Headstock Break

[BlackDog81]

This was dropped off by its owner tonight. Im thinking about prying the wound back as far as I can and shooting some titebond in with a needle then clampnig it. Any thoughts, ideas or suggestions?

[bungle]

Ouch.. don't know man. Should probably take it to a Luthier. Seen both ends of the spectrum. Seemless and ugly as hell.

[bungle]

Just don't do this...

[RobinOC]

How about a rubber band? (he said as the WB cartoon Rubber Band parades by)

[TravisW]

That's an easy fix, structurally. Don't use anything to spread the crack (like sticking a knife in the crack or something). Clamp the headstock to a table, and slowly allow the weight of the guitar to spread the crack only far enough so you can get a needle in there. Dilute Titebond Original with a little water (whatever Titebond recommends that doesn't compromise strength). Syringe the glue into the crack as far as you can go, getting every surface covered. Unclamp from the table, and clamp the headstock so the glue can cure.

As long as you don't have wood fibers that won't mesh with the other piece, you're good to go (doesn't look like that anyway). Clamp it for a day, reassemble, and play as usual. Or, repair the finish. I'll let others give steps for fixing the finish.

[BlackDog81]

Originally Posted by bungle

Just don't do this...

EWWWW!!!!... WTF? No Way. I mean, i'd still have the guitar but come on. Gorilla Glue is not a guitars freind.

[BlackDog81]

Originally Posted by TravisW

That's an easy fix, structurally. Don't use anything to spread the crack (like sticking a knife in the crack or something). Clamp the headstock to a table, and slowly allow the weight of the guitar to spread the crack only far enough so you can get a needle in there. Dilute Titebond Original with a little water (whatever Titebond recommends that doesn't compromise strength). Syringe the glue into the crack as far as you can go, getting every surface covered. Unclamp from the table, and clamp the headstock so the glue can cure.

As long as you don't have wood fibers that won't mesh with the other piece, you're good to go (doesn't look like that anyway). Clamp it for a day, reassemble, and play as usual. Or, repair the finish. I'll let others give steps for fixing the finish.

Cool. Thats exactly what I did. I have it cleaned up and clamped as I type this.

[H.E.L.Shane]

Originally Posted by BlackDog81

Cool. Thats exactly what I did. I have it cleaned up and clamped as I type this.

yeah.... good on ya for using a needle and not wedging something in there.. those breaks are usually the ones that can be fixed at home if you got skill, patience and time..... and do you homework like asking for advice first!!

I've also seen my share of.. "oh begeezuz you should have called me before you shoved model airplane glue in there and clamped it with a bunch o ruber bands!!!!"

Post pics of the finished job when you unclamp er.


one of my customers sent his studio back to gibson for this same break.... when he first came to my shop... i was putting a disaster back together.. (snapped off, prevriously repaired badly... came to me in five pieces) and when he saw the bill to my customer and freaked that gibson had charged him more... i realized... i need to up my rates!!!

[Reverend D]

Maybe a strap button would hold the crack together, I think we've seen them placed interestingly before!

And THIS IS FOR REAL NOT PHOTOSHOPPED:




Hope your fix turns out real good for ya!

Regards,

Don

[TravisW]

What you need is a wood chisel, a butter knife, and a couple of screws...

[Reverend D]

Originally Posted by TravisW

What you need is a wood chisel, a butter knife, and a couple of screws...

Seen that too, one Jr. (and I believe it was an original Gibson not a clone) on here one time actually used a turnbuckle like you might use on a screen door to keep it square. Very creative since it was aged a nice galvanized nickel look and the rest of the guitar was TV yellow (or 'Yeller' in this case ).

Regards,

Don

[pepperedchicken]

Originally Posted by Reverend D

Maybe a strap button would hold the crack together, I think we've seen them placed interestingly before!

And THIS IS FOR REAL NOT PHOTOSHOPPED:




Hope your fix turns out real good for ya!

Regards,

Don

LOL man thats great.. and posted on 420