Disaster (Page 1 of 2)

Hi Russ, sorry to hear about your tragedy. Is it feasible or cheaper to replace it with a new neck? Maybe not an original? If so would it still hold a special place in your heart? I'm sure you'll get it right.

For a neck break, I'd go pro ...

Hi Russ a student of mine had his Ibanez damaged though flying it from Sweden without loosening the strings and he gave it to me to break for spares.

As you can see from the last two pictures I surprised him by returning it two weeks later. The wood filler in the neck could well be a natural colouration and the damage on the front of the headstock was hidden by a false truss rod plate.

He said it played better than it had before and threatened to break a couple more that he had (I had done little work on the action ) and he is still using it 8 years later.

Roger

Russell
I did same thing on my Epiphone LP - had a guy fix it and although the cosmetics weren't perfect - it played just as well as when new.
and on a side note - I almost replicated your move yesterday.... I was reaching for something and bumped my stand - it went over - but fortunately landed on the dog bedding and softened the blow. WHEW !

Hope it all works out for you

Jim

That has got be heartbreaking,  if that had happened to one of mine I'd be cutting loose with a string of cuss words for a week.  I use tite-bond glue when working on boats above the waterline and it holds well, as long as you aren't using the Gibson under water it's going to hold.

Russell_Harding wrote:

The break was right at the headstock where the nut is and extended to the end of the plate that covers the truss rod and if Gibsons quote is overpriced I can let Sweetwater repair shop do the work and they will also refinish the headstock and part of the neck for a very reasonable cost

Tenement Funster wrote:

What a horrible thing to witness, Russell ... can't imagine how you must have felt "in the moment". My own take on this would be to get the most competent available person to repair it, instead of trying to save a few $$$. Good move on your part to contact Gibson.

I didn't see in the thread exactly where the break happened? Headstock? body joint? midway?

Bad spot for a break, eh? When I put the StetsBar tremolo on my Epiphone Les Paul, the guy at our local L&M Music Store recommended locking tuners as opposed to a locking nut. He said that Les Paul's were known for having a weak headstock, and even drilling a couple of holes in it would make it weaker. I hope you can get yours up and singing again soon.

Good on you for taking the time and effort Russell !!    those newer PVA glues are so far superior to the good old "Elmer's" we used to have (and those bonds were stronger than the wood you applied it to), that if you have clean wood on wood contact and good clamping you should be able to do as well as anyone else out there.  Not to mention that you have an investment in doing it as well as possible, as opposed to just "punching a job card" and hoping for the best. 

Look forward to seeing the end result and your comments on how well it turned out !

I am not to worried about any indentations as the clams are designed to not leave any looking forward to putting on the strings and cranking it.

neophytte wrote:

That's great - one word of advice; use either cardboard or thin wood shims wherer your clamps touch the guitar - it can save from messy indents on your axe (although it may be a case like Mater in "Cars 3" where his dents were part of his personality ... )