Anyone Here Ever Reshape a USACG Headstock?

SabbathFan0220

SabbathFan0220

New member
I'm thinking about building a baritone Tele in the near future and I'd like to give USACG a shot, but the headstock shape is a deal breaker for me.

I'm sure most of you will say, "Who cares if it doesn't look exactly like a Fender?" But any other headstock on a Tele body just looks off to me.

So I want to turn this...
usacg_t_head_600.jpg


Into this...
Telehead.jpg


Anyone have any experience with this?
 
Re: Anyone Here Ever Reshape a USACG Headstock?

ericmeyer4 said:
Warmoth makes a baritone neck and it has the headstock shape you want.
Click to expand...

Yep. My last two builds have been Warmoth though and I'd like to give USACG a try if the reshaping isn't too much work.

I find the fret ends could use a little more rounding over on the Warmoth necks and at USACG they do this as part of the building process. I emailed Tommy at USACG about it and he said their necks come with a slight rolled edge. I asked if Warmoth would do it (I offered to pay extra) and they won't.

In the end, I'll still go with Warmoth if I think the headstock reshaping will be too much work.
 
Re: Anyone Here Ever Reshape a USACG Headstock?

USACG's carefully picked it's "own" headstock shape so that you get sand it down to Fender with minimal effort. It seems to come out well from the photos I have seen. Just make sure you work based on a proper template.

I wish Tommy would just get a license.
 
Re: Anyone Here Ever Reshape a USACG Headstock?

wow - i thought the 1st USACG pic above was an 'after' shot showing that you already sanded it ... i was about to say "woah, dude, that was a really impressive job - looks great"

dude, it pretty much nails a totally close enough tele headstock shape ... build it and rock out!
 
Re: Anyone Here Ever Reshape a USACG Headstock?

uOpt said:
USACG's carefully picked it's "own" headstock shape so that you get sand it down to Fender with minimal effort. It seems to come out well from the photos I have seen. Just make sure you work based on a proper template.

I wish Tommy would just get a license.
Click to expand...


Yep.

If you want to go spartan, print up a Tele headstock (you can find it on TDPRI, all the blueprints are stickied in the "Tele Home Depot" room), trace it on to your USACG headstock, and get a solid sanding block and some 60 grit and just put on some music and sand 'til it's the right shape.

Hit it with some 160, 220, 320 and you're done.
 
Re: Anyone Here Ever Reshape a USACG Headstock?

By the way, you can't do any better than a USACG neck.

They are a steal.

I have all sorts of guitars (each with a neck of its very own!) and the USACG neck is hands down the best.

#2) PRS
#3) USA Fender

I went on an on about it here one time, search my name and USACG. It is a work of art.
 
Re: Anyone Here Ever Reshape a USACG Headstock?

What I would do is PM some people who happen to have reshaped USACG headstocks and ask them how they did it.

I think there was one on TGP last week.
 
Re: Anyone Here Ever Reshape a USACG Headstock?

I6, I remember you raving about USACG a while back, I think that's the main reason I want to try one.

I found some awesome Tele headstock diagram PDFs at TDPRI, thanks for the tip.

Good idea, uOpt, I'll look there.
 
Re: Anyone Here Ever Reshape a USACG Headstock?

Sorry but I think that the original headstock is lovely as it is.
 
Re: Anyone Here Ever Reshape a USACG Headstock?

i like my USACG neck alot except for the full rolled edges they won't do. I wonder why USA fenders, Suhrs, Grosh's and some PRS neck edges get that great touch where most guitars are too sharp.
I also say that you can transfer a tele mechanical drawing on the USACG. Jig saw the point off, leaving an 1/8" from the template edge to rough it out. Then 60, 100,180, 220 grit listening to Tubular bells or some out of tune Gerry licks
 
Re: Anyone Here Ever Reshape a USACG Headstock?

A little info here.

Yes you can easily reshape a USACG head into a Fender head.

Tommy can't get a license from Fender...don't ask why it's a long boring story but the bottom line is he's better off without it.

I will also say that in my opinion you will be getting a FAR better quality neck from USACG over a Warmoth.

And just FWIW, if you compare a Warmoth to a Fender the shape is wrong anyway!
 
Re: Anyone Here Ever Reshape a USACG Headstock?

Awesome, thanks guys. It looks like I'll be going with USACG when I get the funds for this build.
 
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