Split at the back of the headstock, anything to worry about?

[CanadianNoodler]

Found the wood at the back of the haedstock beginning to split. Never dropped (everyone I’m sure says that, but regardless, never dropped). Looks like the wing or shoulders they put on the back is starting to separate?

Thoughts?

 

[Uncle Vinnie]

It's in line with the tuner screws, maybe they were over torqued when installed ... on the other hand I would have expected them to strip out the holes before they cracked the finish.

 

[CanadianNoodler]

If it’s just the finish all good. Not overly concerned about that.

 

[Azmedian]

I would back off tuner screws 1/8th turn to release some pressure until fixed
Meaning the screws attaching that side of the tuners to back of headstock

 

[northernbreed]

It’s not just the finish.

 

[CanadianNoodler]

 

[Uncle Vinnie]

Do those grovers have nuts on the face of the head stock? If so and they were over torqued, that might be a cause.

Even from you new set of pics it looks like finish cracking.

 

[CanadianNoodler]

Do those grovers have nuts on the face of the head stock? If so and they were over torqued, that might be a cause.

Even from you new set of pics it looks like finish cracking.

Hi Vinnie. Yes they do have nuts on the front. And to me it looks like finish cracking.

 

[irocdave12]

It is a legitimate split in the wood. Don’t let anyone tell you its just finish cracks. It’s unfortunate and I think this is a combination of circumstances working together to cause the split. Might have also been a imperfect glue joint at the factory from day one that is also a contributing factor but I don’t think its the wings as they don’t go that far into the center of the tuner hole on many of my guitars where I can see them. Nonetheless you caught it in time and it can be easily fixed and re-glued to be stronger than when new. And with the black finish can be blended in to never be seen again by a good luthier.

 

[NINFNM]

A headstock break. I have the same one in my les paul for 10 years:

No stability or tunning problems, so I havent touched since, but can be glued back together with a syringe and wood glue

 

[musicmaniac]

I'd leave it be until it becomes a problem.

 

[Azmedian]

Just pointing out those klusons have a wider foot print and maybe holding the split to Help stabilize it better than those grovers will
IMO

goto a luthier or wood worker. Unless you feel confident enough to use a super low viscosity super glue
you don’t need globs just to seep into the crack

As for paint i wouldn’t touch it refin devalues much more than the showing the repaired crack, You wont be able to hide a crack just make it least intrusive.

 

[moreles]

It’s not just the finish.

Agreed. Easy top see that this extends into the wood. If those are the original fractory tuners, then it's unlikely that they mis-fit the tuner holes and way more likely that a bump or pressure on one or more of the tuning keys was enough to lever the split. Personally, I would perhaps infuse some water-thin CA into the crack from the inside of the tuner hole, and then leave it alone. It will either split off or not -- probnably not -- but if it splits, it's likely to be an easy fix. But it clearly looks like a break along the grain, caused by a knock or bump.

 

[cooljuk]

A headsstock break. I have the same one in my les paul for 10 years:

View attachment 583201

No stability or tunning problems, so I havent touched since, but can be glued back together with a syringe and wood glue

That headstock looks like Austin Powers' teeth.

 

[Juan Wayne]

Looks like the wing or shoulders they put on the back is starting to separate?

I thought the wing as well, but it's too deep into the headstock. If that's how far inside the wings are, you would also have wings halfway though the neck. I'd go easy on the screws, keep an eye on the crack and have it checked when you can.

 

[CanadianNoodler]

Thank you for all your help everyone. I don’t play it all that often as I am not into Goth but I’ll keep an eye on it.

 

[Uncle Vinnie]

It is a legitimate split in the wood. Don’t let anyone tell you its just finish cracks. It’s unfortunate and I think this is a combination of circumstances working together to cause the split. Might have also been a imperfect glue joint at the factory from day one that is also a contributing factor but I don’t think its the wings as they don’t go that far into the center of the tuner hole on many of my guitars where I can see them. Nonetheless you caught it in time and it can be easily fixed and re-glued to be stronger than when new. And with the black finish can be blended in to never be seen again by a good luthier.

I will defer to irocdave.