Is this break angle a problem?

[Kevin Doyle]

The brake angle on the E and A string is virtually nonexistent. This is an offbeat guitars bass. I used my usual guide of one and a half tuning pegs but I am thinking I didn’t wind enough. It’s also a weird head stock that has zero back angle and almost looks ever so slightly angled forward. I tuned it and it all seems fine, but I’m just wondering if there’s gonna be a problem down the road with the different break angles?

 

[Aloe]

if open strings play fine, you're good. generally this type of headstocks likes more wraps, so keep it in mind next string change.

 

[Killing Floor]

Don’t know. Does it sound fine?

I’d wrap an extra time around those lower posts next time you change strings. Start from top to bottom so the wraps hold the string at angle.

 

[Kevin Doyle]

It seems to be fine and the open strings play fine however it needs a bunch of set up help. The truss rod needs a slight tweak and the intonation needs to be adjusted so I’m wondering if this is a problem waiting in the future, if I should just try again with new strings that I will not cut so short?

 

[Killing Floor]

Not a great view but if you look at the right string (G) you can see there’s a naturally low break angle so I wrapped about 3 times and it holds the string lower.

 

[Alessandro Cruz]

With basses sporting "flat" headstocks ( like Jazz, Precision and MM ), you should consider to wrap at least 3 times around tuner post.

 

[J Wilson]

I'm with Mr Cruz, if it were mine, I'd shoot for three or four wraps around the post with the string coming off the bottom of the post on each. The one or two wraps as I see in the picture are not going to help tuning stability.

 

[Whale]

You may also want to have a luthier get your nut sorted out. Ideally, just under half of the string should protrude above the top of the nut surface. Having the string buried within the nut (as your D and G string are) causes more friction which can result in tuning issues.

 

[dabbler]

One good thing about cylindrical tuner posts (as opposed to the ones that have concave sides, is that you can wind the string as far down the post as you like to get a little more break angle.

I don't find it necessary to do a bunch of wraps, which would also force the string farther down the post. I typically only do 2 wraps.

 

[sokolasty]

In my experience insufficient breaking angle makes tuning on first frets and open string bad. If open is OK, first frets are like +5 sharp

I add string retainer(s) when necessary and/or zip ties between nut and tuning posts

 

[Basvarken]

Looking at the pics I do think this is a faulty headstock. The angle does seem upward.
No matter how low you are going to have the winding down on the string post of the A string. It will still not push the string well enough into the nut groove.

 

[fretno]

3 wraps minimum usually. This is not a rule but usually if less often you end up with a sloppy feel and potentially weird anomalies because not enough down pressure on the nut. There is wiggle room though for the strings under the string retainer. That retainer can be raised a little or what I do is use a Gotoh “tall” retainer. This affects the overall tension on those strings and just a hair +/- makes a difference. ymmv
The gotoh tall tree

 

[Phaidrus]

With Fender headstocks I usually go just over two pegs length of wrapping string length. To be on the safe side tuning-wise and it also looks good/better, methinks.

 

[Geepers]

Nothing wrong with the headstock, it’s the string winding technique. You want three wraps around the post, all touching each other, and the final one at the very bottom of the post. You will then have plenty of break angle.

 

[Ritter667]

Loosen the strings and attach a simple cheap capo on the headstock behind the nut over the strings, then tune up again.

Results in proper break angle, and as a bonus eventual sympathic vibrations of the strings behind the nut will get dampened.

This type of capo, which can be had for a couple of $ :

 

[RattleSnack]

Simple test: put one finger gently on the string behind the nut, and pick that string normaly with picking hand. If you can't feel any vibration behind the nut, than angle is good because there is enough downward pressure in the nut.
You want only string vibration between nut and bridge.

 

[UNICORN BASS]

I shoot for 12 degree break angle on Fender style headstocks.

 

[gt96g]

I would aim for more winds on those posts. That would fix any break angle issues assuming your getting any rattling at the nut.

 

[ravelax]

With Fender style headstocks, it's not uncommon for them to look a little bent. I have never found it to be a problem. I also don't think your headstock looks bent in your images. I agree with the others that you need some more wraps of string on those posts, though!

 

[WayneP]

I’ve found that cutting the string 3” past the post will get you the three wraps.

Regards,
Wayne A. Pflughaupt

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