I have had a Headstock break which I fixed myself (I am not a Luthier ) after researching methods and glues! My headstock break was a result of stupidly getting the guitar cord entangled with my foot after putting the guitar on a stand and walking away. It was not something that will just self destruct on it's own, it was carelessness on my part. That was seven years ago and it is still holding together today and you can't even see the crack repair. My grandson has the guitar now for the last 3 years. He is a teen in his Senior year of school. It is a Gibson LP Faded Cherry with HBs and plays and sounds GreatI don't have the best of the best, as it were, when it comes to my Les Paul Tribute. I've even heard it suggested that it's "not a real Gibson" ... for whatever reason. Still, it was the best I could afford, and it still is. I had to deliberate over every penny I spent, as many of us do. And, to be fair, I really do love this guitar.
I think that has a lot to do with where I find myself now. I have seen so many different sources (not all here to be sure) about Gibson guitars' neck breaks being pretty much a given, I find myself sort of in fear of actually using the guitar. I look at the the thin and fragile spot where the neck meets the headstock and feel overwhelmed by concerns over it snapping at any given moment for any given reason.
It is an admittedly psychological problem. I can't afford to replace my Les Paul, and the concern over losing it paralyzes me.
Has anyone else hit this sort of stalemate? If you have, how did you overcome the irrational part of the concern?
It is a waste of time to shop around for a headstock repair you don't have to fix! All breaks are not equal, is it going to be a clean break or splintered? Need splines or even a section replaced? The complexity of the break determines the cost of the fix! It isn't worth worrying about spilt milk until it is spilt! Until then be careful to not tip the glass LOL!Absolutely no one on this forum has ever ripped on my Tribute. I haven't been around here long, but everyone's been really super. The "ripping" come from other places. And not much of it, I might add.
I think I'm going to shop around to see what headstock repairs in my area go for. I think knowing the dollar amount will give me peace of mind, especially if it's not a lot, as you mention.
As a repairman in the business for over 40 years I have seen many broken headstocks and the vast majority of them have been on Gibson guitars. True, the popularity of these instruments in rock bands accounts for the fact that there are a lot of them around and being used in a "rough" environment, but it is not the strongest headstock joint ever devised and the overall weight of the average LP doesn't help either. Play it all you want, just don't drop it. If you do you may be visiting someone like me and shelling out $250 or so to return it to a near new state.I don't have the best of the best, as it were, when it comes to my Les Paul Tribute. I've even heard it suggested that it's "not a real Gibson" ... for whatever reason. Still, it was the best I could afford, and it still is. I had to deliberate over every penny I spent, as many of us do. And, to be fair, I really do love this guitar.
I think that has a lot to do with where I find myself now. I have seen so many different sources (not all here to be sure) about Gibson guitars' neck breaks being pretty much a given, I find myself sort of in fear of actually using the guitar. I look at the the thin and fragile spot where the neck meets the headstock and feel overwhelmed by concerns over it snapping at any given moment for any given reason.
It is an admittedly psychological problem. I can't afford to replace my Les Paul, and the concern over losing it paralyzes me.
Has anyone else hit this sort of stalemate? If you have, how did you overcome the irrational part of the concern?
I have owned several gibson guitars. A 2014 R9 never had a issue. Its replacement is a 2016 R9 no problems lives on a stand in my garage/ practice area. Or a stand in the house or like now resting on my couch. It gets gigged out a lot never a issue. Out door gigs, bar gigs playing on flat bed trucks biker events leather guns knives an booze. Never a problem. I have gigged a few other in Canada, Washington, Idaho ect. One that i bought new in Seattle in 1980 which is now over 40 years old. only problem I ever had is it got knocked up a stage in Canada and I jumped off the stage and cut it just before the headstock hit the ground no brakes on any of them or my SG or a double cut Junior type guitar that I play or any of my Telecaster to strats I've never broken a guitar and I dig everything and I'm not gentle.I don't have the best of the best, as it were, when it comes to my Les Paul Tribute. I've even heard it suggested that it's "not a real Gibson" ... for whatever reason. Still, it was the best I could afford, and it still is. I had to deliberate over every penny I spent, as many of us do. And, to be fair, I really do love this guitar.
I think that has a lot to do with where I find myself now. I have seen so many different sources (not all here to be sure) about Gibson guitars' neck breaks being pretty much a given, I find myself sort of in fear of actually using the guitar. I look at the the thin and fragile spot where the neck meets the headstock and feel overwhelmed by concerns over it snapping at any given moment for any given reason.
It is an admittedly psychological problem. I can't afford to replace my Les Paul, and the concern over losing it paralyzes me.
Has anyone else hit this sort of stalemate? If you have, how did you overcome the irrational part of the concern?
That'll totally buff out.
Nothing wrong with a Tribute, don’t drop the fricken guitarI don't have the best of the best, as it were, when it comes to my Les Paul Tribute. I've even heard it suggested that it's "not a real Gibson" ... for whatever reason. Still, it was the best I could afford, and it still is. I had to deliberate over every penny I spent, as many of us do. And, to be fair, I really do love this guitar.
I think that has a lot to do with where I find myself now. I have seen so many different sources (not all here to be sure) about Gibson guitars' neck breaks being pretty much a given, I find myself sort of in fear of actually using the guitar. I look at the the thin and fragile spot where the neck meets the headstock and feel overwhelmed by concerns over it snapping at any given moment for any given reason.
It is an admittedly psychological problem. I can't afford to replace my Les Paul, and the concern over losing it paralyzes me.
Has anyone else hit this sort of stalemate? If you have, how did you overcome the irrational part of the concern?
cool.small snapshot of my miniscule club playing past...i was sitting at the back of the club after our set.Gibby out on table, feeling good after a great set,just resting.Local young big 210 lb bloke coke head,gets in a fight,and blows out 4 tables,chairs flying,right towards me.i grab lester,in the nick of time.Nothing but a big dent in the case,which i had abandoned to the melee. no headstock break that day.I have owned several gibson guitars. A 2014 R9 never had a issue. Its replacement is a 2016 R9 no problems lives on a stand in my garage/ practice area. Or a stand in the house or like now resting on my couch. It gets gigged out a lot never a issue. Out door gigs, bar gigs playing on flat bed trucks biker events leather guns knives an booze. Never a problem. I have gigged a few other in Canada, Washington, Idaho ect. One that i bought new in Seattle in 1980 which is now over 40 years old. only problem I ever had is it got knocked up a stage in Canada and I jumped off the stage and cut it just before the headstock hit the ground no brakes on any of them or my SG or a double cut Junior type guitar that I play or any of my Telecaster to strats I've never broken a guitar and I dig everything and I'm not gentle.
NONSENSE- Anyone that tells you that it’s not a real Gibson Les Paul it’s just being a jerkI don't have the best of the best, as it were, when it comes to my Les Paul Tribute. I've even heard it suggested that it's "not a real Gibson" ... for whatever reason. Still, it was the best I could afford, and it still is. I had to deliberate over every penny I spent, as many of us do. And, to be fair, I really do love this guitar.
I think that has a lot to do with where I find myself now. I have seen so many different sources (not all here to be sure) about Gibson guitars' neck breaks being pretty much a given, I find myself sort of in fear of actually using the guitar. I look at the the thin and fragile spot where the neck meets the headstock and feel overwhelmed by concerns over it snapping at any given moment for any given reason.
It is an admittedly psychological problem. I can't afford to replace my Les Paul, and the concern over losing it paralyzes me.
Has anyone else hit this sort of stalemate? If you have, how did you overcome the irrational part of the concern?
Just sell the damn guitar. Isn’t that what you are really wanting to hear? You’re driving me nuts with the paranoia. Get rid of it, then go to the Fender forum and discuss your unfounded fears that your whammy bar will break... geeez.Just send that Tribute to me.... I will make sure it stays safe and unharmed