Headless Guitar Hardware

Patent applications have been filed and production versions of the Toone & Townsend headless guitar tuning system are undergoing final CAD/CNC tweaks, so this seems a good time to begin sharing some of the experiences from beta testing.

I've been honored to work with some incredibly gifted and imaginative luthiers throughout this process, who are openly sharing their insights and pushing to explore the capabilities of this unique hardware system. I think you will be excited to see the instruments they have designed and are building, from rad-traditional to full-on-ergo.

Their stories will begin soon. For today, let's just talk hardware. Here are some notes from observing others and working with the hardware myself...

Photos above show a 6-string conventional bridge beta test prototype. Townsend Machine performed gorgeous work, fabricating each of these test systems as one-off pieces of mechanical art. You're looking at the output of master machinists who translated scale drawings into finished hardware using lathes, drill presses, milling machines, their hands and thought. I hope others can appreciate their craftsmanship as much as I do.

Prototyping is a necessary step toward creating a finished product. Using these prototypes, input from beta test luthiers and my own experiences with the hardware, I refined the design for production: smaller, smoother, lighter, more curves. Head machinist Bill Goldy adjusted tolerances for the material and finish choices, and with help from expert CAD programmers, converted the refined design to a format ready for larger production runs on automated CNC machines.

This is definitely not hardware for average guitars. This is premium precision required by luthiers building instruments for musicians who are serious about intonation accuracy and tonal nuances. There are no castings or chrome plating, instead all components are machined from solid blanks. String intonation points are titanium. Bearings are bronze. Adjustment shafts and screws are polished stainless steel. The structure is lightweight anodized aircraft grade aluminum. Designed and machined in USA.

Intonation accuracy of the adjustable nut is quite spooky. After dialing in the guitar by ear and confirming with Peterson V-SAM, it made me realize how compromised traditional guitar intonation actually is. This ability to adjust intonation creates a palette of options...from "traditional" guitar dissonance to "piano-like" chord accuracy. Adjustment is done in real-time and you will actually hear the instrument settle into intonation. One version of the nut accepts ball end strings that drop into a slot and anchor, tool free. The other version accepts plain end strings including steel, bronze and nylon.

If you already prefer body mounted tuning systems for their excellent balance, but don't like trying to manipulate their tiny tuning knobs, you will love this system. The oversized, interlocking control surfaces are very comfortable to adjust, and the mechanical advantage provided by the leveraged rotating design requires much less effort than screw-based systems on the market.

Also, the body-mounted guitar and bass tuner is designed to mount with 45 degrees of potential rotation, relative to the body of your guitar or bass. Which means you can position the tuning knobs to point out the tail end of the instrument, or you can position them to point out the top of the instrument. Function is the same, either way. So if you want the ability to look down and actually see which knob or string you are tuning, this will do that.

I love the tuner's ability to simply anchor strings. You can use plain end strings, or ball end strings. You can use steel, bronze or nylon strings. Mix and match. Function is the same. The slot cut into the string anchor knobs fits a nickel (coin) or a guitar pick, so you never need to worry about bringing along a special tool to change strings.

Multi-scale (fanned fret) capable. 6-string, 7-string, or 8-string guitar and bass capable, the modular design allows you to order your preference. Information about availability and pricing will be appearing here soon.

Comments

[kerry kruger]

Wow, I've been waiting to see this thing for realies, looks outstanding! I'm still a little confused about how the tuning end mounts two ways, but I'll figure it out eventually. Congratulations, getting thru all the tweaks must have had you chewing your nails to the quick.
Looking forward to seeing those new gtrs.

[Rick Toone]

Thanks, Kerry!

Very pleased with the prototypes. The production versions are even better. I'm being absolutely ruthless about improvements and chasing perfection.

I'll soon post drawings of the tuner install and photos of the intelligent and creative mounting options our beta test luthiers have chosen to help illustrate possibilities.

Essentially the tuner can be mounted in ANY angle — relative to the string plane — from knobs pointed 20 degrees out the back of the instrument, to knobs parallel to the strings, to knobs 45 degrees out the face of the body, and all points between.

[Alex]

Nice to finally see the tuner. Congratulations with a fine looking product. I also have trouble visualizing how the tuner can be mounted in various angles (not to mention how and where the strings go), so I'm looking forward to drawings and of course photos of the instruments of the other luthiers.

Who are those other luthiers, btw? I remember some names from an old post, but not all.

[Marc]

I'm sure the full list is on this site somewhere... but I recall Novax Guitars (Ralph Novak), Forshage Guitars (Chris Forshage), Canton Guitars (Rick Canton), and RAM Guitars (Ron M..). There are a few others, though ...

Can't wait to see their finished products!

Marc

[Rick Toone]

...and perhaps a few surprises. :)

[Sam]

Discovering all the brilliantly innovative creations throughout your website make me overjoyed to be a guitarist when I am. Thank you Rick for all the amazing things you've come up with! I'm incredibly excited to see how this thing looks and works on a full project.

[Mark]

My late father was an experimental machinist and toolmaker, as well as being a wind and guitar player. (In fact, he designed and machined the key action for the Lyricon prototype.) - He would have loved this. It really does look more like a sculpture than guitar hardware. Like the other posters in this thread, I'm interested to see it in the context of a completed instrument.

[Rick Toone]

Mark — Your father seems like he was a very interesting and curious person. I would have enjoyed his critique of the hardware. This design journey has given me great respect for the art and science of machining.

Hope to share additional information soon. Stay tuned.

[Timothy Coyle]

Hello, Rick. I know you are just getting the kinks worked out with this one and this question is pretty early. But the one thing that has kept me away from fanned fret guitars is that it doesn't seem like any of them are capable of being used with a tremolo. Are there any plans of researching a version of this system with a tremolo? Something like this mixed with a Kahler would be awesome!

[Rick Toone]

Timothy — I have successfully tested the prototype tremolo version of this system. The functionality is smooth, stable and precise, with expanded pitch bend range. I will focus effort there once the fixed version is fully in production. Thanks for asking a great question!

[Timothy Coyle]

That is great news, Rick. I hope to see more about your tremolo design as it develops. Hopefully by the time you have it available I will have the funds to possibly commission a build. It's frustrating that the BIG guitar companies do not start designing instruments that are innovative and friendly to the body instead of regurgitating the same old same old. I am glad to see you are doing it though, and on top of that your designs stand way out of all of the other builders I have followed. Keep up the good work.

[05Ric]

Well done Rick!! your creativity, tenacity and persistence is wonderful to watch!

[Rick Toone]

Thanks, Ric!

I've got this project gripped between my teeth, like a Pitbull with a bone. It's been an intense push, but I know it will have been worthwhile. Testing the hardware has caused me to lose all interest in anything else out there...aesthetics, functionality, tone.

We're *really* close.

[Jesse Higginson]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but does this mean I could theoretically install this system onto an ordinary guitar body without having to modify it for headless tuner access?

[Rick Toone]

Jesse — I'm not certain exactly what you mean...feel free to clarify.

The bridge itself can be used to upgrade existing conventional bridges via replacement. You would need to confirm the dimensions will retrofit, because there is no standard string-height-above-body measurement for manufacturers. Once the production bridges are available to the public, I will be posting accurate scale drawings.

The tuner mechanism itself CAN be mounted in the middle of a conventional guitar body. It does NOT require placement at the tail end of the body. One of our beta testers built a beautiful semi-hollowbody Gibson-esque design with the tuner centered between the bridge and tail block.

Radical, and quite cool.

The intonation adjustable nut will not retrofit to a conventional guitar headstock, in the currently available version. That may change in the future.

[Zachary Lyon]

Hi Rick. I just stumbled upon your site while surfing and am blown away - especially with this headless hardware. I've been a Steinberger fan and this is really what I've been dreaming of. I'm glad to see you're considering a tremolo. Would piezo pickups be an option with this hardware?

[Rick Toone]

Zachary — Thanks very much. Different mechanical principles are involved with this system in comparison to Steinberger. These inherent mechanical advantages make for a very smooth, precise and effortless tuning experience.

Ned Steinberger is one of my lutherie heros, and his ground-breaking designs have literally created the market for headless tuning systems. I hope to someday meet him in person.

Yes, I am developing a version of the bridge — bass and guitar — that is piezo equipped. It will be compatible with both conventional headstock tuners as well as our TOONE & TOWNSEND body-mounted tuner.

[Ermes]

Curious bridge I think is very efficient, with some changes could also become a tremolo. Big, Rick! Tools and truly brilliant design and construction techniques ... sooner or later I'll write you to buy a guitar designed by you.

A Sketch 7-String Headless Guitar with tremolo would be perfect for my style of playing. Good work Rick!

[Len Lauro]

Been looking for, and then dreaming of, a tremolo system for my headless Kramer Duke 4 string. I'm using piccolo strings and love the possibilities but could envision more with a tremolo. Any possibilities in the future - or now?

[Rick Toone]

Len — I have successfully tested a multi-scale headless tremolo system for guitar. Bass might be an option at some point.

[monster]

Bass tremelo. Mmmmmmmmmmmmm. I'll lean on Rick about that in 2012 if the world doesn't end...again.