telemaster03 Posted September 4, 2013 Share Posted September 4, 2013 Anyone have any idea why Gibson doesn't use slotted headstocks on their guitars? I've heard that it does affect the tone, but really I just like the way it looks on some guitars. Almost all the other big boys (Martin, Collings, Santa Cruz, H&D, etc) make a 12 fret short scale guitar with a slotted headstock. I've not had the opportunity to A/B similar guitars with solid and slotted headstocks to see how much difference it makes. Curious... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J-1854Me Posted September 4, 2013 Share Posted September 4, 2013 Anyone have any idea why Gibson doesn't use slotted headstocks on their guitars? Classic guitars: Fred Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave F Posted September 5, 2013 Share Posted September 5, 2013 [/url]Gibson Chet Atkins CE Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
telemaster03 Posted September 5, 2013 Author Share Posted September 5, 2013 Nylon stringed guitars, certainly. I was thinking steel stringed... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mountainpicker Posted September 5, 2013 Share Posted September 5, 2013 I'd guess that the cost/benefit ratio doesn't work out in a mass produced situation. A classical guitar pretty much HAS to have a classic headstock and Chet probably spec'd his that way. Gotta be more expensive to make a slotted headstock though. I like the way they look too, but what a pain in the rear end to re-string, especially if you own a lot of guitars and find yourself re-stringing a lot. Not all that harder really, but I used to sigh when I was faced with doing the only one I ever owned (but eventually parted company with). Need a Gibson employee to really explain it though since I'm only speculating. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave F Posted September 5, 2013 Share Posted September 5, 2013 http://forum.gibson.com/index.php?/topic/105143-great-vintage-gibson-acoustic-high-quality-pics/ check out back row second from left plus the 2 closeups Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EuroAussie Posted September 5, 2013 Share Posted September 5, 2013 Probably coz Gibson knows they look awful, cant imagine Gibson with a slotted headstock. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onewilyfool Posted September 5, 2013 Share Posted September 5, 2013 Personally I LIKE the look and weight of a slot head.....I have a couple...I like the increased string angle at the nut,......BUT....I actually detest doing a string change on them....lol....just such a pain in the asp, For Gibson's it just doesn't seem right, the slotted heasdstock......would look funny....I wondered if Ren ever considered making a prototype slothead Gibson??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jayyj Posted September 5, 2013 Share Posted September 5, 2013 I have actually owned a steel string Gibson with a slotted headstock - an L-1 archtop from around 1905. I thought the Gibson headstock looked quite nice with the slots in it. But I also hate restringing the things! I guess if they haven't made one in over 100 years it's unlikely they'll start anytime soon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ParlourMan Posted September 5, 2013 Share Posted September 5, 2013 Probably coz Gibson knows they look awful, cant imagine Gibson with a slotted headstock. Could be the solution to yer tuner-nazi policy EA, a slotted head and tuners you don't see face-on. ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EuroAussie Posted September 5, 2013 Share Posted September 5, 2013 Could be the solution to yer tuner-nazi policy EA, a slotted head and tuners you don't see face-on. ;) Quite the opposite PM, I looove tuners, but they have to be the right ones for the right box ! When I think of slotted head tuners it makes me think of all the snobs at the AGF with their cocobolo cocktails, slotted tuners and custom job disasters ... just cant imagine one on a rough n' ready Gibson. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ParlourMan Posted September 5, 2013 Share Posted September 5, 2013 Rolleyes..... I was only joking mate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lefty Guy Posted September 5, 2013 Share Posted September 5, 2013 When I think of slotted head tuners it makes me think of all the snobs at the AGF with their cocobolo cocktails, slotted tuners and custom job disasters ... just cant imagine one on a rough n' ready Gibson. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
telemaster03 Posted September 5, 2013 Author Share Posted September 5, 2013 When I think of slotted head tuners it makes me think of all the snobs at the AGF with their cocobolo cocktails, slotted tuners and custom job disasters ... just cant imagine one on a rough n' ready Gibson. Yeah, I see what you mean. I was picturing more of a turn-of-the-century vibe like the old parlour guitars you see. The pics in the post above show that Gibson did do some slotted head stocks at one point, but no mas. I just found it interesting that they apparently chose not to go that route. Not a cocktail man myself, but I do enjoy a snort of good whiskey, many times while playing my SJ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ParlourMan Posted September 5, 2013 Share Posted September 5, 2013 I like a slotted headstock myself, if done well they look nice.... As they're not a traditional choice for Gibson it probably doesn't make sense to their market... you need only read the responses here and alike threads to see that. Typically the Gibson buyer wants a period correct model from a certain era of the company's past and can often be very intolerant of other features & specs. Occasionally you will see posts such as "how many J-45 iterations does one company need?" but these people are beat down at a moments notice by history buffs and endless speculation about the differences each iteration will offer, despite the fact that nobody can distinguish them from a recording.... It takes a while to get to grips with this mentality, but the sooner you grasp it the sooner you can follow the subtleties of such arguments. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tvguit Posted September 6, 2013 Share Posted September 6, 2013 Slot headstock J-35? http://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-c-1940-Gibson-J-35-Acoustic-Jumbo-Guitar-Heavy-Project-Repair-Restore-/231047559248?pt=Guitar&hash=item35cb81f850 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jayyj Posted September 6, 2013 Share Posted September 6, 2013 Slot headstock J-35? http://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-c-1940-Gibson-J-35-Acoustic-Jumbo-Guitar-Heavy-Project-Repair-Restore-/231047559248?pt=Guitar&hash=item35cb81f850 Wow: between the tuner slots and the truss rod rout there's not a whole lot of wood left on that headstock. Good thing Gibson don't have a history of being prone to headstock breaks... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yggdrasil Posted September 6, 2013 Share Posted September 6, 2013 When I think of slotted head tuners it makes me think of all the snobs at the AGF with their cocobolo cocktails, slotted tuners and custom job disasters ... LOL - aren't you the guy who used to be TaylorLover or some such handle? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gov Posted September 6, 2013 Share Posted September 6, 2013 Slot headstock J-35? http://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-c-1940-Gibson-J-35-Acoustic-Jumbo-Guitar-Heavy-Project-Repair-Restore-/231047559248?pt=Guitar&hash=item35cb81f850 well at least there's no top cracks on it... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gov Posted September 6, 2013 Share Posted September 6, 2013 oh and i always thought there must be something to the slot head difficulty changing strings having to do with steel strings. i've had little issue on my nylon classicals and last week did my first steel on a new washburn parlor. can now officially say I don't get the fuss. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
telemaster03 Posted September 6, 2013 Author Share Posted September 6, 2013 Slot headstock J-35? http://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-c-1940-Gibson-J-35-Acoustic-Jumbo-Guitar-Heavy-Project-Repair-Restore-/231047559248?pt=Guitar&hash=item35cb81f850 Yikes! That's a shame... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
capmaster Posted September 9, 2013 Share Posted September 9, 2013 The Gibson EB-0 was made with a slotted headstock around 1970: http://www.flyguitars.com/graphics/1970-EB0-cherry-6.jpg http://rumbleseatmusic.com/images/188s/basses/71GibsonEBOWalnut188.jpg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
merseybeat1963 Posted September 9, 2013 Share Posted September 9, 2013 The slotted head stock is an absolute pain to string up and adds string stiffness/tension via its downward angle..why should they bother using that? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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