[size=+1]Headstock[/size] - A typical electric guitar will hold 6 tuner pegs either 6 in a line (seen on a Strat or Tele style guitar) or 3 + 3 (3 tuners on each side, like what you'll see on a Les Paul or SG or PRS). There are other variants, such as (4 + 2 on a Musicman guitar).
[size=+1]Tuning Pegs[/size] – These are basically gears that tightens or loosen the individual strings to ensure vibration in accordance to the accurate pitch. Tightening the tuner will result in the pitch being raised. Likewise, loosening will result in the pitch being lowered. Popular gear ratios are 12:1, 14:1, 16:1, 18:1 and 20:1 though more precise models are also available. Two major variety exist for tuning machines. Locking or non-locking tuning machines. Locking tuning heads that will lock the strings prevent it from slipping and hence going out of tune. These are very effective for fixed bridge guitars. Popular brands include Sperzels, Grovers, Schallers, Gotoh.
[size=+1]Nut[/size] - The nut is located at the top of the fretboard. For a 6 string guitar, it will have 6 groove to sit the strings and allow the individual strings to pass through from the bridge to the tuning peg. Nut can be composed of the following materials, bone, plastic, ebony, graphite (TUSQ) or metal alloy. The different materials will result in a difference in tone, such as an increase or decrease in bass and/or mid and/or treble.
If your guitar has a floating bridge such as a Floyd Rose (both OEM and Ibanez's), Kahlers or other similar whammys, chances are it already comes with locking nuts. The main purpose of locking nuts is to ensure that the guitar stays relatively in tune irregardless of how hard you are abusing the floyd rose. There is also little or no reason to install locking tuning pegs on such guitar as well.
If your guitar goes out of tune easily, usually on the “G” string, it can be often be attributed to a badly cut nut. Replacing/upgrading is a costly job and should only be attempted by a good luthier. A bad nut is usually more prevalent in cheaper guitars as opposed to the more expensive ones.
I am against changing the nut of a guitar, which coincides with the view of one of the best luthier in Singapore. The only exception to the rule is:
1.The nut is really badly cut.
2.You have too much money to spend.
On an electric guitar the same money would yield you better tone if you spent it on better cables (not the $3 cheapos), better tubes or even a new amplifier. On an acoustic guitar, the difference in tone is more evident. I currently use a Gibson Hummingbird VOS and the difference is frankly negligible for most people unless you are nitpicking. The stock bone nut on most acoustic guitar is plenty excellent for most if not all application.
Disclaimer: I have personally had nuts changed on a couple of my electrics and acoustics but it is up to you to decide if you want to believe me or not. Tone is somewhat subjective as many might say.
[size=+1]Neck[/size] – When we refer to neck we generally do not refer to the fretboard. Guitars neck are usually maple or mahogany. There are other varieties such as rosewood. The wood used will define the tone of the guitar. How the neck is joined to the body will decide the tonal outcome as well. There are 2 ways of joining a neck to the body. Set-neck or bolt on. Les Pauls, SGs are generally, set necks, meaning the necks are glued to the body. Strats, Teles and Superstrats (Ibanez RGs, Jackson Dinkys/DKs and the likes) are most often bolt on where the neck is bolted to the body with 3 or 4 bolts. Other kind of necks includes the neck through design where the neck is derived from the same wood as the body. The pickup and bridge are on the same piece of wood.
Advantages of Set Neck:
Set neck guitars tend to have more sustain than bolt on.
The tone is warmer, more midrange.
Disadvantages of Set Neck:
Neck replacement or neck reset is next to impossible and if possible, is incredibly expensive.
Advantages of Bolt-On Neck:
Cheaper neck reset.
Disadvantages of Bolt-On Neck:
Tone is not as warm as set neck or neck through design. This is highly debatable though.
Advantages of the Neck-Through Design:
Great upper frets access.
By virtue of the design, the neck is sturdier and more reliable in the long run.
Disadvantages of the Neck-Through Design:
If you ever mess up the neck, be prepared to buy a new guitar.
[size=+1]Fingerboard[/size] - The fingerboard is also referred to as the fretboard. There is not much difference between in this aspect between acoustic and electric guitars. They are normally made of either ebony, maple or rosewood. Ebony is very hard, smooth and fast feeling while having a bright, long sustaining tone. The wood does not lose moisture (dry up) easily and generally low on maintainence. Maple is a dense, strong and hard wood offering great sustain and stability while maintaining a bright tone. Rosewood is a hard and dense wood, has great clarity and individual note is articulated in tone. Smooth feeling but tends to lose moisture if not properly maintained. Fingerboards should be maintained regularly (6 months is a good gauge) using lemon oil but it should not be cleaned too fanatically. Too much lemon oil will kill your fingerboard.
[size=+1]Frets[/size] - Metal wires (Fret wires) that are place in the neck. This is usually hammered in with a piece of wooden block and chisel by a skilled luthier. A typical electric guitar will have 21, 22 or 24 frets. A typical acoustic guitar has 20 frets. Materials of fretwires are usually nickel or stainless steel. Frets also comes in different width and height. The larger one give a feel similar to a scalloped neck.
[size=+1]Inlays[/size] – The marker on the fretboard and the side of the neck that reminds you which fret you are playing on. Comes in dots, birds, , skulls, dolphins, crosses, donkeys, apes, dinosaurs and maybe even unicorns in both the mother-of-pearl or good old plastic variety.
[size=+1]Pickups[/size] - Pickups are essentially microphones used to pickup the vibrations of the individual strings. Pickups are essentially a piece of wires wound many many times around a magnet.
There are two types of pickups -
Single coils and
humbuckers (Double coils). Pickups are responsible for picking up the vibrations of individual guitar strings and transmit to the amplifier which will amplify and shape your tone at the same time. Humbuckers has two single coils which serve to cancel the "hum" of the individual coils. A cover is sometimes placed on top of the pickups to reduce dirt and dust, but will also alter your tone. The perceived output of individual strings can be determined by adjusting the pole piece of the pickup.
Pickups also involve two varieties,
active and
passive. Most pickups are passive as stated above. Active pickups, on the other hand, uses circuitry to modify the signal. Most active pickups are higher output by nature. Active pickups also require batteries and will not function if the batteries are dead.