Are retainer bars always necessary on a straight headstock?

[Orange Tortex]

My new neck is a Slapshot design, but it didn’t come drilled with pilot holes for the retainer bar. Does it absolutely have to be there? And with installing it, I’d imagine it doesn’t require precise placement because all it’s doing is holding the strings down, or does it need to be a certain distance from the nut?

 

[stratamania]

Warmoth does not drill any pilot holes on any parts by the way.  You have not mentioned it but I assume you are asking about a Floyd Rose retainer bar.

So back to the retainer bar if it is for a Floyd yes you need one. The purpose of it is to ensure that the angle across the nut is the same when the string clamps are tightened versus when not. Without it for example without enough angle you will tune and when tightening the clamps the strings will change tuning and make things sharp.

It needs to be positioned so you can achieve a proper angle as described above.

 

[Orange Tortex]

Warmoth does not drill any pilot holes on any parts by the way.  You have not mentioned it but I assume you are asking about a Floyd Rose retainer bar.

So back to the retainer bar if it is for a Floyd yes you need one. The purpose of it is to ensure that the angle across the nut is the same when the string clamps are tightened versus when not. Without it for example without enough angle you will tune and when tightening the clamps the strings will change tuning and make things sharp.

It needs to be positioned so you can achieve a proper angle as described above.

So would it be best to install the retainer bar before or after stringing? Also, I noticed it’s slightly curved. I’m guessing it should be pointing downward?

 

[stratamania]

The curve would point downward.

This might give you some positioning ideas and what you are trying to achieve.

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JBF3LCQk7zg[/youtube]

It is a useful video so I have added it to the below sticky thread which you probably should check out also.

Setting up your Tremolo or Floyd Rose

 

[McHale]

If using the typical Floyd nut, yes you definitely need the retaining bar.  However, there are 2 nuts you can use where you will not need a retaining bar: 

1.  Kahler Locking Nut

https://www.kahlerusa.com/locking-nuts-and-string-locks-6-string

2. Bill Edwards Locking Nut (Internal Adjusters)

https://billedwards.com/inventions.html#belnic1116

I'm going with #2 on my build, mainly because I don't want to use an allen wrench but the elimination of the string retaining bar is a nice side bonus.