tuner alignment

[peter havriluk]

So tonight I'm reviewing the neck to this kit guitar I'm assembling; the neck was supplied roughly shaped and the tuning peg holes pre-drilled. I put a straightedge across the holes on each side and found that all 3 tuners are aligned along a straight line. Headstock is 'conventional' shape, wider at the top than at the nut. There's still time for me to fill the center pegs' holes and re-drill them. When I built my first guitar my instructor told me to move the center tuner 1/8" closer to the centerline of the headstock (Martin pattern neck) than it would be if it was aligned with the upper and lower peg. I never measured to see what would happen if I didn't. If I need to, I can draw anticipated string locations on the headstock and check for the possibility of the center string fouling on the lower string's post.

Am I excessively alarmed or appropriately observant of detail?

Thanks, folks.

[Lonnie B]

I've not built that many necks and all without a teacher. So I never knew to make the center post an eighth of an inch to the middle. Seems it would get in the way of the last string. I don't know. However

[ken cierp]

Yes its not some guy's idea -- every Martin paddle headstock has the "B" and "A" string tuning machines offset inboard slightly. This is more for the "A" since at times the post windings of the "E" can be bulky. Now realistically, hundreds of thousands of amateurs and pro’s (maybe millions?) have constructed Martin Style guitars and they simply drew a line ½” from each edge, plotted the holes and drilled away. The only negative comment I’ve ever read regarding Wayne Henderson’s guitars is that his headstock design and tuning post locations do allow the “A” string to hit the “E” string post.

[peter havriluk]

Ken, thanks for commenting. Time to move a couple of holes. Time to go find a plug cutter. More learning added to the aggregation. Like everything else, the devil's in the details. I can get to wondering at how many details I ought to have known have evaded me so far...

[ken cierp]

Why? The cure is worse than the aliment -- $.02

[TonyinNYC]

Don't move the tuner holes. You wont have a problem the way they are. And, as Ken mentioned, the fix will look terrible. You have nothing to worry about. I make my holes in a straight line and have not had any issues. I used the Martin style on my first two, but the rest have had them in a straight line, three to a side. Seriously, don't mess with it.

[peter havriluk]

Folks, I will not fiddle with the predrilled tuner holes. No need. I laid out string positions from nut to tuner between all six tuning pegs and tuners and both center peg locations do not cause their strings to foul the one below. I suspect more than 'tlar' engineering went into the paddle shape that I'm working with. Onward. But I don't think the fix would have been unsightly. The headstock veneer has yet to be installed and the tuning machine itself would mask a great deal of monkey business on the backside of the headstock, in the unlikely event that I did something I would need to hide. The alteration would have resulted in a 'new moon' of material added to the outside edge of the tuner peg hole and a corresponding removal of just as much wood from the inside edge. I think.