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Post by calv on Jun 3, 2013 16:46:20 GMT
Hi all, just had a call from my daughter saying she went to take her guitar out of her gig bag at school, passed it to the teacher to tune up, and the headstock seemed to "come away" from the neck. Long story short, they are allowed to keep guitars in a locked cupboard at school, but lots of people do it. I dare say someone has lent on it or something like that. Anyway, heres the damage.... So....my questions are.... 1. Is this fixable?, it seems to be at the join where the headstock joins the neck. 2. Is it a luthier/guitar shop job, or is it something i could do with glue and clamps? Is there special ways of doing it in regards to the set up again of it? If i did it myself, is there a certain method? Particular glue? Ideal way to tidy up the glued crack? 3. If i do have to go to a shop, what is the going rate for a job like this? It's only a £159 Fender CD60CE, but it's a nice one that has served her well. It would be nice to fix it, but not if it's as much as the thing is worth. Thank you in advance for any advice on this. Calv.
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Post by calv on Jun 3, 2013 16:51:24 GMT
Actually, looking at it, it's just above the arch where the headstock meets the neck.
Calv.
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davewhite
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Post by davewhite on Jun 3, 2013 16:54:59 GMT
Sort of along the lines that Frank Ford describes here.. Use some regular Titebond glue and clamp up.
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Post by calv on Jun 3, 2013 20:24:17 GMT
Thanks for the info Dave, much appreciated.
Calv.
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Post by calv on Jun 4, 2013 9:45:50 GMT
Quick question....i have Evo stik wood glue in the shed that i use for many wood projects very strong stuff, would it be ok for this job instead of me buying more glue for such a small job?
Calv.
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Post by scorpiodog on Jun 4, 2013 10:16:10 GMT
Dave, I have utmost respect for your ability as a luthier, and I have no such skills, but I notice a difference between the example you've given and Calv's problem. The crack runs the other way.
Thus, I would have thought that, whereas string tension would tend to close the crack in the example you gave, it would tend to open it on Calv's daughter's guitar. Would this not be a problem when using the white wood glue that stays elastic even when set?
Please forgive my putting my size 9 in here. I'm sure I'm wrong, but I just thought I'd mention it.
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davewhite
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Post by davewhite on Jun 4, 2013 10:46:11 GMT
Paul,
Well if in doubt take it to your local repair person and see what they advise and quote for the job. If it were me doing it I'd use fish or hot hide glue but this wouldn't be doable for Calv. With a clean crack like that and for a £159 guitar ordinary wood glue (not the waterproof stuff like Titebond II) and clamping should work fine - if there are wood bits missing then it's another matter. The crack direction is the same as for a scarfe joint albeit further down the neck shaft. All "chemical" glues never really set hard and the molecules continue to slide over each other like tectonic plates - that's one of the reasons I use collagen based glues - but they are used on zillions of production guitars. If it breaks again then I'd get another £150 guitar.
Calv,
Never used Evostic but if it's basic wood glue rather than a waterproof variety it should be OK. As I say if in doubt take it to your local repair person.
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Post by calv on Jun 4, 2013 21:29:06 GMT
Thank you Dave, giving it a go now.
Calv.
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Post by calv on Jun 6, 2013 21:12:03 GMT
Hi all.....just reporting to say it went well, glued and clamped it, new strings on it now and it sounds lovely.
Question though....and it kind of feels like a stupid question....does this mean no more hanging the guitar on a wall guitar hanger due to the weakness?
Thanks again for the advice, glad i don't have to fork out for another guitar.
Calv.
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davewhite
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Post by davewhite on Jun 7, 2013 6:49:55 GMT
Calv,
Glad it went well. I probably wouldn't hang it on the wall for a little while yet but if in a week or so all seems well then using the wall hanger shouldn't be a problem.
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Post by keithambridge on Jun 7, 2013 10:38:50 GMT
Just as a matter of interest, go to ebay and search "broken guitar", it's amazing how many instruments must arrive at the suppliers from the factory with this sort of damage.
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Post by calv on Jun 7, 2013 14:41:10 GMT
Just as a matter of interest, go to ebay and search "broken guitar", it's amazing how many instruments must arrive at the suppliers from the factory with this sort of damage. Well Keith, with my limited glueing skills, if they are going cheap and turn out as well as this one, i might just try a few. Heres the finished job, just have to buff the back of the neck up a bit and put a bit of colour in the crack, but it's playable anyway... Calv.
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davewhite
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Post by davewhite on Jun 7, 2013 15:09:27 GMT
Calv, Hopefully it will last your daughter through her school lessons and you can put the £150 you would have spent on the replacement towards her next guitar if she really gets the bug. £200-350 gets you some cracking little steel string guitars nowadays (pun intended ).
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