ces1965 Posted December 11, 2010 Share Posted December 11, 2010 Looking for advice. I bought a 67 Casino on ebay and it arrived with a neck crack. The seller thought it was just a lacquer crack, not into the wood, but whether it happened in shipping or not, it doesn't matter, it arrived to me cracked into the wood. My luthier says you could insert glue into the crack (working hard to get it in all the way) but that might not hold over time, so you may have to essentially break the neck and add some wood splines and refinish the neck. I paid 2400, but the seller has offered 700 off to go towards the repair and lower value. Should I return it and keep looking? It sounds and feels great. Some photos here - http://gallery.me.com/cliffstevens#100479&bgcolor=black&view=grid Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aymara Posted December 11, 2010 Share Posted December 11, 2010 The photo gallery isn't accessable, but talking about a guitar in this price range, I myself wouldn't accept such a serious crack as you described and would return it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gunner Posted December 12, 2010 Share Posted December 12, 2010 That's a tough call. Where is the crack exactly? I would imagine if there was already a lacquer crack before shipment, then the wood crack was there too and may have been there a long time (wood crack would cause a lacquer crack, but not vice versa). If the crack has already been there for a long time then it may not get any worse, especially if it is glued properly by your luthier. It sure is a nice looking guitar, so if it feels and sounds great, and if the repair doesn't bother you, it seems like a reasonable deal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ces1965 Posted December 12, 2010 Author Share Posted December 12, 2010 The crack starts near the nut on the right side and then slants slowly upward toward the center of the neck. Basically it is near the fretboard. You have to apply pressure to the headstock to get it to open. It stays closed otherwise and looks only like a crack in the finish. Thanks for the replies. I'm leaning toward keeping it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supersonic Posted December 12, 2010 Share Posted December 12, 2010 It sure does look awesome. Wow. Tough call. I would probably keep it, but it's a lot easier to make that decision when it's not my money LOL. The pics are great though, thanks for posting and good luck in whatever you decide. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RaSTuS Posted December 12, 2010 Share Posted December 12, 2010 You have to apply pressure to the headstock to get it to open. It stays closed otherwise If it's possible to open the crack physically then I'm sure I'd send it back ASAP. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigneil Posted December 12, 2010 Share Posted December 12, 2010 If it's possible to open the crack physically then I'm sure I'd send it back ASAP. me too ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
g6120 Posted December 12, 2010 Share Posted December 12, 2010 me too ! You gotta be cracked to keep it ! Sorry could not resist .... Return the guitar you wont be sorry unless you decided to keep it . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wendyw Posted December 12, 2010 Share Posted December 12, 2010 If it was a bolt on neck I might consider that the partial refund was worth the risk that a whole new neck might be needed, but in this case I'd send it back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Notes_Norton Posted December 12, 2010 Share Posted December 12, 2010 Personally, I'd send it back and have the seller pay for the shipping. You bought a guitar without a crack, the crack could be serious, and if it is, the deal offered will not really cover it. YMMV. Notes ♫ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brianh Posted December 12, 2010 Share Posted December 12, 2010 I'd return it. The $700 discount will cover the repair, but it's a seriously devalued and flawed instrument, even if the repair is successful. And what if the repair isn't successful? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gearhead Posted December 12, 2010 Share Posted December 12, 2010 Brian is right on, as far as value it definitely drops it. BUT, the neck isn't snapped off, and if you really like it, I'd probably repair it, but only if you're gonna keep it forever. I had a '68 Gibson LP Custom that got knocked off a stand in our practice room and onto a concrete floor, snapping the neck behind the nut. Only thing that held the headstock on was the veneer overlay. I repaired it myself and it's still together today, 20 years later. So I guess I would see if you an find another in that price range, and if so I would send it back. Remember, you will NEVER sell it for what you have in it with a repair like that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ces1965 Posted December 12, 2010 Author Share Posted December 12, 2010 Thanks for everyone's input - it was very helpful. I decided financially it didn't make sense to keep it, because if I have to do the full repair, I likely could not resell it for what I would have in it. My quest for vintage P-90 hollowbody goodness will continue. It seems you can buy them any day for 3500 to 4000 but that's too much for me. I'll have to wait for the next reasonable one Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RaSTuS Posted December 12, 2010 Share Posted December 12, 2010 Thanks for everyone's input - it was very helpful. I decided financially it didn't make sense to keep it, because if I have to do the full repair, I likely could not resell it for what I would have in it. My quest for vintage P-90 hollowbody goodness will continue. It seems you can buy them any day for 3500 to 4000 but that's too much for me. I'll have to wait for the next reasonable one 3500 to 4000 what? Pounds, Euros, Yen, Pesos? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aymara Posted December 12, 2010 Share Posted December 12, 2010 Why not buy a new Epi Casino with Bigsby for around 1000$? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobouz Posted December 12, 2010 Share Posted December 12, 2010 FWIW, a single pickup vintage Casino with a headstock repair is currently selling for $2100 at Elderly (it's been there a while!). Two pickup versions always go for considerably more. If I really liked the one you have & the seller were willing to take closer to $1000 off for the repair, then it would be worth considering if I planned to keep it. Had a 1919 Gibson 'A' mandolin for many years with a new headstock to replace one that had broken off. Wonderful instrument - should have kept it (but did manage to get all my money out of it later in trade). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mydeadblues Posted December 13, 2010 Share Posted December 13, 2010 Did the sender have it insured when he shipped it? If he did UPS/Fedex or whoever your provider was might pay for it. They can give how much it was insured for to the sender then he can offer you a higher amount because he essentially got paid twice, once from you and once from the shipping company for breaking his property. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dougg330 Posted December 15, 2010 Share Posted December 15, 2010 I have a '66 Gibson ES-330 with repaired, cracked headstock. Paid $1400 for it... the only way I could afford one. The crack repair is old, and involves a spline that was put in and some overspray. Plays great, sounds great, and the crack hasn't grown and seems stable. My luthier says he can glue it if it opens more. Bottom line: it's a keeper. A 330 without the repair is at least $2,500, so I think the value is there. If you can get $700 back from your seller, and the Casino plays and sounds right, I think yours would be the same situation. Also, I noticed yours is Sparkling Burgundy - which is a rare and more desirable color. It might not be as collectible with the repair, butif it plays and sounds good I'd still keep it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bonzoboy Posted December 15, 2010 Share Posted December 15, 2010 I have 2 Casinos-a MIC 08 natural finish,and a '65 John Lennon.They are both great guitars but the J.L. is beyond belief in every way,the build quality and finish are flawless and the playability and tone are simply beyond compare.The J.L. is my absolute favourite of 29 guitars,I just can't say enough good about it.You can pick up 1965 and Revolution model John Lennon(not the inspired by although they're great too)for around the $2,000 mark maybe you should consider getting one of these as where there were only 1965 made they may appreciate in years to come-especially very low or high serial numbers.Mine was one of the first 50 and she will most likely really go up in value over time.Anyway you will have an exquisite guitar if you opt for a John Lennon model or an Inspired by. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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