Are there any pointy headstock necks that will fit a Fender Strat neck pocket?

paulnb57

Got a project in mind, are there any pointy headstock necks , without a locking nut (Jackson/Ibanez/Charvel etc) that will fit a Fender Strat size neck pocket and intonate?
Something I can get used rather than new?

ICBM

A properly pointy (Charvel/Jackson style) headstock without a locking nut is a bad idea, because the string angles at the nut are quite extreme for the top strings in particular, which leads to tuning problems - or in some cases the nut snapping off at the top E slot. An Ibanez-style straight point is OK, and one of those with a fingerboard overhang for the top three frets will fit a Strat neck pocket.

Funkfingers

ICBM said:

A properly pointy (Charvel/Jackson style) headstock without a locking nut is a bad idea, because the string angles at the nut are quite extreme for the top strings in particular, which leads to tuning problems - or in some cases the nut snapping off at the top E slot. 

I can vouch for this. I lavished hours on measuring and marking everything on a nut blank in some fancy self-lubricating material. Shaped it, slotted it, smoothed the string slot edges and was not entirely surprised to discover that, even with the vibrato blocked off, the guitar STILL would not hold tune. 

DrBob

I’ve seen a more Kramer hockey stick type ones than full on Jackson/Charvel pointy type ones.
In fact my mate did have one for sale, want me to ask him ?

paulnb57

DrBob said:

I’ve seen a more Kramer hockey stick type ones than full on Jackson/Charvel pointy type ones.
In fact my mate did have one for sale, want me to ask him ?

Please.....

DrBob

paulnb57 said:

DrBob said:

I’ve seen a more Kramer hockey stick type ones than full on Jackson/Charvel pointy type ones.
In fact my mate did have one for sale, want me to ask him ?

Please.....

Will do 

MattNovak

Its long since been sold, but this Kramer neck had a strat heel. I removed the locking nut and installed a brass one, it held tune fine and I gigged it.... maybe have a gander on eBay for something similar? I think mine went for about £40 so they're relatively inexpensive

paulnb57

Cheers Matt @MattNovak

MattNovak

No probs @paulnb57 ; - you could always 'go nuclear' and have a browse on aliexpress, this worked for this old build at less than £50 if I remember (a proper rosewood facing on the headstock, too!)

(don't judge me, I was younger then)

Woodenhead

There's a chinese seller (listed as uk stock) who has a hockey stick style neck, might be worth a punt at £28
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Banana-Neck-Dot-Inlay-22-Frets-for-Electric-Guitar-Replacement-Maple-Fingerboard/223657120867

I haven't bought from this particular seller but I have bought a strat type neck before (£20) like this before and was pleasantly surprised at the build quality. Low quality fret wire was about the only bad point, but the neck itself was well made.

I'm tempted to get one myself for an explorer project.

paulnb57

MattNovak said:

No probs @paulnb57 ; - you could always 'go nuclear' and have a browse on aliexpress, this worked for this old build at less than £50 if I remember (a proper rosewood facing on the headstock, too!)

(don't judge me, I was younger then)

I really like that!

Woodenhead said:

There's a chinese seller (listed as uk stock) who has a hockey stick style neck, might be worth a punt at £28
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Banana-Neck-Dot-Inlay-22-Frets-for-Electric-Guitar-Replacement-Maple-Fingerboard/223657120867

I haven't bought from this particular seller but I have bought a strat type neck before (£20) like this before and was pleasantly surprised at the build quality. Low quality fret wire was about the only bad point, but the neck itself was well made.

I'm tempted to get one myself for an explorer project.

Thanks it might be worth a punt

victorludorum

Epiphone did a really shit Strat type guitar that had a Kramer type headstock. You might be able to find one of those on ebay. They should be really cheap as they're made of ply.

Funkfingers

@HarrySeven has/had one of those Epiphone guitars. Perhaps, he would be open to offers?

Funkfingers

ICBM said:

… the string angles at the nut are quite extreme for the top strings in particular, which leads to tuning problems.

In the absence of a string clamping device, would a roller nut alleviate the string splay angles problem?

ICBM

Funkfingers said:

In the absence of a string clamping device, would a roller nut alleviate the string splay angles problem?

Not sure - it depends how much friction there is between the string and the side of the guide slot.

In fact, it wouldn't surprise me if a plain brass nut - lubricated would help - as MattNovak suggested would be the best. It would definitely stop the problem of the end of the nut breaking off too.

HarrySeven

Funkfingers said:

@HarrySeven has/had one of those Epiphone guitars. Perhaps, he would be open to offers?

Sadly, no more...

JayGee

ICBM said:

A properly pointy (Charvel/Jackson style) headstock without a locking nut is a bad idea, because the string angles at the nut are quite extreme for the top strings in particular, which leads to tuning problems - or in some cases the nut snapping off at the top E slot.

Is it really that different to an Explorer headstock? They seem to work OK...

ICBM

JayGee said:

Is it really that different to an Explorer headstock? They seem to work OK...

A bit more extreme, and they have tuning problems too.

Ugly stupid design either way! I’ve always hated both of them.

JayGee

ICBM said:

JayGee said:

Is it really that different to an Explorer headstock? They seem to work OK...

A bit more extreme, and they have tuning problems too.

Ugly stupid design either way! I’ve always hated both of them.

It’s clearly form over function in a big way but then that’s Explorers for you generally. 

Bloody stupid things really but my inner 14 year old can’t resist them and I loved gigging with mine and (surprisingly) I’ve always found tuning pretty solid on it, certainly I’ve got things with more conventional headstock designs which are no better and sometimes worse...