Reverse headstock on a tele?

[Toadtele]

Planning a build. Been thinking about it quite a while and it’s time to get committed. In other words it’s time to spend some money. Told myself I’m was going to build the neck this go around but now I’m thinking maybe winter time would be best for that. Not into hanging around in the shop during the summer. Anyway... I’m thinking of a reverse headstock. Really don’t know why. Never been big on Hendrix. Seen Jeff Beck with one or two. Maybe it’s because of the whole 80’s hockey stick headstock thing. Loved those reversed. Especially Jacksons. Really don’t know why my mind keeps coming back to it. But getting some negative feedback on it. So... curious what you guys think. Anybody have one? Any pro/cons?

 

[RomanS]

I have a sevenstring Chapman Tele-style guitar, which has a reverse headstock. Downside: I'm so used to regular headstock that I reach for the wrong tuner half of the time...

 

[Old Tele man]

It worked for Gibson Firebirds!

 

[SixStringSlinger]

I don't really have anything to say other than that I'm somewhat curious to see this...

...but man, there will be some opinions about this!

 

[JeffBlue]

Many of my tele and some strat builds have a reverse headstock. I like standing out from the crowd and whenever I have Warmoth build me a neck for another guitar build, I request a reverse headstock, roasted Maple and stainless steel frets. Excellent necks that do well for me.

 

[Ira7]

Hendrix didn't have a reversed headstock.

He held the entire guitar upside-down!

 

[jvin248]

.

Just a UI User Interface issue that may be fine or annoying after a while. You can't see the tuners on a reversed headstock. Regular Strat/Tele they are all right there on top. Since Leo surveyed players at the time for what features they liked or did not like, the six-in-a-row could have been a request to see all the tuners compared to Gibson three-on-a-side; or just from copying the Bigsby prototype guitar.

You'll also notice in playing that string bending is different than normal as there is a more slinky feel on the low strings and more tight feel on the high strings on a reversed headstock. This change in tension due to available stretch in longer strings beyond the nut (or beyond the saddle in situations like a mandolin) cause more friction losses at the nut (or saddle) and reduce note sustain for different strings.

Hendrix's righty-lefty setup gave him slacker low strings that sustained less, tighter high strings that sustained more while the pickup slant gave him more treble on the low strings and less treble on the high strings.

For a test I converted an HSS to SSS with a reverse slant. It changes the tone from a regular slant.

I also mess with a reverse headstock. Maybe someday I'll have both on the same guitar.

.

 

[Toadtele]

Many of my tele and some strat builds have a reverse headstock. I like standing out from the crowd and whenever I have Warmoth build me a neck for another guitar build, I request a reverse headstock, roasted Maple and stainless steel frets. Excellent necks that do well for me.

Nice! Love some pics! Really on the fence here. And want to get moving

 

[Old Tele man]

Hendrix didn't have a reversed headstock.

He held the entire guitar upside-down!

Hendrix played a 'reversed' guitar...ha,ha.

 

[JeffBlue]

Here's some photos of some of my tele partscaster builds. Notice how I utilize different pickups and configurations.

 

[jhundt]

what will that add to the guitar? It seems a bit frivolous to me. Unless it performs some function, I don't see the point. Leo Fender designed the Telecaster to be 'form-follows-function'.

But of course, you can build it amy way you want. It's your guitar.

 

[Toadtele]

Way cool. I think I have to have one. Thanks

 

[RodeoTex]

It's a bit awkward for the player but that's more than made up for in the mojo look.

 

[Toadtele]

what will that add to the guitar? It seems a bit frivolous to me. Unless it performs some function, I don't see the point. Leo Fender designed the Telecaster to be 'form-follows-function'.

But of course, you can build it amy way you want. It's your guitar.

I understand your point. But let’s not bring Leo into this. He wouldn’t have approved of a lot of our builds
But I understand and respect the purist approach. Walked that road for years. To be honest, no guitar I build would serve a needed function. How many of us actually need another guitar. Honestly

 

[JeffBlue]

what will that add to the guitar? It seems a bit frivolous to me. Unless it performs some function, I don't see the point. Leo Fender designed the Telecaster to be 'form-follows-function'.

But of course, you can build it amy way you want. It's your guitar.

EVERYBODY who plays a tele (or strat for that matter) who has a "normal" headstock is the same ol' same ol'.........not that there's anything wrong with that. It's kinda cool to pull your guitar out of the case and have folks sorta tilt their head and give that "HUH?" look. Not to worry....I have several guitars with normal headstocks and I'm fine with it.

 

[Antoon]

what will that add to the guitar? It seems a bit frivolous to me. Unless it performs some function, I don't see the point. Leo Fender designed the Telecaster to be 'form-follows-function'.

But of course, you can build it amy way you want. It's your guitar.

It changes the effort you have to make to bend the high E and B strings and gives a different feeling guitar. For me it is one of those things like a reverse angled bridge pickup: something that alwats intrigues me but never enough to actually modify a guitar.

 

[JeffBlue]

It changes the effort you have to make to bend the high E and B strings and gives a different feeling guitar. For me it is one of those things like a reverse angled bridge pickup: something that alwats intrigues me but never enough to actually modify a guitar.

Give yourself a workout. Nothing wrong with a little more effort. Just kidding....whatever works for you.

 

[4 Cat Slim]

Intriguing idea, for me.
It might be easier to do behind the nut bends on the lower strings,
but maybe not. Good luck with the idea.

 

[3-Chord-Genius]

Rob Chapman seems to be into the reverse headstock thing. Chapman produces several telecasters like that and they look pretty sharp.

 

[Zepfan]

Anyone that's used to a Non-Fender guitar hasn't had any problems tuning their guitar so that is just plain silly to say a reversed headstock will be a problem for tuning.

I like the different feel of the strings of a 3x3 compared to the usual 6 on top, so 6 on the bottom wouldn't be a issue for me. I would probably like it more and it looks better to me for some styles.