Designing the headstock of Brian May's Red Special
The dimensions of the headstock are very close to the original.
Dimensions
| Original | New | |
| Width of headstock | 80mm | 80mm |
| Width at narrowest point | 47mm | 43mm |
| Length of headstock (from zero fret) | 180mm | 180mm |
| Angle of headstock | 4 degrees | 4 degrees |
You now need to draw out your headstock. Rather than describe the dimensions and how to achieve designing the headstock, I will simply show a picture with all the relevant dimensions on it. From this you will be able to create your own headstock, and draw it on the end of your neck.
Please click here for the plan of the headtsock.
There are details of this headstock which I am sure you need to know about. The type of machine heads that you choose to use on this guitar may effect various aspects of the headstock. The headstock I have designed are based on the original headstock to work with machine heads that I have purchased.
Ideally each string should pass just off-straight from the nut to the machine head. However, depending on your type of machine head, you may not be able to have the last two too close together. This was the case with the machine heads I had purchased. So this may cause you to redesign the headstock in respect to the positioning of the machine heads. For "the look" you must have all machine heads inline with each other in all directions, and they must be in parallel with the side of the headstock, AND they must be nearly inline with the strings.
If you do need to bring the last two machine heads further apart then simply, on paper, leave the first two (both E strings) alone, bring the last two (D and G strings) sufficiently appart, and line up the other two machine head with rest of them. This would keep "the look" and satisfy most criteria for the design.
Now you have your birds-eye view of your headstock, you now need the thickness and angle of it. The angle of the headstock is 4 degrees from the neck.
Except for the fretboard, you have now designed your headstock.
Page updated: Wednesday, December 5th 2007, 8:57 pm