tuning machine spacing on headstock

[markchusbands]

I'm close to routing my headstock on my (very protracted) resonator guitar build, and thought it was worth asking for any tips regarding tuner spacing. I'm tapering the headstock to get a little straighter string run across the nut, and I should be fine in terms of the space between the single screw (on Gotoh lockers). The headstock is fairly long and should allow 2" between posts. Anything this amateur hack should consider?

[Fathand]

Post centre to centre at 1 3/8" or 35mm is a common spacing on solid headstocks and slotted ones and also 3 on a plate tuners.

Practicing on scrap is always a good idea.

[markchusbands]

That's interesting, thanks. My Gold Tone dobro is exactly 1.5" post to post but the conventional headstock shape and this spacing does result in the posts being a bit crowded by the strings.

[BradHall]

LMI has a great, inexpensive, highly visible template. I really like mine.

[Bruce Sexauer]

I like 1 3/4 on Martin style guitars, and no one has ever complained, including Eric Schoenberg. On my own designs, I prefer a bit closer, aesthetically, and usually use 1 11/16. A very common mistake on Martin inspired headstocks is to inset them all the same distance from the edge. The E’s should be closer, so 7/16 instead of 1/2 like the others. All in inches, naturally.

[seangil]

Originally Posted by Fathand

Post centre to centre at 1 3/8" or 35mm is a common spacing on solid headstocks and slotted ones and also 3 on a plate tuners.

Is there a specific reason for that distance or is it a matter of habit/custom?

[Fathand]

Originally Posted by seangil

Is there a specific reason for that distance or is it a matter of habit/custom?

I assume because typical 3 on a plate tuners come with 1 3/8 spacing, including classical guitars, and builders designed around available hardware.

[Quickstep192]

I made a tapered headstock where my goal was to have the inner edge of the tuner capstans in a straight line with the nut slots so that the strings would have little or no angle to get to the tuner capstan. The only other consideration was that the tuner buttons be far enough apart to make for comfortable tuning.

[Fathand]

Originally Posted by Quickstep192

I made a tapered headstock where my goal was to have the inner edge of the tuner capstans in a straight line with the nut slots so that the strings would have little or no angle to get to the tuner capstan. The only other consideration was that the tuner buttons be far enough apart to make for comfortable tuning.

Is that a banjo with a tunelled 5th string?