Horrible GF 197 Posted April 4, 2022 Share Posted April 4, 2022 I've accidentally cracked the back of the neck base of my husband's family heirloom. It's got a substantial Crack across the back base of the neck on the piece that attaches to the top/ back of the body. Do I have any chance of having this repaired or replaced without just calling this beautiful instrument firewood? Any advice is appreciated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
QuestionMark Posted April 4, 2022 Share Posted April 4, 2022 A good luthier can fix just about anything. The Gibson site used to have a list of authorized repair persons in various areas. If it’s not on the site any more, try writing Gibson Customer Service for an authorized Gibson repair person 👩🔧 n your area…unless you already know a good luthier. QM aka “Jazzman” Jeff Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
E-minor7 Posted April 4, 2022 Share Posted April 4, 2022 Yes, it should be possible. Probably easier than to fix your nail. Bad crack - good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jedzep Posted April 4, 2022 Share Posted April 4, 2022 (edited) Very fixable for the right guitar shop luthier, preferably a Gibson authorized vintage repairman, as the neck will likely have to come off and be reset. Take all the tension off the strings, remove that poorly placed strap button and don't put it back. It spelled trouble from day 1. Good luck. Edited April 4, 2022 by jedzep 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BluesKing777 Posted April 4, 2022 Share Posted April 4, 2022 First a few questions... Does he know yet? 🤢 Any pics/details of the whole guitar/what is it? And depending on the model, it is probably a good time to discuss replacing the whole neck......but you know, if it is rare model, repair the neck. BluesKing777. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Murph Posted April 4, 2022 Share Posted April 4, 2022 If you tell us your location, we might be able to recommend a shop. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fortyearspickn Posted April 4, 2022 Share Posted April 4, 2022 That is a desirable model/year guitar. It is not anywhere close to being 'firewood'. Take your time finding a GOOD luthier. Not a 'Guitar Center Technician' or a guy who fixes stuff in his garage. Word of mouth, recommendations from a rock n' roll guitar store clerk, Craigslist, etc. NOPE. As Murph suggested, if you give us an idea where you are - someone here will likely be able to recommend a good one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zombywoof Posted April 4, 2022 Share Posted April 4, 2022 (edited) 1955 was, of course, a transition year for Gibson. This can often result in a guitar having more quirkiness than you might expect otherwise. This kind of stuff though tends to endear a guitar to me even more. If there is one thing I have learned and been able to take solace in most things are repairable. In the case of your husband's guitar, it is a more difficult repair than say a headstock break. I would only go with a full neck replacement as a last resort. While I have repaired headstocks myself, I have had to have a neck replaced once. I lucked out though and was able to find a replacement neck off the same model from roughly the same build period. So, while it was an OEM part it was just not original to that guitar. As to who you choose to do the work, "authorized" means only they are on a list to do warranty work. What you might do is talk to some local or regional Mom & Pop stores and ask who they go to when they need work done on a guitar. That is how I found the repair guy who fixed up my 1942 Gibson J50 among others. Actually, he is the kind of guy who repaired guitars not in his garage but in a shed behind his house. I later found the vintage Martin guys called him "Doc." Looking at where the strap lock is located and where the neck is broken, I also would not be overly hard on yourself. All it would take is the wrong size bit having been used or drilled too deep during the installation of the strap lock to have weakened the neck. Edited April 4, 2022 by zombywoof Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J185cat Posted April 4, 2022 Share Posted April 4, 2022 If you cannot find a good local shop Gibson has a repair/restoration shop in Nashville that does good work although they are slow. Get this done right and you should be good to go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zombywoof Posted April 4, 2022 Share Posted April 4, 2022 1 hour ago, J185cat said: If you cannot find a good local shop Gibson has a repair/restoration shop in Nashville that does good work although they are slow. Get this done right and you should be good to go. My '42 J50 was in the shop one full year. Literally one Columbus Day to the next. It did not help that my repair guy was not to be found during turkey hunting season. In the end though it was well worth it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ratherbwalkn Posted April 5, 2022 Share Posted April 5, 2022 As someone suggested ask around for a vintage luthier as that is a very nice old guitar, and there are authorized repaired that don't have the knowledge to make the correct repair, , as an example the last place you want to send a vintage Martin for repairs is the Martin factory repair shop. Ask around I would suggest again as someone already stated you can start by going to used shop that carry used/vintage instruments And good luck with that guitar. I know that strap buttons are very useful, but its obvious that the stress fracture happened at the weakest point, IMO Although I might add that sit on the "no to strap button side of the fence" and many other dont!!! Again good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave F Posted April 5, 2022 Share Posted April 5, 2022 I'd loosen or remove those strings until it gets resolved. As mentioned above, give us your general location and someone may be able to recommend someone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Holiday Hoser Posted April 6, 2022 Share Posted April 6, 2022 Take it down to your nearest nail salon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave F Posted April 7, 2022 Share Posted April 7, 2022 She hasn't been back on the forum since she posted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JWG4927 Posted April 8, 2022 Share Posted April 8, 2022 3 hours ago, Dave F said: She hasn't been back on the forum since she posted. He must've found out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BluesKing777 Posted April 8, 2022 Share Posted April 8, 2022 (edited) Think I heard yelling and screaming round 11pm the other night..... BluesKing777. Edited April 8, 2022 by BluesKing777 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
E-minor7 Posted April 8, 2022 Share Posted April 8, 2022 19 minutes ago, BluesKing777 said: Think I heard yelling and screaming round 11pm the other night..... Anyway, a friend rang me a few years ago very upset after smacking a big hole (very similar to above) in the front of his 15 series M by hitting the mic on stand. We took it to my luthier and I have to say the repair is very hard to see, and at first look, nothing.... good job, looks like a surgery scar up close. My friend has almost stop kicking himself for it....almost. The luthier obviously had done this sort of repair a lot and when I asked him how most of his guitar repairs were hurt, he said an amazing amount are left on a chair and forgotten for a minute and..kazzaaam. 😶 BluesKing777. BK777 - is this the right thread !? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BluesKing777 Posted April 8, 2022 Share Posted April 8, 2022 2 hours ago, E-minor7 said: BK777 - is this the right thread !? Thanks Em7 - it was supposed to go in the surgery thread....see if I can move it... BluesKing777. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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