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| Broken Headstock repair. http://www.luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10101&t=35988 |
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| Author: | Green_Song [ Sun Apr 01, 2012 9:33 am ] |
| Post subject: | Broken Headstock repair. |
I've done smaller headstock repairs before; a small crack, "The evil smile" break when the fracture isn't completely through, challenging but not impossible at my skill level. I recently picked up an Alvarez 12 string with a complete break; Peghead veneer was severed and everything. Sometime ago it was "repaired" by someone not quite sure of how to fix it properly. As a result the break is filled to the brim with what could either be hide glue or some kind of epoxy. I'd very much like to NOT be one of those guys. So I come here for advice as I'm afraid that this one might be a bit to advanced for me. |
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| Author: | Ken Franklin [ Sun Apr 01, 2012 10:46 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Broken Headstock repair. |
A 12 string puts a lot more stress on a neck than a 6 string guitar. Add to that a complete break and a bungled repair and you will probably still have problems down the road even if you take all the time to fix it right. Sure you could clean out the glue as best you can. You wouldn't have a great fit though. You could spline the joint, put on a new headplate and a backplate that goes into the neck a la Howard Klepper. But you'd be better off making a new neck. If you really want to repair it I think Frank Ford has a tutorial on just such a break at Frets.com. Since it's not a vintage instrument I don't think that's your best solution. |
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| Author: | Tai Fu [ Sun Apr 01, 2012 11:42 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Broken Headstock repair. |
For partial smily breaks that doesn't go all the way through, I had to pry it open in order to get it wide enough to allow me to put more glue into it, and without headplate the neck will break all the way if I try to pry it, but better that way anyways since it makes getting a clean joint much easier. I would glue it back, and spline it because with the wood grain, even if you get a good joint it will break elsewhere anyways in the future if dropped. For a 12 string reinforce it as much as you can, which means spline, front and back headplate. I had repaired a melodymaker with those partial breaks, I broke it all the way through to fix it, then touched up the finish around it. I did a simple fix which means no spline, as it's an initial break and not an improperly repaired break... if it comes back a second time then a spline and back headplate will be necessary though... as he puts very heavy strings on them. The headstock truss rod adjustment without a volutte really gives a weak spot on most Gibsons. |
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| Author: | Jeff Highland [ Sun Apr 01, 2012 3:39 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Broken Headstock repair. |
I'm with Todd on this, clean it up glue it , no splines no backstraps for a break oriented like this. |
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