Tuner plugs

I just had to move my tuner holes on my project, leaving unsightly plugs. Option 1 is a matching headstock, which I've always hated.
Option 2 is to just finish the headstock and live with the plugs. It gives me pause, because while I hate matching headstocks, I now have a reason for one, this reason makes it necessary, and , while I hate it, it now has a secret, even dirty allure.
I was even going to do a poll, something I never do for aesthetic matters. So I showed it to my wife, who could care less. She just scoffed, it looks like crap, and said "paint it". Now I've got my dirty secret. I'm secretly thrilled.
http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff259/jimmel_2007/IMG_1128.jpg

Got any veneer?

Make it a 12 string?

I agree with every sentiment expressed in your post, but you might just see what it looks like with tuners stuck in the holes and some strings on it and a "decal" layed on there. It might not look so bad with some more things vying for your attention.

Seriously. you can mock it up with out installing anything permantly. lay a zeroxed copy of a decal on there, stick the tuning posts in the ferrules and run some strings in the tuners or at least lay some strings on the headstock. None of this will "hide" the mistake, but you may be pleasantly suprised at how it no longer jumps out at you.

If not, what are you out of? nothing, you can still paint it if still not ok.

I've also thought about, and it's beyond my abilities, putting some mother of pearl in those plugs because it looks like a lunar eclipse to me. Veneer? Wouldn't I have to worry about the edges?
I might do the mock up because I can always go back later, I'm not in any hurry.

Eclipse-caster. Now you're talking.

I'd paint it to match the body. I would be lookin' at those plugs constantly.

Just had an idea. What about a rectangular piece of stainless 304 sheet metal with rounded ends to fit under those tuners? It might be a cool look. Just think what it could do for the tone...:grin:

+1. If you carefully routed the piece so it sits flush with the wood that might look really cool.

Another alternative is to paint an "accent stripe" the same colour as the body along the tuners just wide enough to cover your "mod" and still keep most of the wood grain showing. As suggested above try printing a couple of designs and placing them on the headstock to see what will look good.

I thought about the stripe, and constantly staring at the plugs after it was finished. I will stare at the plugs, it will bother me. I did a pretty good job, for me anyway, of getting the tuners pretty straight.
My problem is that while I seek perfection, I just don't have the means to get there. In the process I usually make things worse. Just need to know when good enough is good enough. I thought about a body colored stripe too, but at this point I'm just going to whore it out and do matching. I've got a gold Squier decal which I think would look nice with the Ice blue metallic I'll be using. I like the stainless steel filler plates idea as well. I'll show the results when I get there.
I moved the holes in the first place because I really, really want those vintage Kluson GFS knock offs, the squished kidney beans, and they didn't fit the lower edge (overhung)

I notice Teisco did these plates, that might work, maybe matching but leaving some wood showing . http://guitarz.blogspot.com/

there's an example I like better in this post http://www.tdpri.com/forum/other-guitars-other-instruments/325565-%243k-guitar.html

I thought about the stripe, and constantly staring at the plugs after it was finished. I will stare at the plugs, it will bother me. I did a pretty good job, for me anyway, of getting the tuners pretty straight.
My problem is that while I seek perfection, I just don't have the means to get there. In the process I usually make things worse. Just need to know when good enough is good enough. I thought about a body colored stripe too, but at this point I'm just going to whore it out and do matching. I've got a gold Squier decal which I think would look nice with the Ice blue metallic I'll be using. I like the stainless steel filler plates idea as well. I'll show the results when I get there.
I moved the holes in the first place because I really, really want those vintage Kluson GFS knock offs, the squished kidney beans, and they didn't fit the lower edge (overhung)

Been there, done that. I'm sure it will turn out really good.

Easy. Paint the headstock the same color as the body.

Oh, right, just read the rest of the post... You hate painted headstocks... Oh well. What do you hate most? Painted headstock or plugged holes?

^Plugged holes

^Plugged holes

here's your answer :mrgreen:


Seriously It took me 3 minutes of staring at it to even know what was wrong :lol:

I think it looks good.

Veneer over the headstock, would be pretty easy,and can find some really nice figured maple veneer for that. Would easily solve the problem.

What about trying to lightly add dye to those plugs to try and get them the same color as the rest of the headstock?

Cut the headstock off and glue on another one? j/k :grin:

I did one trick I thought was cool (didn't work) I took a pencil and continued the grain lines through the plug, Also did some half assed dye attempts.
I was going to use just dowel plugs but someone on here convinced me to cut plugs. I got a plug cutter and a 25 cent sample piece of solid maple flooring at Lowes.
It will be painted .

A PM with your mailing addy. I will send you a piece of thin maple veneer you can put over it. Of course you could send me the neck and I will do it for you so it matches the rest of the neck for a miniscule fee.:wink:
Rob

A PM with your mailing addy. I will send you a piece of thin maple veneer you can put over it. Of course you could send me the neck and I will do it for you so it matches the rest of the neck for a miniscule fee.:wink:
Rob

Very cool of you.

Thank you very much, will do.