Adding Weight to Headstock

thegummy

I know that some people add weight to headstocks for tonal reasons. My reason is different, it's that the guitar has "body dive" or I mean, the body is heavy and wants to slide down that way. I think it might be partly how thin the neck is.

I know people use clamps like the fender fat finger.

Any other suggestions for something a bit more stealthy?

It's a Les Paul.

ICBM

Grover Rotomatics, if it doesn't already have them.

They also have the benefit of being very good tuners.

sweepy

According to Paul Reed Smith, ideally you should have minimal mass at the headstock but opinions vary, id just buy a decent strap tbh

thegummy

Probably a good suggestion but my guitar already has quite expensive replacement tuners on it so couldn't justify buying different ones even if they are heavier.

Ever heard of any mods like a bit of metal that could be screwed in or anything?

Any cheap DIY version of the fat finger that I could get in B&Q for a couple of quid or anything?

I've put a capo and a clipon tuner on the headstock and, unless I'm imagining it, seems to help the problem despite not having that much weight between them.

Maynehead

How about a fret wrap with fishing weights sewn into it?

thegummy

Maynehead said:

How about a fret wrap with fishing weights sewn into it?

It's an idea!

thegummy

sweepy said:

According to Paul Reed Smith, ideally you should have minimal mass at the headstock but opinions vary, id just buy a decent strap tbh

Is that like cork-sniffing tonal theory or for a more practical reason?

I don't use a strap at all, I always play sitting down.

I'd absolutely sacrifice microscopic subtlety of tone or sustain etc. to make it sit more comfortably like a Strat does for example.

sweepy

You could buy a Van Eps damper if you really want but still buy a decent grippy strap, 

FelineGuitars

Fathead plate

thegummy

sweepy said:

You could buy a Van Eps damper if you really want but still buy a decent grippy strap, 

That looks interesting.

Looking at it has made me wonder if some kind of metal truss rod cover could provide the weight, or even put some kind of weight (like the aforementioned fishing weight) under the truss rod cover.

I remember being interested in a "string butler" but giving up because the guitar stays in tune pretty well anyway. I'd imagine they'd be intended to be as light as possible but wonder if they would add a significant amount of weight.

ICBM

sweepy said:

According to Paul Reed Smith, ideally you should have minimal mass at the headstock but opinions vary

Purely a matter of taste. In my experience a lighter headstock produces a more focused midrange tone, and a heavier one a deeper more open tone. Given the choice I prefer a heavier one.

If there is any difference at all...

(In my opinion there is.)

thegummy

FelineGuitars said:

Fathead plate

Oh wow that looks ideal!

I hope it goes on the back of the headstock rather than the front?

Do you happen to sell them?

Sassafras

Swap the Les Paul for an SG.

Bigsby

Milk

Ive heard having weight on the headstock can change to tone of a guitar but to be honest i dont really believe it.

ChuckManual

Let's ask Allan Holdsworth what he thinks...

ICBM

Milk said:

Ive heard having weight on the headstock can change to tone of a guitar but to be honest i dont really believe it.

I'm certain that it does, not just because I'm pretty sure I can hear it, but because there's a simple physics mechanism which means that it should - it will change the resonance of the neck, which is a major component in the sound of a guitar.

But...

How much difference is necessary before it becomes noticeable to the player?

How much difference is necessary before it becomes audible to a listener?

I'm not sure that those are anywhere near the same.

roberty

thegummy said:

FelineGuitars said:

Fathead plate

Oh wow that looks ideal!

I hope it goes on the back of the headstock rather than the front?

Do you happen to sell them?

They go on the back, and are discontinued AFAII.  The used ones I saw a while back were all north of £200

boogieman

Fatfinger clamp? 
https://www.ebay.co.uk/p/Fender-Fat-Finger-Guitar-Sustain-Enhancer-Fatfinger-Fffseg-0992180100/1450451538

BeardyAndy

Cut some roofing lead into strips and stick it to the back of the headstock with those sticky fixers. 

clarkefan

I'm not following this.  Are we saying, you get eg a heavyish metal clamp, screw it onto the headstock, and the sound coming out the speaker sustains longer and changes tone?

I think that's what you're talking about, and I'm not saying you're wrong, I just never heard of this.

That Fender clamp thing is titchy, I'm sure B&Q could do a lot better for a fiver?