Summary
I was not too optimistic when the client first emailed the photos of the damage. Apart from the decapitation of the headstock, the fingerboard had also lifted, the body was seriously cracked around the neck joint and there were other fractures too.
The neck pickup was removed, then epoxy resin was heated to a water-like consistency and injected into the cracks from all sides. This was relatively straight forward and the body was rock-solid again.
Some creative clamping was needed to bring the headstock back together. The maple neck does not shatter like mahogany and the fibres in the wood seem to twist around each other. So the breaks were treated in several stages and in some places wood had to be removed gradually to bring the pieces into alignment.
The next step (not shown in the pictures) was to instal two carbon-fibre dowels through the joint.
Then the headstock was patched-up with a carefully fitted piece of ebony. The thick acrylic face had shattered into too many pieces for reassembly. I routed a pocket down to the bare wood for good adhesion. The patch served as additional reinforcement.
The result was super-strong and arguably stronger than the original neck - it will never break in the same place again. I proceeded to refinish the headstock and blend into the original poly-finish in the neck. The polyester finish was extremely thick and needed to be spot-filled as well.
It turned out to be a great sounding electric. The owner was pleasantly surprised with the result. It seems he was also doubtfull about it's repairability!
To make an appointment and find out what can be done to improve your instrument, please contact me.
(appraisals are free of charge).
NEXT PAGE
PREVIOUS PAGE
The neck pickup was removed, then epoxy resin was heated to a water-like consistency and injected into the cracks from all sides. This was relatively straight forward and the body was rock-solid again.
Some creative clamping was needed to bring the headstock back together. The maple neck does not shatter like mahogany and the fibres in the wood seem to twist around each other. So the breaks were treated in several stages and in some places wood had to be removed gradually to bring the pieces into alignment.
The next step (not shown in the pictures) was to instal two carbon-fibre dowels through the joint.
Then the headstock was patched-up with a carefully fitted piece of ebony. The thick acrylic face had shattered into too many pieces for reassembly. I routed a pocket down to the bare wood for good adhesion. The patch served as additional reinforcement.
The result was super-strong and arguably stronger than the original neck - it will never break in the same place again. I proceeded to refinish the headstock and blend into the original poly-finish in the neck. The polyester finish was extremely thick and needed to be spot-filled as well.
It turned out to be a great sounding electric. The owner was pleasantly surprised with the result. It seems he was also doubtfull about it's repairability!
To make an appointment and find out what can be done to improve your instrument, please contact me.
(appraisals are free of charge).
NEXT PAGE
PREVIOUS PAGE
Repair: Aria 1970's Les Paul style
here's how it came to me
here's what I had to do
here's how it came to me
here's what I had to do
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |