broken headstock repair

[billm90]

I picked up an epiphone LP POS with broken headstock to try out a repair on it.

The headstock broke off fairly clean.
You can push it right back on where it was. no splinters getting in the way.

if you look at the fracture from the side, it is faily straight. meaning No large splinter pieces to get overlap on. Just a clean break right on the nut.

I have read my books on doing this repair, however it does not say what glue to use. It list several used on various repairs... Wood, white, super glue, epoxy... etc...

I have my sights on wood glue or super glue.
Super glue has worked well for me on many repairs... But I have not tried it on headstocks. PLus it gets tacky and grabs on pretty good.

Anyone have any insight for me?

Side note. I have no interest in taking this to be repaired. I purchased it broken to do the repair myself. I have plenty of other guitars to play, so no big deal trying it out.
I have done tons of mods to several of them (installed tremelos, led fret markers etc) as well, so this would not be exactly a new project. it is just my first broken headstock.

I also have a wall of lower end guitars (18 of them) hanging much like in a music store. is there anything I can do, so I can hang this guitar from the wall and not worry about it falling off? I almost wish there was a large splinter of overlap so I could install a tiny dowel rod into it so it had some sort of physical connection besides just glue.

Anyhow, First post here, just signed up. Thanks!

[coreydm676]

ive seen it done with wood glue DONT use super glue dries WAY to fast and probly has a bad resonance

[bfcg]

Titebond and a clamp or two. You will be able to hang from that guitar while it hangs on the wall.

[billm90]

Originally Posted by bfcg

Titebond and a clamp or two. You will be able to hang from that guitar while it hangs on the wall.

the titebond is just wood glue correct?

I have a bottle of titebond II I used for some furniture building.

same stuff right? Just not as good as titebond original?

[billm90]

Got it fixed up.

Tightbond and superglue both failed me. The break right at the nut did not give me anything extra to work with. the truss rod is right there too = less wood. I even tried to dowel it after the failures.

I ended up grinding down the back of the neck and the headstock a lot. I was going to try and get a piece of wood behind it for more surface area. after doing so I could not get a piece of wood cut to fit the headstock bend. (OOPS) I actually started to panic a little. I just removed a ton of material, and I am screwed. I figured I would just replace it, so back to what I know best for one more try.... epoxy/fiberglass.

I cut a groove under the fret board about 1/4 an inch. just wide enough to slide in a piece of fiberglass cloth in.
I epoxied on the little wood remaining of the headstock (maybe 1/4" thick) to the neck and let it dry to hold it in place. I put a small piece of fiberglass cloth under the fretboard groove I cut, and over the top of the headstock about 1" and covered it in epoxy. to get it stong enough to sand and work on.

I ended up using fiberglass on the back of it after sanding down about 1" up in the backside of the headstock for more raw wood area. Filled the area up with fiberglass and resin, and let it dry. sanded it back to neck shape and that thing is the strongest it has been. I dont know how long it will hold. but for now. fixed. Also sanded down the front piece of epoxy/fiberglass mat on the front of the headstock so it was no evident.

The guitar is wine red stain, so I painted the fiberglass repair with a little black, then clear red, then some clear. It looks like somone fixed it. (I got carried away with electric sander) lol. I will go back over it later. I just wanted to see if it would hold. I can over tune the guitar a whole lot higher then E and it does not budge.

Let it sit for a day and it is still in tune.

I learned I dont think I can fix headstocks like this. everyone I looked up on the net seemed like the easier solution. never found one that broke like mine. Staight across on the nut.

But on the plus, my $85.00 brand new epi LP with busted neck is working.

[MarcAutomatic]

Although I dont have any insight... other than dont use superglue...
The headstock broke on my studio, I have a friend thats a luthier and I managed to get it fixed for free...
Point of the story is...
its ****ing amazing how cleanly it can be fixed I mean I though I would be scared to play afterwards but I still throw it about the stage (obviously not literally thanks to my schaller strap locks=])

[vladmaximus]

errr...
pics please...

hi hi hiii...

[Iceman0124]

I used emlers wood glue on a snapped PRS SE....worked like a charm....super glue is a no no. Did you use clamps and how long did you give the glue to set? Clamps and time are as important as the glue.

[dork5002002]

I would really love to see some pics of this if you took any.

[Sinster]

Without Pictures it never happened!

[SABLE]

Originally Posted by Sinster

Without Pictures it never happened!

yes, but you have to have the picture that goes with that or else you techniquely never said that. now thats some shit to think about