Does Reverse Headstock make the the string trees unnecessary?

[ehdwuld]

as in the thread title
does it make a difference with string trees

I like the inline tuners
but not so much the trees

I know I could use staggered tuners
or a tilt back headstock (like my Ibanez)

can I simply reverse the headstock and achieve the same thing?

[PFDarkside]

Re: Does Reverse Headstock make the the string trees unnecessary?

No, still need them for the longer strings. With a reverse headstock the low strings are at a very low break angle. (Assuming Fender style headstock)

[AlexR]

Re: Does Reverse Headstock make the the string trees unnecessary?

The trees are all about downward angle over the nut. Unless reversing the headstock suddenly reverses the effect of reality or physics, you are still going to have some strings where the back angle over the nut is quite shallow.
These strings will now be the thicker ones, where you often hit hard for chords.

[dotsdad]

Re: Does Reverse Headstock make the the string trees unnecessary?

And reverse headstocks are a pain in the @$$ when changing strings and when tuning. Look cool though...

[ehdwuld]

Re: Does Reverse Headstock make the the string trees unnecessary?

Well so much for that

What about 3x3 on a non tilted headstock?
The long strings would be half as long and centered

[Securb]

Re: Does Reverse Headstock make the the string trees unnecessary?

Nope!

[eclecticsynergy]

Re: Does Reverse Headstock make the the string trees unnecessary?

Staggered tuners may be an option - someone must make a lefty version.

[Mincer]

Re: Does Reverse Headstock make the the string trees unnecessary?

Staggered tuners (or a new, different tuner design) would be the only way to get away from string trees or the retaining bar.

[hamerfan]

Re: Does Reverse Headstock make the the string trees unnecessary?

Staggered tuners may be an option - someone must make a lefty version.

Kluson HAP tuners have an adjustable length afaik.

[orpheo]

Re: Does Reverse Headstock make the the string trees unnecessary?

I tried a few strats with the classic headstock angle design but I just can't get a trem to be really, properly stable. So I now moved towards angled strat headstocks. It's just a better way for me. 7 degrees, by the way. Works like a charm. (not a typo: seven degrees).

[ehdwuld]

Re: Does Reverse Headstock make the the string trees unnecessary?

I was thinking the Gibson tilt was a bit excessive

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Does Reverse Headstock make the the string trees unnecessary?

Staggered tuners are really a joke. They essentially solve nothing. They may reduce the height of up to 1-2 mm over regular tuners...depending on how you wind the strings on them (I always wind my strings so they are coming off of the tuner posts as close to the headstock as realistically possible anyways). This extra 2 mm only increases the head tilt by about one degree! Not enough to make any effective difference in breakangle whatsoever.

[orpheo]

Re: Does Reverse Headstock make the the string trees unnecessary?

Staggered tuners are really a joke. They essentially solve nothing. They may reduce the height of up to 1-2 mm over regular tuners...depending on how you wind the strings on them (I always wind my strings so they are coming off of the tuner posts as close to the headstock as realistically possible anyways). This extra 2 mm only increases the head tilt by about one degree! Not enough to make any effective difference in breakangle whatsoever.

I agree. They were more trouble than worth, so I stopped doing staggered

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Does Reverse Headstock make the the string trees unnecessary?

I really don't understand why they were made (or even designed) in the first place.

[beaubrummels]

Re: Does Reverse Headstock make the the string trees unnecessary?

With a reverse headstock, I get more sympathetic ring from the mid-lower strings than when the top strings are longer so if I don't use trees, I still have to use those pick wedges to stop the string vibration. However, the string response, bending, sustain, changes in a better more playable way for me. I haven't analyzed why, but I just noticed it played better for me, particularly note bending, finger vibrato, and even ring/sustain of chords.