Custom Headless Guitar

[@joeferris5086]

Bro I laughed so hard at the drawing bit in the beginning. Really beautiful work here. Reminds me of a stranberg

[@tonysteele2735]

The blue ash with the dyed grain is awesome. Great build man. Could you make a blue color-matched little hat for the nut end?

[@trevorray9343]

To fix the string sticking out of the headpiece...Dont fully tighten the string at the bridge end...lightly lock the string with the headpiece screw and cut off the string.. then loosen the headpiece screw, push the sharp end of the string back in flush to the headpiece and re tighten the screw... finally tighten the string at the bridge.

[@twoodfrd]

Great idea! Thanks for the tip.

[@acmullane]

or just coil the string ends into a pretty curly hairstyle - why not

[@everythingbobbywolfe]

Use fret pullers to nip ends of strings

[@customfreak81]

this would only work with hex cored strings, round core strings need to be clamped then cut to prevent unwinding, one option would be to make an ebony cap to go over the end with a recess for the ends of the strings, either held on with a couple of allen bolts or a couple of high strength magnets. I have to say that this is one beautiful guitar, the attention to detail and workmanship is first rate, and the end product is absolutely wonderful, certainly puts some big name manufacturers to shame!

[@keeganwebber]

Why not just pull out the xuron flush cutters? I have two pairs, one that i use for soft wire and one that i beat up cutting strings, but they do make a hard wire cutter designed to leave a square end instead of a gnarly point

[@0whitestone]

Holy shit, that's absolutely amazing. That's one of my favorite finishes I've ever seen, and I love the shape...

[@themadhousemachine8034]

This was a beautiful build and I’m definitely going to use this video to help me build my own. Still learning but it’s cool seeing, hearing, and learning new things each day!

[@agent_of_cthulhu]

That guitar looks and sounds amazing! Great job on building that one of a kind gem. Wish I had the skills to build something that nice.

[@VirtualGuth]

Though I’m an acoustic player, I still felt the need to say that I find this guitar to be pretty awesome. Nicely done!

[@avielkharrat5788]

I'm a huge fan of headless guitars. Though i don't have one, i'm definitely going to some day. Your design is super beautiful ! Great job. Your customer's idea is something to praise also. Wish we could have had the full build video, not just the end result. I'm totally in for this kind of jam. Although i must say, i'm never disapointed with your videos.

[@Ibaneddie76]

Really nice and clean build! I'm most impressed with the job you did on the finish, you aren't exaggerating those types of finishes sans the proper facilities can be challenging to say the least, ask me how I know! I have a friend with the whole setup for applying UV cured finishes i.e. lights/suit and it makes a huge difference. I would love to see more of your personal guitar builds you are one of the few I've seen with the eyes and hands for both high end repair and custom builds, keep up the great work!

[@michaelroche4559]

Great video as always! Your client is a fabulous guitarist.

[@michaelinglis8516]

Never saw this "episode". I'm not a headless fan but something about this guitar says "I'm a guitar that just happens to not have a traditional headstock". I actually really do dig it. Finish came out great. The geometry is practical. And it's got solid components and wiring. From the sound clip it certainly seems like the kind of guitar that would feel great to play. Certainly sounds great.

[@garvamel]

What a beautiful guitar. Props and thanks for the video.

[@timearll266]

I really appreciate your thoughtful and pragmatic approach to your craft and the way you share your knowledge. Muchas gracias.

[@michaeladamcaira9174]

Excellent job, beautiful grain in that piece of ash

[@bldallas]

Wow! Not sure how I missed this one, Ted. I’m a traditionalist, when it comes to guitar shapes, but that is cool as hell. Great job!

[@maxmustardman298]

finally someone who does a proper review of that bridge, thanks

[@neilbarnwell]

Yeah, although how do you tune it without affecting the intonation?

[@theliegeofshadows]

@@neilbarnwell I don't understand why the intonation would be affected. Everything on the guitar stays in the same place. Am I missing something?

[@thickerbrummietwat]

@@neilbarnwell I think I 'see' what you mean. The thumbnail makes it look like the tuners attach to the saddles but, from his description, I think that they pull on the ball ends, that are cradled. Just guessing, as I haven't ever seen it, outside of this video. 😜

[@saburo98]

Certainly one of the most beautiful guitars I've ever seen... I think it's the rare body shape... I liked so much this video and actually I like all of you videos... you do magic in your workshop!

[@alanoffer]

I’ve. Never taken to the look of a headless guitar but I really like the look of this ,

[@caustixsoda8125]

Same, they're lovely tho! Balanced and weigh less. Great design. Get one!

[@sonyabladesbooty3890]

Did William Shatner write this comment?

[@nt-hd5fo]

Check out the carvin... or I guess its keisel now.. check out the keisel Allan Holdsworth signature its beautiful they also make other beautiful headless guitars.

[@nt-hd5fo]

The new pickups keisel makes sound a lot better. Keisel manages the company a lot better in general now I believe.

[@russellmorgan5611]

I don't question the pros of the headless concept but I can't accept that their isn't a more aesthetically pleasing way of finishing the end of a neck than that. Looks like an amputation. Great work as always.

[@stepcorngrumbleteats7683]

Ab-so-tivly and Posi-lutely gorgeous !!

[@copescale9599]

I would love to see you build another!

[@imacmadman22]

Beautiful guitar, I love the design and color, great work!

[@matthewhubbert8588]

Thanks very much for your channel man. Love your sharing, knowledge, patience and skills

[@johnmiller9219]

7:27 from i understand you can pull the string though there, keep tension then cut the string, then you carefully back the string towards the bridge side just enough so they dont stick out, then you clamp down

[@tjmcarthur5376]

"Do you mean like this?" Beautifully dry comedic quality!

[@JoeR203]

I'd like a Steinberger GM2T body with a Floyd Rose routing. I'd have to use the Sophia 2.92 tremolo system because I'd need the full range tuners. Can you (would you) build that? Have a price in mind?

[@peterstoughton2872]

Very cool, it turned out great.👍

[@cheapskate8656]

Well done. Really nice build.

[@mark3713]

It's amazing! Love you videos!

[@gpurkeljc]

Beautiful craftsmanship

[@truskoysusaventuras]

Very well done! I hope I get to play with that kind of bridge one day, it is a great design!

[@nicolen.9642]

8:53 I just wish my fingers would fly over the fretboard like this...beautiful guitar 🎶🎶🎶

[@MikeE-]

👍 if someone told me you built your own crib as a child to sleep in, I’d believe it. Great work

[@rtroiani]

I have a Kiesel with the hipshot. When you put the strings on, get them close before clipping them, then back them in the nut and screw down to hide the sharp edges.

[@dnantis]

Stunning job Sir !!!

[@nicolasespinasse]

Great job, and honestly described in the building process. 30 years now that I'm wondering why guitar players are so resistant to headless instruments, as they are structurally more balanced, especially in standing position. You're right, the only downsinde of the Hipshot nut is these string ends popping out. A small 3mm metal lip underneath the cut strings and included in the nut itself could easily fix this issue without adding much weight. Let's write to Hipshot :-)

[@MarkMarvin1983]

I have a Floyd Rose Discovery Series. It has bullets on each end of the premeasured strings. But the strings are no longer in production. And some guy that thought he knew what he was doing cranked the very small allen key fine tuner on the A string, so much that I couldn't change strings even if I had a new pack. Grrr!! So I have to put a normal neck on with tuners and I had to go from the original Floyd Rose SpeedLoader Tremolo and replace the bridges with Floyd Rose Licensed bridges!! I loved that guitar...tune it once and you were pretty much set for good. Even replacing strings was as easy as pushing down on each bridge piece and taking the bullet end out and the same on the neck then replace it and BAM you're in tune.

[@joeclark903]

Thats nice! one possible solution for the stcking out strings at the head stock could be a wooden cap that i held on with magnets, maybe the allen wrench could be stowed under there too.

[@jackelliott872]

I am surprised you didn't think to fabricate a black metal end-cap to cover the sharp string ends. That would really finish it off nicely. Great work, and beautiful. I've never played one.

[@mojoxide]

How would that work without getting in the way of pulling the strings though, while also completely covering the ends? Unless it was something you remove and put back, but then it’s just an extra thing to lose.

[@frankcoffey]

Ha! It’s the first headless guitar in your shop that’s not broken.

[@oiudatropen9548]

From your description,the trend has a lot in common with the Fender system 3 trem from the mid 80's. It worked pretty well, but was a royal pain to string up and intonate. To make matters worse, Fender wasn't making replacement parts available, so if anything broke or got lost, you were up the creek. Likewise, the wiring scheme is similar to my Contemporary Series, Japanese made Start from that era and the guitar you made based on the little you played itsounds a lot like that strat. The Trem you use in. Your guitar would probably be a nice upgrade of the stock systement 3, which is not now usable as a trem because I've never been able to find parts to fix it. I've held off replacing the trrm because otherwise it's in good shape and I dont think there Are many others like it out there so it would be nice to keep it as origonal as possible. I probably have the missing g parts stashed away somewhere and I'll find them again eventually, or I'll be able to get replacements on eBay, or something. Meantime, I guess I'll have to play my acoustics. I have a Shecter Try style body electric I picked up at a thrift shop a few years ago, but it just don't feel or sound good to me. Your headless build looks and sounds great. And I have no doubt it plays like a dream. Nice work!

[@chris.cantwell]

So rad! Now I want one... in red!

[@stefanfilipov7254]

The shape of the body is quite good and also practical. You don't have that "horn" on the left side of it, which on some guitars is a true obstacle when it comes to playing on the highest frets. Also why you didn't put like a standard floydrose and lock the strings there instead of locking them on the neck?

[@timothybierl2746]

What an awesome job!

[@Graywoolf25]

that guitar has a nice tone. Great job twoodfrd

[@jipes]

Beautiful instrument original design and great finnish Hats off Sir

[@Jah_Rastafari_ORIG]

@Jipes Blues Not Finnish; Canadian.

[@IrisGalaxis]

That exposed piece of maple between the fretboard and the neck pickup is such an eyesore...why did you leave it bare?? Otherwise it's a nice one. I'm not a headless guy but you really did a good job man

[@SNORKYMEDIA]

I like that bit 8-) wish he'd extended it thru the PUs like a laminated body look

[@IrisGalaxis]

@@SNORKYMEDIA If he had extended it through i'd find it great looking...but why just leave that one blank spot

[@clartypaths840]

@@IrisGalaxis he wanted to piss you off

[@IrisGalaxis]

@@clartypaths840 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@microcolossal2295]

Very nice guitar. Great shape.

[@nokomisnichols]

I never really liked the headless guitars but this one is very well done. I really like this one. How much would it cost to have another one built? It sounds top quality.

[@Fogertian]

After seen this beast, and all those perfect specs on it, it remind me the tremolo bridge called System I, I think, in my '85 MIJ Fender Contemporary Telecaster H-S-S, it has an german Schaller design. I wonder if you came across with one of these guitars and if you know about the weird two piece tremolo arm (a cap and a screw in one end). There are other 2 tremolo systems too, II and III. They are "Royd Flose" tremolo systems with odd specs like a clamp on the nut (or a lock nut .... after the nut in my case). Hope you can shed some light about theses systems. BTW, I've been following your videos, big lessons and lots of info !. Cheers.

[@antoniopaloumusic3914]

Beautiful work

[@johnrathbun2943]

So you know how to make guitars. Myself I'm old school. Couldn't ever get used to a headless guitar. One time I was in a music store that I used to go to alot. And my buddy told me, "you got to try out this guitar!" It was a carbon fiber guitar? I insisted that there is no such thing as a carbon fiber guitar!!! If there is no wood, there is no guitar. Well he wouldn't let me touch any guitars until I played it. So I did. I was quite impressed. No truss rod, no bracing and the sound was loud and it's water proof. Than of course I flipped over the price tag and I handed it back. That guitar costed as much as a Martin. I told him yeah it's a pretty good guitar but because it isn't made of wood that it doesn't have a personality. There are solid state amps than there are tube amps. Have you ever noticed that the solid state amplifiers are always trying to imitate the tube amps. Yes solid state has its place and I guess so does carbon fiber guitars. But give me the old trusted and true stuff and I'm happy. Never could stand Devo!

[@fleet4fingers]

I’m Enjoying the results of the build. Have you thought of other woods for a another guitar?

[@graybryan9521]

Very nice guitar! I'm just curious as to why the wood surrounding the truss rod wasn't stained (or covered)?

[@simonextra9689]

Gray Bryan i was thinking the same thing

[@gregdrew874]

I kept waiting for him to say "and here's the awesome nut cover I made" I don't understand. It looks like something fell off the instrument.

[@RobbyWheelerGuitar]

Probably an aesthetic choice. I quite like the contrast. Reminds me of the German LeFay basses.

[@JosePineda-jn8jk]

I mean it’s possible it would have looked a little off having one texture and color (ash with black grain filler) on the body and then a little patch of very flat satin with a possibly brighter blue on that part, since it is a very blonde piece of maple. He would have had to try and tint the maple slightly and then spray the color over but, again since maple is so different in its grain structure it would look like an almost completely sealed (like primered) piece of wood with paint on it surrounded by obviously open pore ash. Edit: I worked at a custom shop and was recently laid off cause of covid but I saw these types of finishes all the time on neck through guitars that had like limba, ash, or even walnut with a neck stripe down the body that was maple, and people would do the satin color open pore finishes on them, and it always looked wrong having two vastly different textures side by side painted. I would actually say never do open pore satin on maple for that reason, especially not painted cause it seals it even more.

[@samueltaylor4989]

Yes, could have used a piece of the rosewood fingerboard, a way to fasten it and it would all but disappear.

[@craigmcfiddle6457]

Kahlers don't have set radii. Unless there's a model I haven't seen. They can be adjusted for individual string height and saddle spacing.

[@johnnyghoul8100]

I just made a flying v out of rosewood and tiger maple with a hotrails quad bucker. I decided to make the fingerboard a zero radius with stainless frets I bought the wilkinson headless trem and for my application you can use it like a floyd style nut i was just going for the ultimate shred v though so an exception I suppose

[@tortirion]

I have been trying to find out what the name of those tuners forever lol, been contemplating a CNC acoustic guitar modeled after the MotherPluckers Boudica (that one is a harp /6 string bass, he has it on his website as the “one of a kind) i love the shape and want to try making my own version. Love your videos, i work with computers all day and am always looking for physical stuff to change gears at home, your stuff has inspired me to get into guitar.

[@igs8698]

Really great work!

[@justinleblanc1374]

He sounds like a fan of Eric Johnson. Great looking guitar

[@JxH]

7:23 Sharp pokey strings - how about a nice 'cap' on the end of the neck. Removable or hinged, subtle - perhaps dark wood, just enough to dress up the end, and cover the sharp pokey strings.

[@Adam-wl8wn]

Out of interest, how much does a guitar like this cost from an indy luthier compared to a shop bought custom (Fender, Gibson etc)?

[@starlifeforce]

Reminds me of those old Parker guitars but fuller in the low end.

[@ErgonBill]

Looks and sounds fantastic, but where are you going to park your ciggie?

[@alabamahebrew]

On one hand I wouldn't mind a headless guitar, on the other hand they just look so weird and small lol. You did a great job with this! But.. No kill switch? You got everything else, might as well toss in a kill switch! lol. I just put a kill switch on my bass and another one an SG I have, they are fun to mess with lol. Question about the finish - that black pore filler you used, will stuff like that work well on a Maple top? I understand the point of that stuff is to soak into the open pours and since Maple has such tight grain Iam not sure if it would work or not. I have a Les Paul that I don't really want to paint Opaque but I would rather use stain or paint that is transparent so the grain shows through, however there is not much going with the grain so I am concerned it would look to plain and be boring. Any suggestions of how to add more bling to the otherwise boring maple top?

[@jeeplvr2000]

Looks like it's been amputated.

[@biochemistamr]

Great Work !! Do you mind if I asked what is the distance from the nut to the bridge pivot post , exactly? (suppose this is 25.5 Inches scale )

[@nalunui6714]

Just wondering why you didn't paint the wood near the truss rod wheel. Doesn't seem to add anything besides calling attention tp itself. Otherwise, beautiful!

[@FynnFTW]

cant you just twist the string till they break? like you do on normal guitar tuners? I never had the issue of them comming lose. Sick guitar. Looks great. the only thing which puts me off is the white nut. personally i whould liked a black graphtec nut. But other then that prestine work

[@johniac7078]

Beautiful. Is there an advantage/ disadvantage of a headless design?

[@ZeeKat]

Some people apparently have a problem navigating the fretboard after switching(neck seems to end confusingly abruptly to them), but I think it depends of the body shape. Plus you have to count on somewhat rare, non standard and costly headless hardware (Hipshot bridge/headpiece set above is over $500). Other than that, using a guitar which is so compact while being actually a full scale instrument is IMO pretty nice. Straight-pull headless tuners are also apparently more stable than a regular ones, no idea if scientifically confirmed but my own headless keeps in tune pretty well.

[@johniac7078]

@@ZeeKat Thanks

[@gianniclementejotarantella9779]

Chitarra perfetta , complimenti .

[@breadharvester3764]

Beautiful guitar

[@hydorah]

That's really nicely done. A strange looking guitar for a chap with a strange sounding style. Cool

[@davefoster6156]

Cool sound, very unusual look. How is the day to day operation insofar as tuning, retuning ?

[@IndridCool54]

I’m more of an acoustic chap, but OMG what a beautiful job.

[@tulrob]

Nice job.and really nice sounding guitar player...this guy has some chops...keep studying Holdsworth and Terje Rypdal ...great sound man... give guy a mention

[@johnsimms3957]

Stain the bare wood in between the neck and neck pickup too. Then it will be finished. Anyway a nice guitar. I think you should make more.

[@mikedandurand3548]

Just beautiful.

[@Marksmanbbs]

covering those string ends is a easy fix,yea can make a swing open n close type of box or stick colored beads on them so many variables for that fix

[@violao206]

What if the headless neck stock extended out just a 1/4 inch? That would provide a natural barrier to protect against inadvertent finger puncture.

[@gitarman666]

Do those hip shots do the who’s up/down and “warble” effect? Looking at Kiesel stuff

[@philipsanders7694]

Is that a Framus acoustic behind thegent playing that incredible axe?

[@spacejamgoliath]

Would be cool if the ball end of the string could pull into/thru the headstock end somehow but I guess you would need a different bridge

[@ChrisFranklyn]

I want to try building a headless guitar or two (in the distant future, other projects on at the moment). There aren't many tuner/bridges out there to investigate - so it was great to see this breakdown. One thing, do you lose the ability to adjust for intonation with the tuners like that?

[@ChrisFranklyn]

Oh, I meant to say, it's a beautiful guitar.

[@twoodfrd]

Oh ! I completely forgot to mention that. Intonation is fully adjustable. It works just like a Fender bridge.

[@ctcards2636]

Nice guitar. Id love to see one made of Walnut or a wood like that. Natural finish. If ya get what i mean. 🙂

[@ctcards2636]

Also chrome or nickel hardware ;-)

[@ctcards2636]

Guitar sounds really good at the 9min mark in the video after he flips one of the switches and adjusts something on the amp. That is a sweet tone :-)

[@charlesheidkamp9766]

I want one,in a natural wood color.

[@TheBlackSpiral]

Ooh, Dan's wearing a Majora's Mask shirt.

[@redcomn]

I just wish hipshot make one with bent saddle and 6 screw. Tho i knew they wouldn't make it since the market is pretty slim

[@JosePineda-jn8jk]

Satin is hard to spay thank you! Lol people take that material for granted but it is amazing to the touch, and very finicky to spray.

[@joebodynobody764]

Dang. I'm not into headless guitars, but that is gorgeous.

[@jurajmarkus8323]

How thick guitar body did you make to fit the tremolo block? Did you mill any wood to place the bridge? If yes, how many mms? Thank for answer and sorry for too much questions :)

[@OU812-i6e]

Probably a stupid question, I really like the headless thing and I am going to buy one, but given the amount of winding you have to do on any guitar electric or acoustic, how is there enough wind on the very minimal keys to get even close to standard tuning given that all my Floyd rose trems are usually for fine tuning not actual to key tuning

[@ZeeKat]

Headless tuners are not so minimal - they sit on rather long screws allowing for a lot of travel, hence the full range tuning. FR fine tuners are completely different principle (they just give string saddles a lil tilt for small pitch corrections).

[@Hexspa]

Any opinion on the two kinds of string nut/retainers that Hipshot offers? They have a thicker standard one and this low profile one.

[@MidtownMeezus]

Bruh I want to make a guitar one day too this is LIT

[@mindthependulum6245]

What kind of bridge is that? Is there a way to use Steinberger style tuners in a Floyd rose bridge?

[@damonhateshaters2]

Looks like a guitar that Buck Dharma would use.

[@GahMehGrrrr]

Very nice

[@awonderingoneil206]

One thing that I hate about guitars Is how close the volume knob is to the bridge/Tremolo. When sweeping I find that the volume knob gets in the way. So in my designs and self build I've positioned the control knobs farther down for extra clearance. About your headless though, I love the shape and finish. I'm curious, what's the tremolo like?

[@Jkautsky]

Ugh, don't sweep. :D

[@grantstewart5453]

Is it floated? If so how much? How much "pull up" can you get with the standard route? And how tall was your fretboard over the the body? Trying to figure out a 7 string one. No real route pdf's on the site for that.

[@robmarmaduke]

Nicely done

[@peachmelba1000]

Is Dan a really big dude, or is that guitar on the smaller side? I really like your channel btw. It's inspiring to a budding luthier like myself. Learning plenty. Thanks. PS: I have dealt with Hipshot products a few times and I really think they need to provide more literature. Just using their Solo single string bridges was a challenge at first, and they arrived in just a box with no usage instructions or tips. Their customer service was great and helped with free replacements on a few occasions, when something was off spec or damaged.

[@jazznotes3802]

Could you do a video demo of this trem? (Showing tuning stability). If not could you give me your thoughts on it?

[@MonsterNaps]

I always think of the last scene of Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure when I see headless guitars.