Author Topic: Phil Lesh Godfather headstock shape/size (Read 190 times)

moonliner · « **on:** January 16, 2013, 11:38:05 PM »

Alembic is working on a Guild Starfire for me, ala Big Brown/Godfather and I have a question about the headstock on that instrument. There are times when I see a picture of it and the headstock seems larger than the standard crown peghead, but I have no real proof and it could just be a visual trick in the photo. I've asked Mica and it seems they have stuck to the same size for quite some time.
I guess I was wondering if anyone else has noticed this, or whether it's just me! To me it seems there is more space from the top of the A and D tuners to the tip of the crown.. a very large crown.
Thoughts?

moonliner · « **Reply #1 on:** January 17, 2013, 02:28:19 AM »

I did a google search for 'Alembic crown headstock' and found a thread from 2010 about nothing but headstocks!
Found this tall, skinny one from 1972 which is lovely.

dela217 · « **Reply #2 on:** January 17, 2013, 02:47:11 AM »

That's my bass!

edwin · « **Reply #3 on:** January 17, 2013, 10:53:32 AM »

I wouldn't go too much larger than the standard crown headstock. Adding more weight down there could make the instrument unbalanced and I don't think you'll gain all that much. It might seem large from the pictures because it is a short scale bass.

moonliner · « **Reply #4 on:** January 17, 2013, 12:40:54 PM »

Hey Michael , nice looking headstock and inlay!

Edwin, yeah... I'm sure it's just some kind of illusion because of the skinny neck and short scale. Some look so stubby though, and I'm not just talking the 5 string ones. Perhaps it is just the angle of the photo.

sonicus · « **Reply #5 on:** January 17, 2013, 04:47:54 PM »

I agree with Edwin as well as far as the headstock. I do however have quite a novel suggestion ; replace the entire neck and make it medium scale since you are having so much work done on the existing one. Since you are adding weight with electronics and brass bridge /w sustain block and tail piece , etc... Perhaps the added weight in the body will off set the scale length change. You could have a swell Alembic neck recipe !

moonliner · « **Reply #6 on:** January 17, 2013, 06:32:59 PM »

that's a good idea, but I'm on a budget and the extra work would be fairly costly. Most importantly though, I LOVE short scale basses! I'm thinking a way to achieve a higher crown is to move all the tuners towards the nut just a tiny bit. Even a little bit would give the effect I'm after.

pasewark · « **Reply #7 on:** January 30, 2013, 02:29:21 PM »

Hi Michael,
Would you happen to have a photo of the 74 birds eye maple short scale bass you used to own? I think it went from me to Ed Roman to you a long time ago. Gotta love those sculpted nuts.