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LP neck fix?
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Author:  Josh H [ Thu May 14, 2009 9:13 am ]
Post subject:  LP neck fix?

A local teacher friend of mine sent me this repair job from one of his students. This is what happens when your guitar is not properly secured on the wall hanger. It is a LP Studio. The neck is broken all the way through and the two pieces are being held together by the truss rod, which is slightly bent. I'm looking for any adivice I get get on the best way to fix this one. As I see it there is not going to be an easy fix for this one. The truss rod needs to be fixed/replaced and the only way I can see to do that is remove the FB. With the fretboard off the neck could also be glued back into place and reinforced. Is there another way to go about this that I am missing.

Thanks for the help

Josh

Author:  jordan aceto [ Thu May 14, 2009 10:03 am ]
Post subject:  Re: LP neck fix?

Yowza, broken indeed. Probably fixable though, it sounds like you have the plan. If the truss rod was not bent, you could probably get away with just working glue in and clamping. The way it is, i think your plan sounds good, fingerboard off, remove the truss rod, glue the break, truss rod back in, maybe rout and inlay carbon fiber stiffening rods, fingerboard on, touchup, probably refret, setup, and maybe some extra steps thrown in there for complications that may arise.

One minor benefit of cracks going that way, as opposed to the more common type of headstock crack running diagonally in the other direction, is that the string tension will be constantly pulling the break closed, as opposed to constantly pulling it open. And you also have a massive amount of gluing surface area. How easy it goes mostly depends on how clean the break is, and whether there are lots of little wooden "spears" sticking up that stop the crack from closing cleanly. If the whole thing just sort of hinges shut cleanly, you are in luck.

The finish will probably look pretty crappy without major touchup work, which this student may not want to spring for. In cases like that it may be easier to just refinish the whole neck, rather than trying to go in there like an artist, especially since it is black. Sometimes the scars can serve as a reminder to savage guitar owners that they should take better care of their stuff.

The other option is to make a new neck, using the old fretboard and headstock inlays. Kind of fun to do, but more work.

Author:  Michael Lloyd [ Thu May 14, 2009 12:08 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: LP neck fix?

Hi,

You may end up having problems getting that fingerboard of the neck the way it is. It appears to be quite thin towards the nut.

If the truss rod is bowed and not bent I would attempt to slack off the truss rod re-glue and see it the truss rod can still function. If the truss rod is bent and possess a serious weakness in the rod then I would look at making a new neck and re-use the fingerboard. I just think that trying to remove that fingerboard is going to create more problems.

Good luck.

Author:  Setch [ Thu May 14, 2009 3:21 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: LP neck fix?

The Gibson rod is a simple compression rod - as such I'd think you can simply remove the trussrod nut, and slide the broken section of neck right off the rod. Then straighten the rod, slide the neck back into place, and glue up with plenty of clamps. You'll need a bit of finish touchup, and your best bet to keep it reasonaly priced you could just strip the neck, and then clear coat it in satin to seal the wood.

Author:  Jeff Highland [ Thu May 14, 2009 5:30 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: LP neck fix?

Slack off the truss rod nut and see if the neck will clamp up ok if so just glue up as is with TB original or HHG. Don't pull it apart, you will never line up the broken fibres in the middle of the neck.

Author:  Howard Klepper [ Thu May 14, 2009 6:48 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: LP neck fix?

What does "slightly bent" mean, and why do you think the rod needs to be replaced? Photos help--of the truss rod.

Is that an opaque black finish? Very helpful if so.

I'm thinking you may be making this job overly complex by removing the board and replacing the rod.

Author:  jordan aceto [ Thu May 14, 2009 11:21 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: LP neck fix?

I am going to jump on board with everyone about the truss rod, if it is "slightly bent", and not kinked severely, stay simple, no fretboard pulling or CF routing. I was blindly assuming that the rod was unsalvageable, that may not be the case, and things would be much easier if it could be kept.

Author:  Josh H [ Fri May 15, 2009 7:07 am ]
Post subject:  Re: LP neck fix?

Well maybe I've been trying to make a mountain out of a mole hill by making this repair more complicated than it needs to be.

I should have said the truss rod has a slight kink in it. It is a backwards kink around the 6th fret (I can't get a good picture of it). I cannot get the break to close cleanly with hand pressure. I will take the guitar to the shop and try clamping it closed. I guess I was afraid that if I just clamped and glued it as is the truss rod might not function properly. Is this a valid fear? Am I right in thinking that if I straightened the rod out a bit it would be fine? I haven't really done any work with compression rods and I don't know what kind of effect a little kink in the rod has on its performance.

The finish is opaque black and will not be a problem to touch up. It is helpful as there are a number of small wood splinters missing around the edge of the break (that is how it came to me).

thanks for the tips

Josh

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