Carved Head Stocks

**red7flag** · Jan-04-2006, 1:05pm

I was thinking how cool a carved F style head stock could be if done tastfully. I was wondering if it had ever been done and if any have a picture, would love to see it. Adding a 3rd dimention to the head stock I think could fit in well with the rest of the F design.
Tony

**Eugene** · Jan-04-2006, 9:11pm

How do you mean? #Human and animal heads, violin scrolls, and partial scrolls with finials have all been done on historic mandolins and relatives. ...Or do you meant to just take the standard F-style head profile and add some bas relief. Martin contoured the ornamental scrolled hole in their earlier mandolin headstocks to imply a 3-dimensional effect. #My fear is that any ornate carving on an F-style head might just be more gaudy than any tasteful eye could bear.

**stevem** · Jan-04-2006, 9:17pm

Here's one example over in the system admin. photoshop thread here.

**GTison** · Jan-04-2006, 9:38pm

The Lamb brothers of Louisanna ( I think ) built the one they gave to Bill Monroe on his 50 anniversary at the Opry. They built ( or build) violins with the carved headstock. I think I remember that name right.

**van** · Jan-04-2006, 9:42pm

The impression that I got was to carve the headstock scroll to mimic the body scroll, If it was done right I think it would be pretty cool.

**Antlurz** · Jan-04-2006, 10:41pm

I almost did that on my last one.

Ron

**Michael Lewis** · Jan-05-2006, 12:10am

Well, that is another way to soak time into the instrument. How much would you be willing to pay?

Not only does it add time it adds a level of complexity that few would care to deal with.

If you come (with the money) I will build it.(Allusion to Field of Dreams)

**red7flag** · Jan-05-2006, 6:34am

Eugene,
I was thinking of just adding bas relief to a basic F style head stock. Not overly done, just emphasizing the shapes that are hinted at in the design. I can assure you I was not thinking of what stevem linked. Man that gave me a chuckle.
Tony

**Jim Garber** · Jan-05-2006, 7:19am

Some carving on Brian Dean's F4.

Jim

**jim simpson** · Jan-05-2006, 7:47am

Just get a carved head (like the one on Vassar's) and attach with a drywall screw from the rear of the headstock. (I don't know why the emoticons don't work for me but insert smiley here)