Does a reverse headstock affect the tension?

  • Thread starter Thread starter KentC
  • Start date Start date
K

KentC

Active member
Does a reverse headstock make a difference on the tension / feel of the strings? I recently aquired two guitars with a reverse headstocks (schecters), both guitars 25.5" scale. When I started playing on my only other guitar with a 25.5 scale (Ibanez) , the strings (same brand and gauge) just felt looser and slopier all of a sudden. I have never really noticed this before. Probably because I had never really played these different models back to back like this.

The only noticable difference is that the ibanez is not a reverse headstock, so the low tuned strings dont have the extra length like on the Schecters with the reverse headstock. Is this all in my head or something? Or does the reverse headstock make a differnece? I know it can't make a difference in the scale length, so it cant be that. But I swear I just, feel something...

I never understood the use for a reverse headstock except for looks, but if there's really something else there besides the look and it affects the functionality, then I'm sold!

Anyone else experience this? Is this really a thing? Placebo effect maybe?

Thanks!
 
Yes, it does have a slightly different sound & feel.

That being said, the one I still have, was mainly built that way because I thought it looked cool.
 
Interesting.. I've been playing around 25 years and just now figuring this out. Now I gotta rethink about my future purchases. I love the feel of these scecter I have and want to stick with something like this as much as possible.
 
Most of mine have locking nuts so doesn't make a difference but reverse does make it easier to tune.
 
IMO it depends if you're talking about string tension vs string deflection.

Tension is defined by the pull between the tuner & the ball end. Think of it as an axial load. Length vs pitch matters here. Clamping a locking nut down isn't going to have any effect on this, similar to fretting the string. So yes, a reverse headstock will give "better" tension on the low strings compared to a non-reverse or a LP style headstock.

Deflection on the other hand is limited by the nut & the saddle, so here all strings will be the same as the scale of the guitar. Think of this as radial load.

For fun, now think about my reverse headstock 27" baritone 7 string and how those low strings feel. :)

IMG_4130.jpg
 
GJgo said:
IMO it depends if you're talking about string tension vs string deflection.

Tension is defined by the pull between the tuner & the ball end. Think of it as an axial load. Length vs pitch matters here. Clamping a locking nut down isn't going to have any effect on this, similar to fretting the string. So yes, a reverse headstock will give "better" tension on the low strings compared to a non-reverse or a LP style headstock.

Deflection on the other hand is limited by the nut & the saddle, so here all strings will be the same as the scale of the guitar. Think of this as radial load.

For fun, now think about my reverse headstock 27" baritone 7 string and how those low strings feel. :)

View attachment 393119
Click to expand...

Ooh, sparkly...

1742095267081.gif
 
KentC said:
I never understood the use for a reverse headstock except for looks, but if there's really something else there besides the look and it affects the functionality, then I'm sold!
Click to expand...
It's easier to adjust your tuning on the fly with a reverse headstock since it's more ergonomic for your hand/wrist. Happy picking.
 
I've got a pair of strats with reverse headstock necks that I swapped on back in the day purely for aesthetics. Both guitars have standard Strat trems / non -Floyd. If anything, I find that the added length of the low E and A strings between the nut and tuning posts makes those strings feel noticeably looser and sloppier than my other guitars with 'regular' headstocks. I do have one reverse headstock guitar with a Floyd and I think clamping the strings at the nut eliminates any perceived difference in tension. I am honestly about to swap out those reverse headstock necks on my 2 old strats for 'standard' necks just because I prefer the tension and feel of my guitars with regular headstocks.
 
PDC said:
I've got a pair of strats with reverse headstock necks that I swapped on back in the day purely for aesthetics. Both guitars have standard Strat trems / non -Floyd. If anything, I find that the added length of the low E and A strings between the nut and tuning posts makes those strings feel noticeably looser and sloppier than my other guitars with 'regular' headstocks. I do have one reverse headstock guitar with a Floyd and I think clamping the strings at the nut eliminates any perceived difference in tension. I am honestly about to swap out those reverse headstock necks on my 2 old strats for 'standard' necks just because I prefer the tension and feel of my guitars with regular headstocks.
Click to expand...
This is what I would expect. The actual string tension doesn’t change because that is based on just 3 things (at normal atmosphere); vibrating length, the pitch, and the actual string used (composition/size/etc). Since none of those change by reversing the headstock the tension is the same.

But think of the extremes. That is, clamping at the nut is one extreme and a tuning peg a mile away is another extreme. Think about how much string you have to ‘bend’ when there is a mile of string behind the nut. It would feel super sloppy and you’d never be able to bend it enough on a regular width fretboard to raise the pitch very much.

I want my low strings tight so I can hit them hard without them giving in too much.

I should mention that this is totally different than fan shaped fretboards that extend the scale length for the low strings. Then the vibrating length is extended and it requires higher tension (or allows for fatter strings).
 
  • Like
Reactions: PDC
SpiderWars said:
This is what I would expect. The actual string tension doesn’t change because that is based on just 3 things (at normal atmosphere); vibrating length, the pitch, and the actual string used (composition/size/etc). Since none of those change by reversing the headstock the tension is the same.

But think of the extremes. That is, clamping at the nut is one extreme and a tuning peg a mile away is another extreme. Think about how much string you have to ‘bend’ when there is a mile of string behind the nut. It would feel super sloppy and you’d never be able to bend it enough on a regular width fretboard to raise the pitch very much.

I want my low strings tight so I can hit them hard without them giving in too much.

I should mention that this is totally different than fan shaped fretboards that extend the scale length for the low strings. Then the vibrating length is extended and it requires higher tension (or allows for fatter strings).
Click to expand...
The feel.is much better. It is why Ola designed all the oroginal guitars with reverse. For metal, it is much better. The string response is different and trem picking and triplets just sing
 
Smash said:
The feel.is much better. It is why Ola designed all the oroginal guitars with reverse. For metal, it is much better. The string response is different and trem picking and triplets just sing
Click to expand...
I wonder if there is a subtle 'bounce' like a drummer bounces their sticks off of the snare that is going on?
 
SpiderWars said:
I wonder if there is a subtle 'bounce' like a drummer bounces their sticks off of the snare that is going on?
Click to expand...
I am not scientific enough to answer correctly, but i used to be a drummer, and this sounds right. I find the reg headstock to be stiffer and dead, where the low strings on the reverse are fucking alive
 
Yes, as it has been mentioned, the extra string length behind the nut makes the strings feel more bendy.

Any extra string length behind the nut, or behind the bridge (like a TOM stoptail with that extra 2" of string) will do this.

That is one reason I have gravitated away from Floyds the last few years, because when you use a locking nut, I think it makes the whole guitar feel stiffer. Clamping down the strings removes that extra slack.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top