SG broke.

[astrozombie]

the other guitarist in my band plays a gibson SG special.

A few days ago he was getting out of the car and grabbed his two bags: a messenger bag, and the gibson gig bag with his SG inside. he thought he had grabbed the strap well but when he pulled up the SG fell to the ground and hit the edge where the street ends and the sidewalk begins (curb). the guitar hit the ground right around the nut.

i don't have actual photos of the damage, but it is of this type:

We talked on the phone, and he mentioned that at his university (where there is a really good music program), many people said he should replace the neck.

he said an acquaintance said he knows someone whos good at replacing necks.



... and I'm thinking: on a glued-in neck guitar?

I mean, the whole thing isnt broken, its just damage to the headstock...

I told him he didn't have to go so far, in my opinion. I told him that all he needed is for a tech to repair his headstock.



what do you guys think? Is this kind of thing beyond repair? is replacing the neck a good idea? is it even possible?

 

[stevie_bees]

Re: SG broke.

I'm no expert, but I've seen headstock breaks worse than that be repaired. I reckon that's the best thing to go for.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: SG broke.

Simple. Glue it. A dowel might help.

 

[JOLLY]

Re: SG broke.

That happens all the time. It can be repaired and be stronger than ever.

 

[JOLLY]

Re: SG broke.

Simple. Glue it. A dowel might help.

As easy as that huh? lol

 

[astrozombie]

Re: SG broke.

As easy as that huh? lol

:laugh2:

I knew it wouldn't be too complicated.

 

[phred]

Re: SG broke.

That break isn't a deal breaker. Looks like a glue job will do it.

Scott

 

[jmh151]

Re: SG broke.

That's a typical Gibson headstock break. The only debate I see would be whether to use epoxy or Titebond Wood Glue.

I'd get a small clamp or two, apply titebond glue to both side, clamp it, and for aesthetic purposes, take a wet rag and wipe off any excess glue that seeps out of the crack once you clamp it.

 

[Sprinter]

Re: SG broke.

That's a typical Gibson headstock break. The only debate I see would be whether to use epoxy or Titebond Wood Glue.

I'd get a small clamp or two, apply titebond glue to both side, clamp it, and for aesthetic purposes, take a wet rag and wipe off any excess glue that seeps out of the crack once you clamp it.

+1 I do recommend Titebond over epoxy. Don't get carried away tightening the clamps or they'll leave indentations in the headstock.


Sprinter

 

[Pink Unicorn Horsey]

Re: SG broke.

I have a gig bag for my SG as well. Stories like this incent me to go out and get a hard shell.

 

[Sprinter]

Re: SG broke.

I have a gig bag for my SG as well. Stories like this incent me to go out and get a hard shell.

I was going to mention that in my previous post. Gibson's and gig bags aren't a good combination. Luckily the previous owner of my SG Special bought a hardshell case for it and ditched the OEM gig bag.

Sprinter

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: SG broke.

It really is a very simple fix...and the fix really is to just glue it...I've done more than one headstock repair...

A buddy of mine some years ago had the same thing happen to a Historic LP Jr...only difference is the headstock came completely OFF...

We went to Home Depot and bought 2 just liked this one...

While at said Home Depot we bought one bottle of glue, just like this one...

We cleaned up the crack to free it of any loose pieces of wood and or trash making sure to keep from touching it as much as possible...the more you touch the actual wood the more finger oil from your skin gets in the crack and the more the glue won't want to stick...

Before you glue it remove the tuning keys completely...it makes it easier to clamp and reduces weight on the headstock during the repairs. Once you make sure you can lay the 2 pieces together and get a clean looking and feeling seam you fill it FULL of glue, making sure to get glue ALL in the crack...yes the glue is going to squirt out when you clamp it but the glue will easily clean off once it's done...make sure to get the glue as high up into the crack as possible to insure you got the entire surface of the wood covered in glue. Simply lay the headstock back in place and clamp in with those clamps (make sure your clamps have the rubber pads onthem so you won't mess up the finish) in 2 places...one up high and one down low if needed or one left and one right if that works better.

Put the guitar in a safe, dry place for 24-48 hours and during the time DO NOT MESS WITH IT AND DO NOT REMOVE THE CLAMPS...

Once it's been sitting for 24-48 hours remove the clamps and start cleaning the glue off of the outside of the repair...if there is a lot of finish missing you might have to sand down the back of the neck in that area, say from the 1st or 2nd fret up to maybe the 2 E tuning peg holes and shoot a little paint over it just to seal the wood but if most of the pain stayed in tack you can leave it...i've done it either way.

If you have to paint it a plain old spray can will work just fine, find a colour close to the original or just use clear...

This might not be a pro repair but if you do it just like I said it will be a solid repair than will be as strong or stronger than it was before the break and if you take your time with it, it will be a decent looking repair and it will be way less money than it would be to have a pro do it...I've seen headstock repairs run upwards of 5 bills...

So, clean it up, glue it and remember...TAKE YOUR TIME, DO A GOOD JOB and LET THE GLUE SET FOR 24-48 HOURS and you'll be fine.

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: SG broke.

Also,. like these guys are saying...a hardcase with a Gibson goes a LONG way...

 

[mrturtle_91]

Re: SG broke.

replacing the neck would be going too far in my opinion, as others have said, the headstock can be repaired and be stable. My Gretsch BST suffered a break like that early in its lifetime, and was repaired and I haven't had any issues with it since I got it.

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: SG broke.

Let's also get this out of the way...a new SG Special runs between $699 and $999 new online, less in some stores Im sure and even less if you buy used...

A new neck would cost close to a grand if not more...you have to buy a new neck from Gibson, this has to be done through a Gibson authorized repair center then the old neck has to be steamed out of the pocket, the neck set in properly and glued then finish shaped...new Gibson necks are simply rough cut/shaped so after all that it has to be finished, a new nut cut for it, a fret dress, headstock overlay, etc, etc, etc...

You only reneck a Gibson if it would cost more than say $2500 to replace the guitar and even thin it might not be the most economical fix...

 

[astrozombie]

Re: SG broke.

Let's also get this out of the way...a new SG Special runs between $699 and $999 new online, less in some stores Im sure and even less if you buy used...

A new neck would cost close to a grand if not more...you have to buy a new neck from Gibson, this has to be done through a Gibson authorized repair center then the old neck has to be steamed out of the pocket, the neck set in properly and glued then finish shaped...new Gibson necks are simply rough cut/shaped so after all that it has to be finished, a new nut cut for it, a fret dress, headstock overlay, etc, etc, etc...

You only reneck a Gibson if it would cost more than say $2500 to replace the guitar and even thin it might not be the most economical fix...

he didn't mean from gibson

a friend of a friend makes them, i guess. i wouldnt trust that for my guitars.

 

[Simon_F]

Re: SG broke.

That happens all the time. It can be repaired and be stronger than ever.

+1

I broke the headstock on my '96 LP Standard a few years ago. It looked as bad as that. You can get a glue repair done professionally quite cheaply. If you want the area refinished it costs more. I had mine glued and refinished by Chandler Guitars in London (a bit out of your way probably ) and you can barely see where it was broken. The only clue is the finish looking newer and having bled slightly into the binding. Plays and sounds as great as ever - all part of the story!

 

[Zerberus]

Re: SG broke.

Neck replacement would be like shooting tin cans with 30mm high explosive ammo.

A good Luthier will fix the headstock and you´ll barely ever know it was there. That will be MUCH cheaper than replacing the neck, even if you get the replacement neck for free. One is an hour or 2 of work and a lot of drying time, the other is a full workday and a lot more drying time.

 

[DazH]

Re: SG broke.

Neck replacement would be like shooting tin cans with 30mm high explosive ammo.

A good Luthier will fix the headstock and you´ll barely ever know it was there. That will be MUCH cheaper than replacing the neck, even if you get the replacement neck for free. One is an hour or 2 of work and a lot of drying time, the other is a full workday and a lot more drying time.

exactly - it just needs gluing/clamping & potential spot re-finishing.

 

[thespricket]

Re: SG broke.

i don't understand why any would own a guitar that's worth more than $500 and not buy a hard shell case to carry it around in.