A bad headstock break

[Full_Stack]

This Gibson acoustic made it's way into my collection a little while back.
The headstock has been broken and "repaired" at least twice.

The joint is pretty knackered right now, not much glue surface to work with.
Any suggestions for how to tackle this break?

My plan was to clean all remnants of glue with some picks, glue and clamp it in the cauls, then route the backside of the neck for 2 splines. It will never be an inconspicuous repair since the neck is laminated flame maple, but I've been toying with the idea of finishing the back in a dark stain, natural top.

From what's left of the serial number, it appears to be a 1966 Gibson Dove, 25.5" scale. Found a repro pickguard,need to find an original bridge though.

Not sure what I'm going to do with it when it's done, I'm not much of an acoustic guy

Oh yeah, it needs a refret too!

 

[David Collins]

Looks as though the previous repairs were pretty bad, and though I'm sure well intentioned, misguided at best.

At this point, I would consider this a good candidate to have an entire new section grafted in, or sometimes it can be easier just to graft on an entire new headstock. I personally don't think a few simple splines are going to be an ideal repair for that though. It's already had so much original material torn up and removed there that you'll be ending up with a neck, a headstock, and pile of sticks and blocks glued in between holding the two parts together. If I were doing it, I would likely at least graft a whole new section that area.

As to the bridge, that's a part to be be made rather than found.

Good luck with it!

 

[LeftyRighty]

that's pretty chewed up. The unfortunate truth is that you can't glue glue. Even if you think you've gotten all of the glue off, you haven't. the glue that was previously applied has most definitely penetrated the grain which will make it next to impossible to get new glue to hold effectively. I've just gotten done trying to advise another member about the use of the "wrong" glue for repairing a headstock break. Seems as though the person who touched this guitar before you got it needed to learn the same lesson. Some mistakes are forever, this is one of them. It is still possible to fix your guitar, but now it's going to cost a pretty penny to clean up someone else's mess. Splines aren't going to work either. I would personally scrap the whole neck and start over.

 

[Full_Stack]

Hmm, maybe a headstock graft could be more straight forward after all.

It would certainly be strong, but I could also do a better job matching the multi-piece lamination of the neck/headstock.

I hope I can save the inalys, they're still intact.

 

[David Collins]

Here's one I did earlier this year. This one I replaced the headstock entirely, reusing most of the original inlay. In your case there is enough left that you could certainly use the original headstock from around the tuner holes up, and graft in a middle section, but it may be just as easy to make a single piece full-headstock replacement.

 

[DGNRepair]

Here's one I did earlier this year. This one I replaced the headstock entirely, reusing most of the original inlay. In your case there is enough left that you could certainly use the original headstock from around the tuner holes up, and graft in a middle section, but it may be just as easy to make a single piece full-headstock replacement.

Wow, thats a hell of a headstock repair . I really dig the setup with the mill.

 

[Sea Ranch]

Here's one I did earlier this year. This one I replaced the headstock entirely, reusing most of the original inlay. In your case there is enough left that you could certainly use the original headstock from around the tuner holes up, and graft in a middle section, but it may be just as easy to make a single piece full-headstock replacement.

Yup, totally agree (FWIW). This is a perfect candidate for a new headstock, scarfed on, which is just what David illustrated in his link. Nice job!

You'll preservce the beauty of the neck wood and laminations, and could use a "stinger" veneer on the back of the headstock as well. Would look very "factory" (if Gibson ever did such a thing themselves )

 

[ptate]

This is what I did with a pretty nasty break.....Seems an option, plus you may be able to get something like a match with the timber/grain if you're careful.

http://www.mylespaul.com/forums/epiphone-les-pauls/100767-pearly-tates.html

 

[timgman]

It's pretty serious smack to snap maple like that... Wow.

 

[Full_Stack]

Thanks for the tips and links, guys!
I'll update when it makes it into my shop