c.jpg

Tomorrow I'll be carving the neck which is my favorite part of building a guitar.
This is one of those first thing in the morning jobs because it is all open hand work and requires solid concentration.

Thanks for following!
Mark

‘Bout dang time!

:) thanks ukejon, I appreciate your enthusiasm!
Mark

Cleaning up the body
 

I'm getting down to the finer sandpaper grits while prepping the guitar for finish. This is when the more subtle characteristics of a softwood soundboard really start to show:

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7907/...0012f618_c.jpg

This Western Red Cedar top is a beauty!

Side Markers
 

I generally use Mother of Pearl fretboard side markers. It's pretty exact work installing them because it easily shows if they are off center:

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7837/...7c315fa3_c.jpg

Laser sights on the drill press are a big help:

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7885/...0963df8a_c.jpg

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7845/...425d5d41_b.jpg

All glued in and cleaned up:

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7898/...687de2ba_c.jpg

Thanks for viewing!
Mark

Weight
 

The guitar is coming in very light, as intended. 3 1/2lbs so far. That's with the tuners, less the nut, saddle, bridge, strings and finish but, a lot of that weight will be offset when I switch out the metal tuner buttons for custom wood ones:

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7816/...c6135cea_c.jpg