Which non-Strat headstock for an 80’s inspired rear rout Strat body?

[NefariousShredd]

Building an 80’s shred inspired super Strat and I can’t decide on a headstock shape. If it was a Soloist I’d probably go Arcade, but I’m really leaning more towards a Charvel San Dimas look with a regular Strat body, just rear routed, with a Floyd.

And though they can be rad, I think a standard Strat shape headstock would be boring.

Also can’t decide between regular and reversed for the headstock, so there’s options for both. It’ll have a locking nut so it’s purely an aesthetic decision.

I’m open to other ideas as well, but I really want something that’s 6 in-line tuners that isn’t a standard Strat shape, so that kinda limits things.

 

[Tretgeraet]

I'd humbly advise you to consider the 7/8 S-Style as well, even though it's limited to the 7/8 Warhead neck. But I like mine a lot and I regret nothing: Everything I like about a Strat body, but 24.75" scale and 24 frets.

Just wanted to throw that in...

 

[NedRyerson]

For visualizing...

Thread 'The Nazgûl'

Apr 12, 2022

It resembles a Soloist, but isn't a Soloist, which is why I post this in the Misc. section.

• African mahogany body based on modified Strat template
  • Body was cut and routed from the mahogany blank
  • I made a sled/jig out of MDF to help cut the forearm and belly contours. Ran that through the band saw then sanded smooth. Took about 15 minutes for both cuts rather than probably hours using a rasp (and I don’t have an angle grinder).
• Rear cavity rout, with custom-cut bloodwood cover
• A500K pots, with push-pull volume for coil-splitting
• Seymour-Duncan "Nazgûl" pickup...

• NedRyerson
• Replies: 9
• Forum: All Other Guitars

• 

 

[Scab Pickens]

I’m open to other ideas as well, but I really want something that’s 6 in-line tuners that isn’t a standard Strat shape, so that kinda limits things.

The other options you are looking at will never be better on a Strat body than a Strat headstock. Just get the right hand reverse Strat neck and be done with it!

If it was a Soloist I’d probably go Arcade, but I’m really leaning more towards a Charvel San Dimas look with a regular Strat body, just rear routed, with a Floyd.

Can you give a visual example? I can't find a "San Dimas" that doesn't have a Strat style headstock.

 

[Hodgo]

The other options you are looking at will never be better on a Strat body than a Strat headstock. Just get the right hand reverse Strat neck and be done with it!


Can you give a visual example? I can't find a "San Dimas" that doesn't have a Strat style headstock.

That’s the modern FMIC and/or the original prepro style. In the 80s, Wayne Charvel sold to Grover Jackson, who put the pointy headstock from the Randy Rhodes guitar on the Strat body.

 

[Hodgo]

The slap shot is my favorite. Kramer Barretta style! With any of these choices I would certainly start by sanding that nib off on the belt sander.

 

[Hagwood]

I vote getting a mooncaster neck and cutting your own shape.

 

[Hagwood]

The slap shot is my favorite. Kramer Barretta style! With any of these choices I would certainly start by sanding that nib off on the belt sander.

Yeah, what is the deal with those nibs ? I'm looking at an arcade neck for a Star body build and that would definitely have to go.

 

[Hodgo]

Yeah, what is the deal with those nibs ? I'm looking at an arcade neck for a Star body build and that would definitely have to go.

Lawyers, man.

 

[NedRyerson]

Yup, the Arcade is totally not a Jackson headstock. Totally different.

 

[Hagwood]

Lawyers, man.

Of course - that was a stupid question......

 

[Hagwood]

Yup, the Arcade is totally not a Jackson headstock. Totally different.

LOL, I wish the Diamondback body was as TOTALLY different from the SG Body.......

 

[Hodgo]

LOL, I wish the Diamondback body was as TOTALLY different from the SG Body.......

I mean it is totally different from an LTD Viper…

 

[aarontunes]

Yeah, what is the deal with those nibs ?

Lawyers, man.

Gather 'round, ye lovers of guitar lore, and I shall tell ye the tale o' the nibs.

The nibs were added around 2013, about the same time all the Gibson-inspired shapes were discontinued. I think it was done because it was the simplest way to make those headstock shapes just different enough from the ones that inspired them to avoid any more legal wrangling. I believe Ken's thinking was that they could be easily sanded off by anyone who wished to, but I don't think it ever worked that way in practice. People just used them with nibs. And before long, they started showing up in the showcase with finishes already applied; a tacit acknowledgement that this was just what they were now.

I also think there was a certain obstinance to the nibs. Like a big sister who's been told to stop touching her little brother, who then puts her finger 1mm from his nose and says "I'm not touching, I'm not touching."

Believe it or not, nibs were even added to some bodies. You may remember seeing a few Nomad bodies with a big nib right in the strap button area. By this point I had been at Warmoth long enough that I was starting to feel comfortable expressing my opinions, and I piped up that the nibs were maybe not the best idea. I offered to redesign the Nomad parts in a way they would be different enough, have a visual appeal of its own, and still work with the existing blank sizes.

They gave me permission, and that's how the current Nomad body and neck designs came to be, and why they don't have nibs while the others do.

 

[Hagwood]

Gather 'round, ye lovers of guitar lore, and I shall tell you the tale o' the nibs.

The nibs were added around 2013, about the same time all the Gibson-inspired shapes were discontinued. I think it was done because it was the simplest way to make those headstock shapes just different enough from the ones that inspired them to avoid any more legal wrangling. I believe Ken's thinking was that they could be easily sanded off by anyone who wished to, but I don't think it ever worked that way in practice. People just used them with nibs. And before long, they started showing up in the showcase with finishes already applied; a tacit acknowledgement that this is just what they were now.

I also think there was a certain obstinance to the nibs. Like a big sister who's been told to stop touching her little brother, who then puts her finger 1mm from his nose and says "I'm not touching, I'm not touching."

Believe it or not, nibs were even added to some bodies. You may remember seeing a few Nomad bodies with a big nib right in the strap button area. By this point I had been at Warmoth long enough that I was starting to feel comfortable expressing my opinions, and I piped up that the nibs were maybe not the best idea. I offered to redesign the Nomad parts in a way they could be different enough, but have a visual appeal of their own, and work with the existing blank sizes.

They gave me permission, and that's how the current Nomad body and neck designs came to be, and why they don't have nibs while the others do.

Glad you made those changes to the bodies Aaron, I will definitely be sanding mine off of the necks......

 

[Hodgo]

Gather 'round, ye lovers of guitar lore, and I shall tell you the tale o' the nibs.

The nibs were added around 2013, about the same time all the Gibson-inspired shapes were discontinued. I think it was done because it was the simplest way to make those headstock shapes just different enough from the ones that inspired them to avoid any more legal wrangling. I believe Ken's thinking was that they could be easily sanded off by anyone who wished to, but I don't think it ever worked that way in practice. People just used them with nibs. And before long, they started showing up in the showcase with finishes already applied; a tacit acknowledgement that this is just what they were now.

I also think there was a certain obstinance to the nibs. Like a big sister who's been told to stop touching her little brother, who then puts her finger 1mm from his nose and says "I'm not touching, I'm not touching."

Believe it or not, nibs were even added to some bodies. You may remember seeing a few Nomad bodies with a big nib right in the strap button area. By this point I had been at Warmoth long enough that I was starting to feel comfortable expressing my opinions, and I piped up that the nibs were maybe not the best idea. I offered to redesign the Nomad parts in a way they could be different enough, but have a visual appeal of their own, and work with the existing blank sizes.

They gave me permission, and that's how the current Nomad body and neck designs came to be, and why they don't have nibs while the others do.

The Nomad is such a great take on that shape. I really like it. It’s more balanced than the Destroyer which I think it took some influence from.

 

[Heavy Rock]

I really like the nomad headstock for an 80s superstrat too. It would match well with a strat body since it's a little rounder than the arcade etc.
The slapshot would look cool on a strat too of course and if you like a Jack Butler style (Crossroads), the arcade is the only answer.

 

[Mincer]

Sorry, I'd want the Warhead..support the home team and all.

 

[Hodgo]

Sorry, I'd want the Warhead..support the home team and all.

Isn’t it nice to have so many choices? But the superstrat is hardly a Warmoth exclusive design.

 

[Mincer]

Isn’t it nice to have so many choices? But the superstrat is hardly a Warmoth exclusive design.

But a Warmoth superstrat is about as cool as you can get!