Sgt. Pepper Posted February 12, 2022 Share Posted February 12, 2022 So I have never owned a slot head guitar. I have played a few in stores, and I think they were mostly Classical guitars. Is there any advantage or disadvantage to them as compared to heads that are solid? Or does it harken back to the old days? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zombywoof Posted February 12, 2022 Share Posted February 12, 2022 They say that the added mass of the slotted headstock is a benefit. Or so they say. I cannot recall a time though when I did not have a few slot head steel string guitars around. These days I am down to one - an Oscar Schmidt Stella. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
E-minor7 Posted February 12, 2022 Share Posted February 12, 2022 38 minutes ago, zombywoof said: They say that the added mass of the slotted headstock is a benefit. Or so they say. 😵 Isn't mass removed !? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sgt. Pepper Posted February 12, 2022 Author Share Posted February 12, 2022 30 minutes ago, E-minor7 said: 😵 Isn't mass removed !? Of course it is, but the metal on the tuners may make up the difference and add some. I think metal is heavier than wood. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave F Posted February 12, 2022 Share Posted February 12, 2022 Maybe it’s the string tension for the design making a difference Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zombywoof Posted February 12, 2022 Share Posted February 12, 2022 27 minutes ago, Sgt. Pepper said: Of course it is, but the metal on the tuners may make up the difference and add some. I think metal is heavier than wood. Slot heads are generally equipped with the same light weight open gear tuners as other guitars. And while there is no appreciable difference between the two types of headstocks when it comes to weight the slot heads are generally quite a bit thicker. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zombywoof Posted February 12, 2022 Share Posted February 12, 2022 20 minutes ago, Dave F said: Maybe it’s the string tension for the design making a difference There is a line of thought that slot heads do exert more tension on strings due to the steeper angle from the tuner shaft to the nut. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hall Posted February 12, 2022 Share Posted February 12, 2022 (edited) Nuisance to me. Edited February 12, 2022 by Hall Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
E-minor7 Posted February 12, 2022 Share Posted February 12, 2022 1 hour ago, Sgt. Pepper said: Of course it is, but the metal on the tuners may make up the difference and add some. I think metal is heavier than wood. Then again some 6-piece tuning machines weigh half a ton. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rct Posted February 12, 2022 Share Posted February 12, 2022 Dam you. Dam you all to hell. Now I want one. Dammit. rct Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sgt. Pepper Posted February 12, 2022 Author Share Posted February 12, 2022 35 minutes ago, rct said: Dam you. Dam you all to hell. Now I want one. Dammit. rct I want an M-36, but I would need to sell one to get one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tpbiii Posted February 12, 2022 Share Posted February 12, 2022 String changing takes longer -- at least for me. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
E-minor7 Posted February 12, 2022 Share Posted February 12, 2022 8 minutes ago, tpbiii said: String changing takes longer -- at least for me. Absolutely yes - a much clumsier maneuver. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j45nick Posted February 12, 2022 Share Posted February 12, 2022 6 minutes ago, E-minor7 said: Absolutely yes - a much clumsier maneuver. Try it with a 12-string slothead. It can be an all-day job. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
E-minor7 Posted February 12, 2022 Share Posted February 12, 2022 54 minutes ago, j45nick said: Try it with a 12-string slothead. It can be an all-day job. Those Rickenbacker 12s must be a nitemare. Their jangle-jingle is worth it though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BluesKing777 Posted February 12, 2022 Share Posted February 12, 2022 Slothead string changing is 3 man full time job and an intelligence test.....get Elixir long lifes so you don't have to do it very often! Do it the right way or the strings will rub wood off the inside of the slots, or...buy an old one with wear already!😎 It is even trickier (to start) on a National...have to hold the cone with some tension. BluesKing777. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brucebubs Posted February 12, 2022 Share Posted February 12, 2022 2 hours ago, Sgt. Pepper said: I want an M-36, but I would need to sell one to get one. Back in 1984 it was Chris Martin himself that came up with the idea of adding extra depth to the existing 0000/M body and creating the J-14 fret. So as nice as the M-36 is, there had to be a reason why he thought it could be even better. Here he is showing it for the 1st time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sgt. Pepper Posted February 12, 2022 Author Share Posted February 12, 2022 1 minute ago, Brucebubs said: Back in 1984 it was Chris Martin himself that came up with the idea of adding extra depth to the existing 0000/M body and creating the J-14 fret. So as nice as the M-36 is, there had to be a reason why he thought it could be even better. Here he is showing it for the 1st time. All I know is the one I played a few days ago was killer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
62burst Posted February 13, 2022 Share Posted February 13, 2022 (edited) 7 hours ago, Dave F said: Maybe it’s the string tension for the design making a difference Yes, the rumor is that the greater string break angle of the string from the nut to the tuner post is a plus. 6 hours ago, Hall said: Nuisance to me. Agree. And Sgt Pepper, yes, there is some of that "harkening back to the old days" if you want to go that far back. Unique for the sake of unique. 2 hours ago, BluesKing777 said: Elixir long lifes so you don't have to do it very often! Do it the right way or the strings will rub wood off the inside of the slots.. BluesKing777. The wound strings can also whip around and scratch if you don't pre-cut on installation. And if you don't pre-cut, try not to mess things up when trying to get cutters into the slot. Edited February 13, 2022 by 62burst Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j45nick Posted February 13, 2022 Share Posted February 13, 2022 23 minutes ago, 62burst said: Yes, the rumor is that the greater string break angle of the string from the nut to the tuner post is a plus. Agree. And Sgt Pepper, yes, there is some of that "harkening back to the old days" if you want to go that far back. Unique for the sake of unique. The wound strings can also whip around and scratch if you don't pre-cut on installation. And if you don't pre-cut, try not to mess things up when trying to get cutters into the slot. C-1? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sgt. Pepper Posted February 13, 2022 Author Share Posted February 13, 2022 3 hours ago, BluesKing777 said: Slothead string changing is 3 man full time job and an intelligence test.....get Elixir long lifes so you don't have to do it very often! Do it the right way or the strings will rub wood off the inside of the slots, or...buy an old one with wear already!😎 It is even trickier (to start) on a National...have to hold the cone with some tension. BluesKing777. Wow, looks like a fun time. RCT wants a slot head, and I now do not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
62burst Posted February 13, 2022 Share Posted February 13, 2022 23 minutes ago, j45nick said: C-1? Most likely. Pic found on the web, but the slot heads I have, or have had, have made me appreciate a simple paddle headstock. 9 minutes ago, Sgt. Pepper said: Wow, looks like a fun time. RCT wants a slot head, and I now do not. Isn't he still all I-want-one/GAS'ed up over SBPark's Epi USA Frontier (like the rest of us) ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sgt. Pepper Posted February 13, 2022 Author Share Posted February 13, 2022 14 minutes ago, 62burst said: Most likely. Pic found on the web, but the slot heads I have, or have had, have made me appreciate a simple paddle headstock. Isn't he still all I-want-one/GAS'ed up over SBPark's Epi USA Frontier (like the rest of us) ? I think he likes Martins like me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rct Posted February 13, 2022 Share Posted February 13, 2022 55 minutes ago, Sgt. Pepper said: Wow, looks like a fun time. RCT wants a slot head, and I now do not. Yeah well, I don't acoustic often enough, well enough, to make something like even close to worthwhile. rct Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rct Posted February 13, 2022 Share Posted February 13, 2022 38 minutes ago, 62burst said: Most likely. Pic found on the web, but the slot heads I have, or have had, have made me appreciate a simple paddle headstock. Isn't he still all I-want-one/GAS'ed up over SBPark's Epi USA Frontier (like the rest of us) ? lolz yes, that thing is pretty! rct Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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