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  #1  
Old 04-03-2021, 06:45 PM
Jimmy Recard Jimmy Recard is offline
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Default Martin has all but abandoned the slotted headstock

I only own guitars with slotted headstocks. This is for no real reason other than it artificially limits the amount of guitars I can get gas over, and I really like the aesthetic. Recently I decided I really wanted a Martin so I sold my last paddle headstock guitar and ordered a 000-15SM. I noticed that Martin only seem to have 2 (3 if you count their classical) options in their current range, which was a surprise as I would have expected a lot more. Are slotted headstocks really that unpopular? Personally I don’t find them any harder or slower to work with.

Also I notice that some brands are adding slotted options, for instance my preferred affordable brand (Sigma AMI) have a growing number of nice looking options.

Also I’m seriously contemplating taking a deep breath and asking my Martin dealer to cost a Martin custom shop CEO-7. Any idea if Martin would look at this?
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Old 04-03-2021, 06:50 PM
gfspencer gfspencer is offline
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Here is a CEO-7 with a slotted headstock . . . but it is a 12-string.

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Old 04-03-2021, 07:01 PM
Jimmy Recard Jimmy Recard is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by gfspencer View Post
Here is a CEO-7 with a slotted headstock . . . but it is a 12-string.

Wow, that’s a cool guitar.
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Old 04-03-2021, 07:09 PM
JimT JimT is offline
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They both look great! I was tempted by a CEO7 years ago, but was actively looking for something else so didn’t get it. I have never seen the 12 string, but I’ll bet it sounds fantastic!
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Old 04-03-2021, 07:11 PM
gfspencer gfspencer is offline
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Thanks. The 12-string is a custom. It sounds great . . . but very different from my other Martin 12-string guitars.
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Old 04-03-2021, 07:30 PM
Brucebubs Brucebubs is offline
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Martin has all but abandoned the slotted headstock

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Old 04-03-2021, 07:38 PM
phydaux phydaux is offline
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I've always wondered, do you find the slotted headstock guitars better for finger style, a la a classical guitar but with steel strings?
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Old 04-03-2021, 07:50 PM
Quickstep192 Quickstep192 is offline
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One needs to have rocks in ones head to have a slotted headstock. Not only are they a royal pain for string changes, they're usually more expensive. That's why when I built a banjo, I abandoned the traditional paddle headstock and went with a slotted headstock - on a banjo no less!

But Dang, they look so nice!
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Old 04-03-2021, 07:54 PM
Quickstep192 Quickstep192 is offline
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By the way, I'm sure Martin will be more than happy to build anything you're happy to pay for! But from a GAS perspective, you're headed down a slippery slope...
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Old 04-03-2021, 08:14 PM
Wade Hampton Wade Hampton is online now
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Whenever you order a Custom Shop guitar, Martin will include or exclude any feature you want: on my Custom Shop 12 fret 00-21, for example, I got it with the solid headstock instead of the slotted headstock traditional to that model.

In terms of sheer numbers, I don’t think Martin sells a lot of slotted headstock instruments, or ever has. But they definitely have a loyal fan base.


whm
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Old 04-03-2021, 08:15 PM
ssynhorst ssynhorst is offline
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As a practical matter there is notion that the downward slant on the strings from the slotted design produces more pressure on the nut resulting in better tone and stronger sound.

I don't know if anyone has tested that but the only two slotted steel string guitars I have played were cannons - a 00 size and a 000 size. They were both 12 fret designs and one had a shorter scale length causing the bridge to be set lower in the body.

I believe that combinations of those elements are generally accepted to produce superior tone and projection. Classical guitars have always had them. - Stevo
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Old 04-03-2021, 08:17 PM
godfreydaniel godfreydaniel is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Brucebubs View Post
Martin has all but abandoned the slotted headstock


That cracked me up. But I actually like slotted headstocks!
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Old 04-03-2021, 08:27 PM
Keith G50 Keith G50 is offline
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I don’t understand the “slotted headstocks are a pain to string” that is so prevalent. I picked up a 000-15SM a few months ago (amazing guitar) and immediately took the strings off when I got it home and went to tackling this big deal of restringing it to get it out of the way. I had watched Silly Mustaches video on the process a couple of times the week before to familiarize myself with the process. 15 minutes later I was playing my guitar and wondering what the big deal is. I’m wondering if the people that keep saying how difficult it is have ever actually done it.
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Old 04-03-2021, 08:33 PM
Brucebubs Brucebubs is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by godfreydaniel View Post
That cracked me up. But I actually like slotted headstocks!
I don't mind them, they do look nice but I was thinking of Wade and just having a little fun when I posted that picture.
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Old 04-03-2021, 08:45 PM
Tannin Tannin is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Keith G50 View Post
I’m wondering if the people that keep saying how difficult it is have ever actually done it.
I had the misfortune to own a slot-head 12-string for many years. More than happy to never own another slot-head.

PS: there is no mechanical reason a flat head can't have any desired headstock angle.

PPS: to the OP: Martin is a giant company. Like all giant companies everywhere, it is run by bean-counters, and bean-counters hate anything that isn't the most popular thing (unless you can charge extra for it). A few people like slot heads, a lot of people dislike them, and the majority don't much care. To a bean-counter, that means make flat ones unless someone offers you extra money to do it a different way.
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