Aluminum and Hybrid guitars: Pros, Cons, Whys.. History All-aluminum and hybrid wood-aluminum guitar construction has been around since the inception of the electric guitar. In fact, the first commercially viable guitar was all aluminum. The Electro Hawaiian Guitar Company (Rickenbacker) produced an all-aluminum body lap steel guitar The Frying Pan in ~1931. Rickenbacker history Walter …
Uses miniature headstock
Works with standard wall mounts and head-stock stands
Cool with clip on tuners
Keeps good hand feel at nut
Works with any standard strings (single ball end)
String locked down over a large area, so string breakage reduced compared to using set screw’s
Fast! re-stringing
Strings don’t need a pre-bend with a tool
Uses standard nuts
String to string variations in string height at the nut are possible
So intonation correcting nuts are possible
Made from 6061T6 hard anodized aluminum
Not zinc pot metal
Works better
Shortens and overall lightens guitar (5” shorter! 75 gm less)
Better balance
Headless have less problems from unwanted dead notes and wolf tones on neck from vibrating headstock masses
Better pitch to midi conversion, in midi applications
Tuners at the other end (same as a locked down Floyd Rose)
For better overall balance
Pic hand tuning
Less unsung string; like string-locks with no head
Holds tune better, less to detune after large bends
Removes need for dampeners for sympathetic singing
More responsive bending, earlier pitch change during bend
Largest number of options available with a popular aftermarket neck;
21, 22, 24 frets, 22 standard
Most diverse back contours, woods, etc. available
Most finger board radi options, compound 10-16” standard
Most scale lengths available; 24 ¾” (Gbsn like), 25 ½” (Strt type), 28 5/8” Baritone
Threaded inserts installed for bolts
Just say no to wood screws…poor hold and reuse
Better neck/body connection
24.75″ Gibson
25″ PRS, National
25.5″ Fender, Ibanez, Jackson, Schecter, Steinberger, standard
28.6″ Baritone, Agile