Wolf Headstock Joint

[Woody]

I'm researching to begin a Wolf build, and I've been looking at the feature on the back of the headstock were it joins the neck. There is a really cool "drip" pattern created by alternating purpleheart and maple laminations that I think is really beautiful. I'm having trouble visuallizing it, as I only have one anlge of it, and it is dead on from the back. A similar pattern is seen on the back of the Tiger, and Rosebud, but still haven't seen an angle that really details this joint.

If anyone could help out with a pic or otherwise shead some light, I'd be much obliged.

Woody

[TI4-1009]

I'm sure you've seen the one on Waldo's page, right?:

http://www.wald-electronics.com/wolf.html

[playingdead]

[Woody]

Thank you, I have seen those shots, and they're both excellent, but that's the only angle I've been able to find. I was wondering if someone has a profile (side view).

There are only two ways that I can imagine that pattern being made. One is that the joint protrudes from the neck, making it thickest at the lowest arc of the purpleheart feature. The second is that the top of the neck is cut on the reverse angle (90 deg) from the usual manner in which the head stock is attached, and the laminations are added in that way. This, however seems like it would result in less gluing surface, and a weaker joint.

I know Waldo has recently seen the Moriarty Wolfs, any input?

[Mandoborg]

All your seeing there is the laminations taking on the curvature of the neck. You can cut a normal scarf joint, or use a one pice neck, then sand a small ' flat' on the neck up to around the second fret. Glue all your laminations on, being sure to have good pressure from a curved caul, and when you shape the back of the neck you get what you see in that picture. I don't have a picture of the back of this particular neck, but you can see where there is no bump or anything strange where the headstock meets the rounded part of the neck.

Bad picture, but if you need, i can take a couple of good ones later on.

[TI4-1009]

Slightly different view:

[waldo041]

mandoborg is dead on!

here is a better view of rosebuds.


rosbuds headstock was broken early on when first delivered to jerry, and with the fix was a relamination of the back of it. it's laminations go a little furthur down and a couple more then the other irwins. what appears to look like a thumb was produced because of it.





peace,
waldo

[playingdead]

Jerry's missing digit!

[Woody]

Wow! Thanks for the cool pics. That really sheads some light on the subject.

I did a little experimentation with some scrap, and made a scarf accent in the joint with the headstock applied from the rear of the neck. I was able to achieve the same shape. That said, that picture of Rosebud really captures the structure of the joint, and you don't end up with diagonal lams ending halfway through the head stock. Very pretty! "missing digit"? yuck

Does anyone have any comments on the nut and the fretboard being placed over the face lamination of the headstock? I've been noticing that on all Jerry's custom guitars (including the Cripes) since I've started this research. Of course most of my pics and info are from Waldo's site, as well as Dozin's.

Many thanks to all of you. This is really helpful.

Wood

[Woody]

Does anyone know if Wolfs neck is one piece or if the headstock is glued on.

[waldo041]

my guess is a one piece, with laminations for strength and looks.

not the best pics, but hope they help.




peace,
waldo

[gpilcher2001]

If you go to alembic.com they have good detailed pictures in there guitar of the month section. They build a lot of guitars like Jerry's.