Prs Headstock Angle?

[jay5]

I know that PRS uses a slightly smaller headstock angle than many other manufacturers but I cant seem to find exactly what it is. I know they have varried it a few times for certain models but being that I don't have one to measure off of I was hoping someone might have an idea.

[Guitarfrenzy]

If I'm not mistaken the PRS headstock angle is 13°.

[jay5]

Hmmm, I always thought they were much lower than that. For some reason I was thinking around 7. Check out the pic, it might just be the angle of the shot but that looks really straight. I guess it doesnt really matter though. Thanks Matt, oh, any new pics of that JV-1(?) you're working on?

[Primal]

A google search yielded an answer of between 10 and 11 degrees.

[Guitarfrenzy]

yeah I read the same thing off this link PRS headstock angle discussion. I was confused because I could have sworn that I read it was 13°, but I must have been thinking about Gibson. The JV-1 is still in the works, I've got a lot more done, but have been really working on my templates for it, while I was working on another guitar. I just made the nut for it last night, set the action up, and will intonate it later today. The electronics haven't been hooked up yet, but almost everything else is done. I could show you a picture of the burple finish guitar if you'd like. I have it at work so I can solder the electronics on break if I get lucky.. lol Maybe I can borrow a camera or something... anyway, the JV-1 will be done before summer is out, no doubt, I just cut the last inlay out today, but there is so much more to do. Thanks for asking..

[jay5]

Thanks for the replies. I would be interested in any pics you have Matt!

[Guitarfrenzy]

Thanks for the replies. I would be interested in any pics you have Matt!

←

I don't have any good pictures of it, but this will give you an idea. Painted with the color called "burple", and with metal flake for good measure. It changes from purple to blue depending on how you turn the guitar. Basically, a 25" scale guitar, bolt-on neck, rosewood fingerboard, jumbo frets, etc. etc. These pictures are taken before it was completely setup and knobs added, etc. It plays and sounds great. I've just got back to working on the JV-1, so hopefully some progress will be made.

Burple Headstock

Later,

Matt Vinson

[Roadhouse Blues]

I just read that link to that forum that Matt posted. Is the neck angle really 17-18 degrees on normal stoptail PRS guitars??? I thought they were rather straight. Is the neck angle really that steep? Also, what would it change if I were to use a straight neck angle on my guitar instead?

Thanks,

Matt

[mu_sound]

From "The PRS Guitar Book" by Dave Burrluck or as my friend refers to it, Guitar Porn.....

in reference to the Santana I model circa 1985

"The success of the PRS vibrato was not just down to the bridge itself. Although the original roller nut idea was abandoned, a nut made from a nylon/Teflon compound (which Smith likes to refer to as "unobtanium") was installed to reduce friction, the headstock back-angle was made shallow (about seven degrees) and PRS/Schaller locking tuners were fitted as standard."

in reference to the Dragon guitars circa 1993

"The Dragon I was also the first guitar to be designed without the company's vibrato system in mind (although a very small number have been specially ordered with a vibrato). This allowed the ehadstock angle to be increased to approximately 11 degrees, which is flatter than the vintage Les Paul ofaround 17 degrees, but steeper than a standard PRS back angle of about seven degrees. Smith says the extra angle puts a little more tendion on the nut, that "every little facet makes a small difference" The new angle was subsequently applied to all 22-fret guitars except the EG."

in ref to the McCarty model:

But the McCarty model wasnt just about Smith's interest in Gibson's classic Les Paul. It was a combination of factors. Guitarist David Grissom had called Smith in late 1992 saying he wanted a guitar that sounded like Duane Allman on Live at the Filmore East album. "Basically, all the things Ted [McCarty] had been talking about, all the things we were aiming for, and all the things David Grissom wanted were the same things." says Smith. "The McCarty model was essentially a Dragon guitar with a thicker body, thinner headstock, lighter tuners, and different pickups."

no mention of heastock angle but I assume its the same as a dragon.

Cheers!