My son's guitar (a reasonably good one ~$500) got the top of it's neck
broken while he was moving home from college. I'm not a guitar player,
so excuse the poor component terminaology. It broke near the end
where just below where the adjustment knobs for the strings are.
There did not seem to be any loss of wood (appears to be tiger maple)
as the two pieces fit snugly back together. Am I dreaming that this
could just be glued back together? If it could, what would be the
best glue, just regular yellow glue? Seems wrong to to just toss it.
Thanks,
Jim
On Tue, 05 Feb 2008 05:28:57 -0800, jtpr wrote:
> My son's guitar (a reasonably good one ~$500) got the top of it's neck
> broken while he was moving home from college. I'm not a guitar player,
> so excuse the poor component terminaology. It broke near the end where
> just below where the adjustment knobs for the strings are. There did not
> seem to be any loss of wood (appears to be tiger maple) as the two
> pieces fit snugly back together. Am I dreaming that this could just be
> glued back together? If it could, what would be the best glue, just
> regular yellow glue? Seems wrong to to just toss it.
>
> Thanks,
> Jim
I think this may be an end-grain glue problem. End-grain gluing is at
best IF-y.
A guitar repair man just might use some sort of double tenon. However,
some guitars have a short steel rod inside the neck (saw this on cable
TV.) So how much space is there for a mortise on both ends of the
break? I vote for an expert to do the repair, or at least get his
suggestions / inspections before doing anything on your own.
Best of Luck
Phil
Robatoy wrote:
> On Feb 5, 8:28 am, jtpr <[email protected]> wrote:
>> My son's guitar (a reasonably good one ~$500) got the top of it's neck
>> broken while he was moving home from college. I'm not a guitar player,
>> so excuse the poor component terminaology. It broke near the end
>> where just below where the adjustment knobs for the strings are.
>> There did not seem to be any loss of wood (appears to be tiger maple)
>> as the two pieces fit snugly back together. Am I dreaming that this
>> could just be glued back together? If it could, what would be the
>> best glue, just regular yellow glue? Seems wrong to to just toss it.
>>
>
> Listen to The Swingman. I know a few luthiers who will give you the
> same solid advice. If you're in luck, however, that neck might be
> removable and replaced.
> Either with a factory replacement or a custom one. If the luthier is
> any good, you may end up with an even better instrument.
>
> All I can do is shudder at the thought what kind of impact it must
> have been to break that.
>
> What make of guitar is it?
>
> r
An acoustic guitar with medium gauge strings has about 190 lbs of
tension on it. Doesn't actually take much of an impact to snap the
headstock off - there isn't much wood right there. When I ship a guitar
or put it into checked luggage I ALWAYS loosen the strings to reduce the
stress on the neck because of the risk should the case fall over or be
dropped.
I agree with those who recommend having an experienced and trusted
guitar repair person do this repair. And many luthiers are not in that
category. I'm a luthier, but I am not qualified to do this repair. If
you're in Northern California, I'd recommend taking it to Michael Lewis
in Grass Valley.
If, on the other hand, the instrument is a bolt-on electric guitar, the
best course of action would be to replace the neck. I CAN do that, as
can almost any builder of solid-body instruments.
--Steve
"jtpr" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:a04bd45a-813f-4714-842f-cca48139be1c@e10g2000prf.googlegroups.com...
> My son's guitar (a reasonably good one ~$500) got the top of it's neck
> broken while he was moving home from college. I'm not a guitar player,
> so excuse the poor component terminaology. It broke near the end
> where just below where the adjustment knobs for the strings are.
> There did not seem to be any loss of wood (appears to be tiger maple)
> as the two pieces fit snugly back together. Am I dreaming that this
> could just be glued back together? If it could, what would be the
> best glue, just regular yellow glue? Seems wrong to to just toss it.
>
> Thanks,
> Jim
This is a job for a pro, if it is not done properly the guitar will become
largely unplayable.
Father Haskell wrote:
>
> Yellow glue doesn't creep?
>
I've experienced creep with yellow carpenter's glues on my solid-body
instruments. I now use this:
http://www.lmii.com/CartTwo/thirdproducts.asp?CategoryName=Adhesives&NameProdHeader=Instrument+makers+glue
It dries hard, colorless, and clear. Great stuff.
--Steve
On Feb 5, 9:27=A0am, Phil again <notwantspam_@_1-2-3-4-5.nospam> wrote:
> On Tue, 05 Feb 2008 05:28:57 -0800, jtpr wrote:
> > My son's guitar (a reasonably good one ~$500) got the top of it's neck
> > broken while he was moving home from college. I'm not a guitar player,
> > so excuse the poor component terminaology. =A0It broke near the end wher=
e
> > just below where the adjustment knobs for the strings are. There did not=
> > seem to be any loss of wood (appears to be tiger maple) as the two
> > pieces fit snugly back together. =A0Am I dreaming that this could just b=
e
> > glued back together? =A0If it could, what would be the best glue, just
> > regular yellow glue? =A0Seems wrong to to just toss it.
>
> > Thanks,
> > Jim
>
> I think this may be an end-grain glue problem. =A0End-grain gluing is at
> best IF-y.
>
> A guitar repair man just might use some sort of double tenon. =A0However,
> some guitars have a short steel rod inside the neck (saw this on cable
> TV.) =A0So how much space is there for a mortise on both ends of the
> break? =A0I vote for an expert to do the repair, or at least get his
> suggestions / inspections before doing anything on your own. =A0
>
> Best of Luck
> Phil
This is a common repair, and usually can be done with the guitar being
just as good as it was before....IF you get someone competent and
knowledgable to do the repair. Don't try this yourself, not for the
first time on a valuable guitar. If you want to learn how to do it,
get some junkers from the pawnshop. Otherwise, get a "Luthier" to do
it...make sure they are trained, have a certificate, whatever. Don't
give it to a "Guitar Tech", not the same thing. A google search in
your area on luthiers will find what you're looking for.
On Feb 5, 10:53=A0am, B A R R Y <[email protected]> wrote:
> [email protected] wrote:
>
> > This is a common repair
>
> That many people snap off headstocks?
>
> Who would have thought... =A0<G>
An acquaintance of mine in Rochester NY owns an antique late 50's LP
sunburst.
He received an e-mail from another antique Gibson collector who wrote
him with a line in it that he 'broke his neck'. His reply was: "you
better be talking about falling off that dirt bike of yours."
To the OP: Where are you located? Anywhere near Port Huron MI?
On Feb 5, 8:28 am, jtpr <[email protected]> wrote:
> My son's guitar (a reasonably good one ~$500) got the top of it's neck
> broken while he was moving home from college. I'm not a guitar player,
> so excuse the poor component terminaology. It broke near the end
> where just below where the adjustment knobs for the strings are.
> There did not seem to be any loss of wood (appears to be tiger maple)
> as the two pieces fit snugly back together. Am I dreaming that this
> could just be glued back together? If it could, what would be the
> best glue, just regular yellow glue? Seems wrong to to just toss it.
>
> Thanks,
> Jim
Common break, weak spot from short grain. Leo Fender made
a BIG improvement by not cranking the peghead back.
Fix is glue the break then insert a spline to reinforce after
removing the fingerboard and peghead veneers using heat
to break the hide glue. Pare the spline flush and reinstall
the fingerboard and peghead head veneer, then repair
the finish. If you want a playable instrument -- sharp glue
joints along the edges of the fretboard are not kind to fingertips --
you'll pay a luthier the guitar's full value or more. Would be
cheaper to buy a new neck, bolt on, hopefully, though installing
a new dovetailed neck would still be easier than fixing a
snapped peghead.
On Feb 5, 8:28=A0am, jtpr <[email protected]> wrote:
> My son's guitar (a reasonably good one ~$500) got the top of it's neck
> broken while he was moving home from college. I'm not a guitar player,
> so excuse the poor component terminaology. =A0It broke near the end
> where just below where the adjustment knobs for the strings are.
> There did not seem to be any loss of wood (appears to be tiger maple)
> as the two pieces fit snugly back together. =A0Am I dreaming that this
> could just be glued back together? =A0If it could, what would be the
> best glue, just regular yellow glue? =A0Seems wrong to to just toss it.
>
Listen to The Swingman. I know a few luthiers who will give you the
same solid advice. If you're in luck, however, that neck might be
removable and replaced.
Either with a factory replacement or a custom one. If the luthier is
any good, you may end up with an even better instrument.
All I can do is shudder at the thought what kind of impact it must
have been to break that.
What make of guitar is it?
r
"Phil again" <notwantspam_@_1-2-3-4-5.nospam> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> I think this may be an end-grain glue problem. End-grain gluing is at
> best IF-y.
Very unlikely it's an end grain glue problem. The way that headstocks are
attached, if they're not just cut out of the neck blank, is to join it a few
frets up the neck with a scarf. An end grain glue up would never withstand
the stress from the strings.
--
-Mike-
[email protected]
"Robatoy" wrote in message
> He received an e-mail from another antique Gibson
> collector who wrote him with a line in it that he
> 'broke his neck'. His reply was: "you better be talking
> about falling off that dirt bike of yours."
And for good reason. Besides _playability_, a neck repair on a stringed
instrument will most certainly alter the tone in some manner, even on an
electric instrument.
Hell, even the act of taking the neck off of a vintage electric guitar/bass
will often affect it's tone in some way, and quite possibly it's value.
AAMOF, one of the first questions usually asked by those expert in buying
vintage electric instruments is: "Has the neck been off?
Granted, most folks would not be able to tell the difference, but most of
your top "players" would, and can tell you if someone other than themselves,
or their instrument tech, even so much as put a set of strings on their
favorite instrument, or worse, played it!
I've had repairs done by some of the best, and even then ended up selling
(for about half of what it would have originally brought) a "magic" bass,
that was much less "magic" after a "world class" repair to a broken
headstock ... we're talking five figures here, _after_ the repair.
I would rather put on a new neck on non-vintage/cheaper instrument ... it
will probably cost less, and be more satisfactory in the long run.
--
www.e-woodshop.net
Last update: 12/14/07
KarlC@ (the obvious)
B A R R Y wrote:
> [email protected] wrote:
>
>> > This is a common repair
>
>
> That many people snap off headstocks?
>
> Who would have thought... <G>
Maybe he toured with "The Who"?
--
Jack Novak
Buffalo, NY - USA
[email protected]
"jtpr" wrote in message
> My son's guitar (a reasonably good one ~$500) got the top of it's neck
> broken while he was moving home from college. I'm not a guitar player,
> so excuse the poor component terminaology. It broke near the end
> where just below where the adjustment knobs for the strings are.
> There did not seem to be any loss of wood (appears to be tiger maple)
> as the two pieces fit snugly back together. Am I dreaming that this
> could just be glued back together? If it could, what would be the
> best glue, just regular yellow glue? Seems wrong to to just toss it.
Take it to a music store that has a repairman, preferably on premises, or
get their recommendation on same.
While it appears a simple fix, if you want to have a _playable_ instrument,
this is one repair that you do not want to do yourself.
And do NOT believe anyone that tells you otherwise.
--
www.e-woodshop.net
Last update: 12/14/07
KarlC@ (the obvious)
That's an easy and fairly successful fix. Happens a lot.
To satisfy your curiosity...
http://www.fretnotguitarrepair.com/neck_repair_broken.htm
Get a tech at your local guitar store or Guitar Center to fix it.
Shouldn't be too expensive.
jtpr wrote:
> My son's guitar (a reasonably good one ~$500) got the top of it's neck
> broken while he was moving home from college. I'm not a guitar player,
> so excuse the poor component terminaology. It broke near the end
> where just below where the adjustment knobs for the strings are.
> There did not seem to be any loss of wood (appears to be tiger maple)
> as the two pieces fit snugly back together. Am I dreaming that this
> could just be glued back together? If it could, what would be the
> best glue, just regular yellow glue? Seems wrong to to just toss it.
>
> Thanks,
> Jim
On 5 Feb, 19:19, Steve <[email protected]> wrote:
> When I ship a guitar
> or put it into checked luggage I ALWAYS loosen the strings to reduce the
> stress on the neck because of the risk should the case fall over or be
> dropped.
Probably the single most important sentence in this whole thread.
I've never seen a broken neck on any guitar that wasn't tensioned at
the time.
(OK, apart from metallers trying to eat the things)
On Tue, 5 Feb 2008 08:20:31 -0600, "Swingman" <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>"jtpr" wrote in message
>> My son's guitar (a reasonably good one ~$500) got the top of it's neck
>> broken while he was moving home from college. I'm not a guitar player,
>> so excuse the poor component terminaology. It broke near the end
>> where just below where the adjustment knobs for the strings are.
>> There did not seem to be any loss of wood (appears to be tiger maple)
>> as the two pieces fit snugly back together. Am I dreaming that this
>> could just be glued back together? If it could, what would be the
>> best glue, just regular yellow glue? Seems wrong to to just toss it.
>
>Take it to a music store that has a repairman, preferably on premises, or
>get their recommendation on same.
>
>While it appears a simple fix, if you want to have a _playable_ instrument,
>this is one repair that you do not want to do yourself.
>
>And do NOT believe anyone that tells you otherwise.
Well, I'm not a professional luthier, but have repaired two; a guitar
that had a classical style (pins in slots) tuning setup above the
fretboard that broke in the middle of the tunning section, and a 3/4
upright base that broke in exactly the spot you describe along with
some additional damage. Both repairs were successful from a players
standpoint (had son's music instructor do the setup and put the base
through its paces post repair, declared it perfect. The guitar is the
one my sons reach for when they are around, like it better than two
others that were more expensive and supposedly better, whatever that
is worth).
I did extensive research on the repair and rebuild section of the
stringed intrument forum http://www.violins.ca/forums/ prior to
proceeding. Many resources there, particularly for the base. I would
not have done the repairs without the research and I have a
woodworking background.
Frank
This is the end of many guitars lives.... that said, if it's still a
real tight fix you can try yellow glue, but I'd be inclined to use a
slow curing epoxy. You may want to add a spline or bowtie at the break
to give it more strength, and/or adding a wood plate ( or a couple
laminated together) to the front and or back of the headstock assuming
the crack is that far up). Even if you do all of these things and
rebuild it with every last splinter of damaged wood, It still might
not last, but is worth a shot.
If it's a bolt on neck you can often find a direct replacement neck on
sites like ebay.
On Feb 5, 9:21 am, radapaw <[email protected]> wrote:
> This is the end of many guitars lives.... that said, if it's still a
> real tight fix you can try yellow glue, but I'd be inclined to use a
> slow curing epoxy.
Yellow glue doesn't creep?
> You may want to add a spline or bowtie at the break
> to give it more strength, and/or adding a wood plate ( or a couple
> laminated together) to the front and or back of the headstock assuming
> the crack is that far up). Even if you do all of these things and
> rebuild it with every last splinter of damaged wood, It still might
> not last, but is worth a shot.
>
> If it's a bolt on neck you can often find a direct replacement neck on
> sites like ebay.
"B A R R Y" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:kE%[email protected]...
> [email protected] wrote:
>> >
>> This is a common repair
>
> That many people snap off headstocks?
Especially Les Paul players.
--
-Mike-
[email protected]
"Swingman" wrote
>
> "jtpr" wrote in message
>> My son's guitar (a reasonably good one ~$500) got the top of it's neck
>> broken while he was moving home from college. I'm not a guitar player,
>> so excuse the poor component terminaology. It broke near the end
>> where just below where the adjustment knobs for the strings are.
>> There did not seem to be any loss of wood (appears to be tiger maple)
>> as the two pieces fit snugly back together. Am I dreaming that this
>> could just be glued back together? If it could, what would be the
>> best glue, just regular yellow glue? Seems wrong to to just toss it.
>
> Take it to a music store that has a repairman, preferably on premises, or
> get their recommendation on same.
>
> While it appears a simple fix, if you want to have a _playable_
> instrument,
> this is one repair that you do not want to do yourself.
>
> And do NOT believe anyone that tells you otherwise.
>
Spoken like a true musician. I second the opinion expressed above. Reminds
me of a story...
Many years ago, I was working on a marketing program for a startup company.
I was talking to one of the founders of the company when I mentioned to him
that I had to travel, the next day, about 80 miles north of the city where I
lived. He became quite excited and asked if he could go with me. I was
happy for the company and it would allow me to find out more about the
company and its products.
It turns out that this guy is a professional musician and plays every
conceivable type of bass. His electric bass was ailing and there was a shop
about an hour north of the city that was the go to place for ailing stringed
instruments. It was a retail shop type place in a very small town. It was
the home town of the guywho ran it. And people came from hundreds of miles
away for his services.
I got a lecture on how few people really understand stringed instrument
repair. And this guy was one of the best. I will never forget the
"interview/diagnosis". He took that instrument into his hands in a gentle
loving way. They talked intensively for about ten minutes. He wrote a half
page of notes. I felt like a total outsider peering into another world.
These guys just loved that electric bass guitar.
It made an impression on me. A good instrument repair guy is worth his
weight in gold.
On Feb 5, 10:29=A0am, "Lee Michaels" <leemichaels*[email protected]>
wrote:
> These guys just loved that electric bass guitar.
>
Ohhh, an electric bass guitar... for a moment I thought you were
talking about a washtub and a stick.
g
r
On Feb 5, 1:46=A0pm, "Swingman" <[email protected]> wrote:
[snip]
>
> I've had repairs done by some of the best, and even then ended up selling
> (for about half of what it would have originally brought) a "magic" bass,
> that was much less "magic" after a "world class" repair to a broken
> headstock ... we're talking five figures here, _after_ the repair.
>
That'll teach you to play the thing behind your back, with your
teeth... and pouring lighter fluid on it before shoving it through
your amp.
jtpr skreiv:
> My son's guitar (a reasonably good one ~$500) got the top of it's neck
> broken while he was moving home from college. I'm not a guitar player,
> so excuse the poor component terminaology. It broke near the end
> where just below where the adjustment knobs for the strings are.
> There did not seem to be any loss of wood (appears to be tiger maple)
> as the two pieces fit snugly back together. Am I dreaming that this
> could just be glued back together? If it could, what would be the
> best glue, just regular yellow glue? Seems wrong to to just toss it.
You might find some inspiration here:
http://frets.com/FRETSPages/first.html
http://frets.com/FRETSPages/pagelist.html#Luthier
Swingman <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> "jtpr" wrote in message
>> My son's guitar (a reasonably good one ~$500) got the top of it's neck
>> broken while he was moving home from college. I'm not a guitar player,
>> so excuse the poor component terminaology. It broke near the end
>> where just below where the adjustment knobs for the strings are.
>> There did not seem to be any loss of wood (appears to be tiger maple)
>> as the two pieces fit snugly back together. Am I dreaming that this
>> could just be glued back together? If it could, what would be the
>> best glue, just regular yellow glue? Seems wrong to to just toss it.
>
> Take it to a music store that has a repairman, preferably on premises, or
> get their recommendation on same.
>
> While it appears a simple fix, if you want to have a _playable_ instrument,
> this is one repair that you do not want to do yourself.
>
> And do NOT believe anyone that tells you otherwise.
Seconded. A good luthier will be able to fix it brilliantly. A brilliant
woodworker _MAY_ get lucky and make it marginally useful, but I wouldn't
count on it.
Go to a few different music stores, and ask the staff on the floor if they
can recommend someone. Look in the phone book for instrument repair. Don't
try to do it yourself.
Colin
[email protected] wrote:
> >
> This is a common repair
That many people snap off headstocks?
Who would have thought... <G>
Well, that's a tough spot for a break. BUT it is a fairly easy fix
since most guitars are designed to allow for replacement. Still a
luthier would be needed. There are adjustment issues that the average
woodworker wouldn't be capable of making for playablity.
The neck is generally made up of a hardwood with a slot for the
tensioning rod. On top of the neck is the fretboard covered with
Frets. It's usually made from ebony and its playing surface is
usually surfaced simular to a road with a slight rounding of the play
surface. All the frets are also level. There is also the top nut
(that piece that all the strings go across at the tunning end of the
guitar.) And another one at the bottom of the guitar. These are used
to establish the playing height of the guitar.
I would recommend getting the neck replaced because of the tension
that is on the neck applied by the strings.
On Tue, 5 Feb 2008 05:28:57 -0800 (PST), jtpr <[email protected]>
wrote:
>My son's guitar (a reasonably good one ~$500) got the top of it's neck
>broken while he was moving home from college. I'm not a guitar player,
>so excuse the poor component terminaology. It broke near the end
>where just below where the adjustment knobs for the strings are.
>There did not seem to be any loss of wood (appears to be tiger maple)
>as the two pieces fit snugly back together. Am I dreaming that this
>could just be glued back together? If it could, what would be the
>best glue, just regular yellow glue? Seems wrong to to just toss it.
>
>Thanks,
>Jim
Replace the neck.
All fixed.
"jtpr" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:a04bd45a-813f-4714-842f-cca48139be1c@e10g2000prf.googlegroups.com...
> My son's guitar (a reasonably good one ~$500) got the top of it's neck
> broken while he was moving home from college. I'm not a guitar player,
> so excuse the poor component terminaology. It broke near the end
> where just below where the adjustment knobs for the strings are.
> There did not seem to be any loss of wood (appears to be tiger maple)
> as the two pieces fit snugly back together. Am I dreaming that this
> could just be glued back together? If it could, what would be the
> best glue, just regular yellow glue? Seems wrong to to just toss it.
>
> Thanks,
> Jim
Pictures?
On Tue, 5 Feb 2008 05:28:57 -0800 (PST), jtpr <[email protected]>
wrote:
>My son's guitar (a reasonably good one ~$500) got the top of it's neck
>broken while he was moving home from college. I'm not a guitar player,
>so excuse the poor component terminaology. It broke near the end
>where just below where the adjustment knobs for the strings are.
>There did not seem to be any loss of wood (appears to be tiger maple)
>as the two pieces fit snugly back together. Am I dreaming that this
>could just be glued back together? If it could, what would be the
>best glue, just regular yellow glue? Seems wrong to to just toss it.
>
>Thanks,
>Jim