No headstock fitting a flying V

[Scab Pickens]

I have been secretly wanting to build a "hybrid" Switchback/Tele for a while now. Single pickup, humbucker Tele bridge, volume and tone control, Tele neck. One of these days, maybe.

 

[Rick]

I agree ...get a paddle and cut your own

 

[ruscio]

+1 for get a paddle and cut it. They don't make an Ibanez style headstock, but with extremely meager woodworking tools + skills I managed to take a mooncaster headstock and turn it into something passably Ibanez-ish. Definitely could have done better starting with a paddle (and more tools + skills...). Here's the before-after on my shaping, including the original Ibanez target:

 

[ruscio]

But I do agree there isn't a headstock we offer that goes very well with a V. We've got a bunch of cool stuff we're trying to get released in 2025, and maybe after that this is another project we can tackle. It will depend on whether a champion can be found to push for it.

This is exciting, I hope so much that the front-route soloist is part of the cool stuff in development. I'd pull the trigger on this the moment it's available.

 

[Hodgo]

The shape of the Flying V has kept me away from building a Flying V, headstock options or not.

 

[alexreinhold]

I mentioned in my original post that there has to be a way to make a pointier headstock without provoking Gibson, so of course I knew about it. This one that's found on your facebook site looks much better on a V than anything you have to offer right now. It would be even better if the tuners were symmetrical, and if it's tiltbacked (hard to tell if it is already from this picture alone).
View attachment 63751

It'll cost you a few bucks extra but it's worth it. I've been playing this guitar live for a few months now and it's rocking in every way

 

[Deep Purple in Rock]

+1 for get a paddle and cut it. They don't make an Ibanez style headstock, but with extremely meager woodworking tools + skills I managed to take a mooncaster headstock and turn it into something passably Ibanez-ish. Definitely could have done better starting with a paddle (and more tools + skills...). Here's the before-after on my shaping, including the original Ibanez target:

View attachment 63758

Well done, what tools did you use? And how did you build up your skills before tackling the paddle? Practiced on scraps?

 

[Deep Purple in Rock]

The shape of the Flying V has kept me away from building a Flying V, headstock options or not.

Thanks for letting me know.

 

[ruscio]

Well done, what tools did you use? And how did you build up your skills before tackling the paddle? Practiced on scraps?

Thanks. I traced the Ibanez onto paper, cut it out, and penciled in the outline on the mooncaster. Started carving out wood with a dremel, then switched to orbital sander, finished with various grits by hand. Don't remember any details, but I recall well that it took a really long time to go slowly and approach what I wanted without going too far. If I had something like a scroll saw or rotary saw, this would have been a lot faster! And if I'd started with a paddle I could have gotten the curves at the nut end to better match those of an Ibanez. But the mooncaster neck I found in the showcase was otherwise a perfect fit and available immediately, so I took it and have no regrets.

 

[electric__steve]

If I had something like a scroll saw or rotary saw

That headstock looks pretty good to me. For your next build, consider a coping saw.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-6-in-Coping-Saw-with-Wood-Handle-12228/204783720

 

[Cheery Zeery]

That's the Ken Lawrence headstock. It's an off-menu option.

Another off-menu option that only rears its head once the right question is asked! Are there other headstocks hidden away in this fashion?

 

[aarontunes]

Another off-menu option that only rears its head once the right question is asked! Are there other headstocks hidden away in this fashion?

We've built necks with all kinds of headstocks shapes over the years, but there are only a few we will do for customers. ATM the only other one that comes to mind is the Warhead headstock on a J or P bass neck.