Gibson headstock question

simon · August 4th, 2007, 02:32 PM

I bought a new Gibson Sheryl Crow. If I look at the headstock from the back, the wood on the sides - where the tuners are - seems to be added on from different wood. Is this normal - I mean that they put together the headstock from several stripes of wood? Sorry if this is a dumb question, it's when you have something new that you start to worry about these things.

Alex W · August 4th, 2007, 10:10 PM

Do you mean that the wide part of the headstock is made by two "ears" or "wings," one on each side? There are plenty of guitars made that way, especially some of the archtops with wide headstocks. Otherwise, you wouldn't get nearly as much use of a big slab of mahogany. Same goes for a scarf joint for the neck angle. It shouldn't represent any sort of shortcoming in the instrument, as a properly-glued joint like that will be stronger than the wood itself.

Here's a good link showing the luthier's method: CLICK

fenderix · August 6th, 2007, 10:11 AM

Congratulations on the purchase of your Gibson Sheryl Crow Sign. model, simon!
No reason for any worries. That's how Gibson pegheads always have been made, acoustics and electrics alike.
I don't think that any factory employs the technically challenging scarf joint method fixing the head to the neck in the proper angle these days.
You can still see the diamond volute, where the neck turns into head on the back, on some Martin models. No longer necessary and nowadays it's more nostalgia and a "cosmetic" feature.
Enjoy your new guitar - it's a very nice model!

simon · August 9th, 2007, 03:01 PM

Thank you, Alex and Fenderix,

I also went to a shop and looked at different models again. I agree you are right. All the models have it. I really like this guitar. I have been playing only electrics (Telecasters) for a long time and since I stopped playing in a band wanted an acoustic again. This one plays similar to an electric in my opinion. And it produces a tone like a nice human voice. I am very happy.

August 4th, 2007, 02:32 PM	#1 (permalink)
simon Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 208	Gibson headstock question I bought a new Gibson Sheryl Crow. If I look at the headstock from the back, the wood on the sides - where the tuners are - seems to be added on from different wood. Is this normal - I mean that they put together the headstock from several stripes of wood? Sorry if this is a dumb question, it's when you have something new that you start to worry about these things.

August 4th, 2007, 10:10 PM	#2 (permalink)
Alex W Tele-Meister Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Kentucky Age: 40 Posts: 142	Do you mean that the wide part of the headstock is made by two "ears" or "wings," one on each side? There are plenty of guitars made that way, especially some of the archtops with wide headstocks. Otherwise, you wouldn't get nearly as much use of a big slab of mahogany. Same goes for a scarf joint for the neck angle. It shouldn't represent any sort of shortcoming in the instrument, as a properly-glued joint like that will be stronger than the wood itself. Here's a good link showing the luthier's method: CLICK

August 6th, 2007, 10:11 AM	#3 (permalink)
fenderix Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 1,963	Congratulations on the purchase of your Gibson Sheryl Crow Sign. model, simon! No reason for any worries. That's how Gibson pegheads always have been made, acoustics and electrics alike. I don't think that any factory employs the technically challenging scarf joint method fixing the head to the neck in the proper angle these days. You can still see the diamond volute, where the neck turns into head on the back, on some Martin models. No longer necessary and nowadays it's more nostalgia and a "cosmetic" feature. Enjoy your new guitar - it's a very nice model!

August 9th, 2007, 03:01 PM	#4 (permalink)
simon Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 208	Thank you, Alex and Fenderix, I also went to a shop and looked at different models again. I agree you are right. All the models have it. I really like this guitar. I have been playing only electrics (Telecasters) for a long time and since I stopped playing in a band wanted an acoustic again. This one plays similar to an electric in my opinion. And it produces a tone like a nice human voice. I am very happy.