Cracked Les Paul neck HELP

[jrbowen81]

Re: Cracked Les Paul neck HELP

You could try flooding the crack with a good quality super glue (CA glue) and then reclamping it. The CA will hold on to the old glue that is already in there. The downside is that CA is much harder to clean up than the wood glue.

Rebreaking the crack probably won't be easy, and it is highly likely that it will break in new spots where the crack is solidly glued. Also, cleaning up old, dried wood glue is not easy and you may end up not getting it all off, which will cause new problems if you try to reglue with wood glue again.

Titebond makes some great CA glues specifically formulated for woodworking, and I've used them with great success for headstock repairs. IF you do rebreak the crack (not recommended), don't reglue it with woodglue, use CA glue.

I didn't realize Titebond made super glue. Cool! That would probably work much better since this crack is somewhat deep but not wide open. I will check into that. Would you recommend that I buy a glue syringe kit?


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[formula73]

Re: Cracked Les Paul neck HELP

Take it to somebody who knows what he's doing, like Greg at BCR Music in PA. All this is good advice and I'm sure many of us could take care of it but repairing a twice-repaired hs break is not the kind of thing to learn on.

 

[jrbowen81]

Re: Cracked Les Paul neck HELP

Take it to somebody who knows what he's doing, like Greg at BCR Music in PA. All this is good advice and I'm sure many of us could take care of it but repairing a twice-repaired hs break is not the kind of thing to learn on.

I'll have to find someone local who won't charge an arm and a leg if I take it to anyone. I'm hoping I can get in contact with a local repair guy about it soon. I don't personally know most of the guys working in the music shops around here because I haven't been in there in a few years. I'm never off work when they're open.


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[formula73]

Re: Cracked Les Paul neck HELP

I feel your pain. I used to know a couple great places out in San Diego when I was stationed there but since I've been in VA, I have no idea where to even get a fret level.

 

[jrbowen81]

Re: Cracked Les Paul neck HELP

I feel your pain. I used to know a couple great places out in San Diego when I was stationed there but since I've been in VA, I have no idea where to even get a fret level.

Yep. I know one guy who's really good. He could be a luthier if he had the time, but with this economy taking a crap, he had to take up his old job as a plumber again so he hardly ever has the time to do repairs. I may keep bugging him though.


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[chadd]

Re: Cracked Les Paul neck HELP

Take it to somebody who knows what he's doing, like Greg at BCR Music in PA. All this is good advice and I'm sure many of us could take care of it but repairing a twice-repaired hs break is not the kind of thing to learn on.

Greg does fantastic work, but this doesn't look bad enough to warrant his level of skill. I've seen him fix some stuff that had no business ever being playable again, and you couldn't tell it had ever been broken. I'm lucky having a guy like that local to me.

 

[uOpt]

Re: Cracked Les Paul neck HELP

Superglue doesn't leave a body either. It can't fill.

You would need different compounds such as available for car repairs.

 

[BrianS.]

Re: Cracked Les Paul neck HELP

http://www.titebond.com/instant_bond/InstantBond_ThinkFast.aspx

Titebond CA glues do have some gap-filling properties. Check the link provided here for the specs of Titebond's various CA glues. You can also see that they've improved the shear strength of their CA glues.

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: Cracked Les Paul neck HELP

If it stays in tune...I'd leave it alone for now and see what happens. If not, I'd break it open again, and then glue it like you did the first time. If you don't want to do it yourself, it won't break the bank to have it fixed by a pro. Without a finish repair, nobody should charge you any more than $150 for that job. The best luthier I know of, and one of the most respected in Los Angeles, charges $125.

 

[jrbowen81]

Re: Cracked Les Paul neck HELP

If it stays in tune...I'd leave it alone for now and see what happens. If not, I'd break it open again, and then glue it like you did the first time. If you don't want to do it yourself, it won't break the bank to have it fixed by a pro. Without a finish repair, nobody should charge you any more than $150 for that job. The best luthier I know of, and one of the most respected in Los Angeles, charges $125.

It has just enough give to where it doesn't stay in tune, so I had to go ahead and loosen all of the strings just to feel safe about leaving it alone for awhile.

I'm pretty sure the local guy I know won't charge an arm and a leg to fix it. It's just a matter of getting a hold of him and making sure I have cash on hand when it's time to pay him. That's most likely the route I'll have to go.


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[jrbowen81]

Re: Cracked Les Paul neck HELP

http://www.titebond.com/instant_bond/InstantBond_ThinkFast.aspx

Titebond CA glues do have some gap-filling properties. Check the link provided here for the specs of Titebond's various CA glues. You can also see that they've improved the shear strength of their CA glues.

Those glues do seem like they'd do the job. I just want to get this thing fixed once and for all so that it won't break open again. I've gotta get this thing playable again because I don't have another electric right now, nor can I afford one. If I could afford one, this one would already be fixed. Lol


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[jrbowen81]

Re: Cracked Les Paul neck HELP

I have some of this Elmer's Carpenters Wood Glue MAX, but I'm not sure if it will be as good as Titebond. What do y'all think?

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[AlexR]

Re: Cracked Les Paul neck HELP

Titebond for mine. You can water it down to get it deep in, but you gotta wonder whether the break it fully and do it properly option isn't becoming the best idea.

 

[jrbowen81]

Re: Cracked Les Paul neck HELP

I'm going to buy some Titebond probably today on the way home from work, just to have it.

I'm considering trying this method that I found last night:

http://www.ibanezrules.com/tech/setup/crack_neck.htm

I tried it out with a long, narrow board and 2 c-clamps just to test how much it would help me spread the break open without snapping it. I'd say it works like a charm. Since I can keep both hands free while applying steady, even pressure to the back of the headstock, this will help me to work as much glue as possible into the break. Plus, with it pressed open, I could shine a light into it to see pretty well where it seems to stop. It looks to be only about 1/2" to 5/8" deep. There would be quite a bit more damage required to break it the rest of the way, but I guess if I had to go that route, this would also be the best and safest way to do it. Lol


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[BrianS.]

Re: Cracked Les Paul neck HELP

Read carefully, here:

-Aliphatic resin glues, i.e., "wood glue" (elmers, titebond, etc...) only work well on good fitting, wood-to-wood joints. This type of glue is not intended to be used on joints that may have a "residue" or layer of old glue on them.

-It is highly likely that this crack is contaminated with old glue. You will not be able to clean this old glue out.

-It is highly likely that if you use aliphatic resin glue to re-glue this joint, you will get a poor result.

-Water-proof "wood-glue" is more flexible than standard wood glue, and, if I remember correctly, has a lower resistance to heat. Neither of these characteristics are desirable for headstock crack repair.

 

[jrbowen81]

Re: Cracked Les Paul neck HELP

Read carefully, here:

-Aliphatic resin glues, i.e., "wood glue" (elmers, titebond, etc...) only work well on good fitting, wood-to-wood joints. This type of glue is not intended to be used on joints that may have a "residue" or layer of old glue on them.

-It is highly likely that this crack is contaminated with old glue. You will not be able to clean this old glue out.

-It is highly likely that if you use aliphatic resin glue to re-glue this joint, you will get a poor result.

-Water-proof "wood-glue" is more flexible than standard wood glue, and, if I remember correctly, has a lower resistance to heat. Neither of these characteristics are desirable for headstock crack repair.

Thanks for that info! What would you recommend that I use instead? Should I use CA glue?


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[Funkfingers]

Re: Cracked Les Paul neck HELP

Getting on for ten years ago, a friend of mine made a repair to the cracked headstock of his Gibson LP Standard. (Full, clean break. Full face contact for the repair.) A few years after that, he took it upon himself to strip and refinish the back of the LP neck in gunstock oil. Within three months, the glued repair had failed. Moisture!

 

[jrbowen81]

Re: Cracked Les Paul neck HELP

Getting on for ten years ago, a friend of mine made a repair to the cracked headstock of his Gibson LP Standard. (Full, clean break. Full face contact for the repair.) A few years after that, he took it upon himself to strip and refinish the back of the LP neck in gunstock oil. Within three months, the glued repair had failed. Moisture!

Yikes!


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[Funkfingers]

Re: Cracked Les Paul neck HELP

To the best of my recollection, my friend used cascamite.

 

[jrbowen81]

Re: Cracked Les Paul neck HELP

So, avoid cascamite, I take it...


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