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Supergrunged

Fix it. Repairs have better stories then a brand new guitar anyways. That is quite repairable, where you can do it your self, or have a pro do it. The finish will still show where it broke, obviously, but it's a clean break. Common story on Les Pauls


SimbaPenn

Local shop quoted $400 which is the cost of the guitar. Guess I'm fixing myself?


Last_Gigolo

YouTube videos for sure. Glue and clamps seem to have pretty good results. I mean, if you want to get him a new guitar, do it. Get him another Epiphone. Tell him you'll go halves on a Gibson if he keeps the new one in pristine condition .. Meanwhile, with this guitar, Piddle around, watch some YouTube videos, get some ideas, and study how to fix this one. Glue, clamp, wait, string, then play.


Sorry-Letter6859

Non-musician here, Does it affect the sound to any real degree?


Last_Gigolo

As far as I have witnessed, no. You'd have to be weird with it to mess it up.


AlienVredditoR

No, not noticeable by ear at least. Electrics aren't made to play unplugged, and once plugged in, wood and glue has pretty much zero effect. Even with acoustic guitars, you wouldn't really hear a difference on a headstock repair like this.


Valuable_Solid_3538

I had a $200 Carlo Robeli acoustic that had the headstock snapped off in the high school courtyard. 15 year old me grabbed some clamps and glue and got it back to playing right. It sounded good for another year before someone put a foot through the back. Feel bad for the old girl, she sounded great for a cheapo


kl0wn420

Whoever quoted $400 is a crook. Thats $150 at most.


jango-lionheart

Perhaps the tech included a neck refinishing job in that quote.


chipsdad65

that's a insane price for glue and clamps


xeroksuk

A lot of people on r/guitarrepair will recommend putting a tie or 2 in as well as simply glueing it.


BNinja921

I’m a luthier at an invitiation-only shop, while I agree 100% I wouldn’t tie this as it’s a clean snap. The ones in 3+ pieces get tied or doweled. Tite bond 3, and some clamps. Tite bond is stronger than the wood. I would want to see the truss channel and level the cracked surface. I’d say with a hobby syringe and TB3, clamp it at 35 lbs both sides and let it cure. I’d quote $175 for just the break- it would be a $250 with a full neck resurface to natural (sand and seal) or $350 with a paint match and level correction back to 100% stock. The problem is the paint matching sucks to do and that’s were the cost comes in. I think $400 is steep, I’d probably just do it for a kid for $250-$300 and eat some product cost because I have it on-hand already anyway. I love young musicians that take it seriously. Makes it worth it. If it was me, I’d DIY it and have a cool story to tell. It’s a good bonding experience and makes the guitar way cooler.


xeroksuk

"bonding experience" lol


BNinja921

Titebond 3, it’s so strong it’ll save your relationship


justplainben

I don't even have a guitar to repair but I really appreciate this response. Thank you for it.


BNinja921

I’m always accessible and since I deleted all other socials, I’m always available if you have a question. Always trying to learn more and help! Thank you for the kindness!


some_cool_guy

It's really not hard, you can bring it back to get professionally set after half assing through the youtube tutorial


Japordoo

He didn’t want to do it. He gave you a “go away” price.


Wonderful-Table3405

Rondo music. You can get a guitar better then that one for just 500-600 bucks and the head stock won't break.


musicheel

Super late to this thread so someone prob already suggested but fix it with the kiddo! I'm so glad my dad made me learn / taught me to fix things growing up.


Advanced_Cat5706

Why not get it repaired? It broke at a relatively easy place and if you aren’t aiming for the mythical “invisible” repair it shouldn’t be a ridiculously expensive repair. Hell, if you are handy you could have a go yourself if you want a nice little project.


SimbaPenn

Think I'm going to give it a go.


Japordoo

Try two-ton epoxy. It’s very strong. A buddy in college gave me an Ibanez acoustic that broke same place. Two ton epoxy and clamps it was good for another 20 yrs until my father-in-law dropped it.


spamtardeggs

Titebond II or III is all you need. Epoxy is overkill.


xeroksuk

Woodglue


AlarmingBeing8114

Epoxy can be fine for some repairs, but it is unnecessary here. It can be a bit cumbersome to use and clean up for a first job. I do think epiphone uses it in some of these lower tier les pauls to glue the neck in so it won't be out of place. System 3 epoxy is what I use when needed, and never use any sets in 5 min, even if you've dry fit it and it looks good. The fast set is a disaster everytime.


Japordoo

An owner/luthier at a small local place (before big box ran a lot of em out of business) had told me to use that when I asked for advice. It was cumbersome to use and difficult to clean, but it worked well and for so long that I recommend it. I used it on another Jackson electric that fell and broke while gigging. Also work phenomenally well.


AlarmingBeing8114

Like many repairs, you use what is needed. Epoxy is stronger than wood glue, but once it cracks again near the epoxy, the second repair is so much harder to do than if it was wood glue. Now, if you need to fill some void where wood is missing, it works better in my opinion than glue, which will fail in that application. I was told by another luthier to use a hair dryer on the epoxy to help get it in further if it's a tight crack, and I'm going to do that this week. If I were to make a simple rule about gluing. I'd say wood glue headstocks and expoxy bodies, but there are a ton Of exceptions.


Japordoo

I can appreciate this


Toxic-Park

Nothing to lose. You were going to replace it anyway. I’ve done this exact same repair 3 times. And I’m not a very hands-on wood guy. All three times it worked very well.


SimbaPenn

Awesome. Did you follow a specific guide or video?


Toxic-Park

For the first one - no I didn’t. And luckily it still came out okay, I’d recommend watching a video tho. The ones others are recommending are good I’m sure. They tend to almost “want” to go back together because the break tends to fit back together like a puzzle piece. Assuming the break wasn’t massive. And yours looks pretty promising Edit: hopefully you can find or have saved the chip that came off from the front side too and glue it back on as well. Just to make it look as good as possible afterwards.


punkkitty312

That can be fixed with wood glue and clamps. It's a clean break. Remove the strings and tuners. Put wood glue in the crack, and clamp it into place. Use a moist paper towel to clean up the excess glue. Let it sit for 24 hours. You should then be able to remove the clamps, reinstall the tuners, and put on new strings. I use Tightbond wood glue, but other brands will work. Do not use white Elmer's glue. You can use Elmer's wood glue.


Upstairs-Fan-2168

A lot of people don't seem to know the wood glue will likely be stronger than the wood. For this repair, I recommend a reference to the YouTube channel projectfarm. He does all sorts of product reviews including wood glue. The different glues varied a lot from what I remember. I'd buy the best one from his review for a project like this.


SimbaPenn

Appreciate it. I'll give this a go. Local place quoted basically the cost of the guitar for the repair ☹️.


punkkitty312

There are YouTube videos out there. Watch a couple first.


Novel_Land9320

Super easy fix and it will be as strong (some claim stronger) as before! Any pro can do it


SimbaPenn

Can't figure out how to edit the post so replying down here. Whoa, had no idea this could be repaired easily! It looked so dire! Will look into it. There's a shop nearby that I think can handle. How much would a repair run, you think? EDIT: Local place quoted $400 for the repair, which doesn't seem prudent given the cost to replace. Shop around? Repair myself?


Prestigious_Fold6818

Also, I think objects should be repaired whenever possible. But, being a Les Paul, this is super common occurrence. I wouldn't replace a repairable guitar. And it's actually very good looking, so worth saving.


Flogger59

If it's a pretty repair with finish touch ups, maybe $200.


spiderland5150

I thought you'd have to buy a new neck, everyone here says wood glue and a clamp. DIY it!


Pinball-Gizzard

Unless you're completely prepared to replace it after a failed learning experiment, the marginal gain of a DIY vs a "luthier who knows what they're doing" is so not worth it


SimbaPenn

Lol, well the local guitar shop seems to agree with you I think. But at the cost of the repair job, I guess wood glue, clamps, and send it.


spiderland5150

My buddies wife, smashed his face in with his Takamine, while he was sleeping. It had a pretty bad split going all of the way down, but we managed to reinforce it with glue and wire.(The guitar , not his face) After a few hours of work, It stayed in tune, but the action was terrible. The next time I went over to their house, it was stomped flat as a pancake. Point being, what have you got to lose?


aug_guitarr

Geez he’s got a crazy wife man. Lord help him.


spiderland5150

That was like, 1998? I'm sure he's long dead by now


aug_guitarr

😅damn that’s crazy dude


aug_guitarr

It’s neck through so new neck is a no go


ruttness

I’d get it fixed and have the story to tell. But if replacing it is a must the Sweetwater exclusive blueberry fade epiphone modern figured has a similar color scheme and is a phenomenal guitar


SimbaPenn

That's definitely on the list if the repair is a fail.


Rex_Howler

I also vote for repair


WillHammerhead

This is a really easy repair.


Guitarstringman

Glue it


everydayhumanist

Fix it.


QuidiferPrestige

Honeslty, a little wood glue and a good clamp can go a long way.


Cheap-Razzmatazz-599

I mean either fix or a strat seems like the best option if you need to replace the guitar


Shimkeee

How did it break? Was it knocked over or the string tension or..?


SimbaPenn

It was knocked over ☹️


drunken_ferret

This is, unfortunately, not uncommon with Gibson guitars - the angle of the head stock makes this fairly assured if one falls over. Get it repaired. A good luthier will be able to repair the thing, as they may have experience (see above 😅). I've seen repairs on that same guitar that had a stronger neck than before the repair. Will it still play? Yep. Will it look repaired? Sure will; I've been told that it's kind of a rite of passage. And that 'chicks dig scars'.


mrfingspanky

That bass is next... Stands are guitar killers.


SimbaPenn

Yeah, need to MacGyver a catch in the front to prevent this happening again. Or ditch the stand and hang on the wall.


godofwine16

No way that’s $400 find a local guy and it’s cost around $100-$150


Appropriate-Net-9219

Replacing your son is harsh but fair.


[deleted]

Very clean break, wood glue and clamps are the solution.


Unique_Walk8855

I'd get an IYV or a Harley Benton LP style for the meanwhile if youre looking to have a placeholder until he gets a nice one, and thats if you dont fix it


charlamagnethegreat

My Les Paul had an “oopsie” on the neck too over 10yrs ago. I immediately took it to a guitar tech at GC (lol, I know), and though you can see the crack after it was fixed, the guitar still plays well for my liking.


Beartrkkr

Wood glue and some clamps and she'll be good as new with a battle scar. Take those strings off now though. It'll almost be like a real Les Paul...


MaverickTRex

I'd recommend a hagstrom d2h. I've got one and am a big fan. They play real nice and the quality is likely comparable. They look a bit like les Paul's and typically go for around $300-$400 used if you can find them. They don't have a kill switch or anything, but pedals can be purchased or guitars can be modded at music shops.


Crabtasticismyname

Is that stand vertical? You probably want to lean it back a little so that the guitars have less than a 50-50 chance of falling forward. Put a shim under the front.


SimbaPenn

It leans back, but yeah, shimming the front a bit is a good idea.


GadgetGuy1977

Oh that’s totally fixable. If you’re planning to get another anyway, what’s the difference? Either it’s successful or it isn’t. Good luck!


THRobinson75

Give it to me. 😁 Can't really recommend what to replace it with... Go to the shop with your budget in mind, and have him play what's there. No one can tell you what your son will enjoy playing better than your son. That said, guitars with flat, not angled, headstocks will usually take a knock better than a Les Paul.


PeckerPeeker

Everybody is saying repair. It’ll have to be a home job since the luthier is quoting you $400 (which seems absurd, tbh. I’d understand if it was a Gibson and they were redoing the finish in that area but this is a poly finish; you can’t really fix the finish on that, you just glue it back and sand the crack even and possible some filler to make it smooth). Outside of repairing it, I would suggest Facebook Marketplace for a used Gibson Studio. They can be had for $800 and a used one will hold its value and hey, it’s a Gibson (if that’s your thing). Otherwise I guess I would look into Schecter or LTD. You haven’t given us a price range - so it’s kinda tough. What I’ve noticed is that there are price ranges nowadays where everything is clustered, then a price-desert up until the next price point. Right now the two big ones are like $500-$600 which gets you a nice guitar and then $1000-1300 which get you a really really nice guitar. So on one hand it kinda sucks because there aren’t as many cheap instruments. On the other hand the cheaper instruments on today are really nice and the medium priced instruments quality can be so good that 20-30 years ago they would have been considered professional grade. At the end of the day LTD and Jackson are my favorite right now in that price range. After that it is mostly just down to style.


BackgroundPublic2529

It's a fantastic guitar to learn how to do this repair. When I was young and dinosaurs roamed freely, the cheap guitar of the day (that broke at the headstock) was the Les Paul Special. We had one come in, and my mentor had me tackle it as my first attempt. 1978 by the way. Boss inspected it after I was done... looked at me and asked how it played. "Seems fine" I replied. "Good," he says, "yours now." That was several hundred broken neck repairs ago, and I still own the guitar. It has gigged relentlessly. In hindsight, it is a good looking repair. Patience and guidance got it and me there. My point being that you can definitely do this with such a clean break. Cheers!


Industricon

I was in the Gibson Guitar garage in London on Saturday and a lad brought one in which herl had owned for a month. The guitar tec told him they would fix it FOC. It's a known weak point on the LP. He also said that the wood glue is stronger than the wood itself and should prevent it from happening again. Its certainly worth repairing.


WantToBeGreatBy2028

Beautiful guitar. 400 seems insane for this to be fixed. I dropped my Epiphone Les Paul Custom Koa and it broke it the same place. My local luthier made a new nut out of bison bone and totally fixed the break for 200. I think the shop you’re going to would rather you just buy the new one. Which I’d probably do because I own 45 and can’t stop lol. Anyhow, good luck!


joshuadale

r/luthier will have some good advice and resources for repairing it.


the-dirty-mac

A Fender


j3434

Epiphone? Eat the loss - buy a new one . Enjoy the shopping 😎and new guitar! Epiphone has a new line - inspired by Gibson with quality pickups and open book headstock. Awesomely nice!


shake__appeal

I’m a Fender guy but I’ve had a Japanese Greco SG in the stable for a while (which fucks so hard, probably better than any Gibson I’ve played). So first off, my recommendation is find a mint collection Greco, I got mine for like $500. Secondly, I don’t understand the lore behind these shitty headstocks… can someone explain why the fuck they break so ridiculously easily?


HoboBeast29

Wood glue with a cushioned vice should do it. Is that his first LP? Many people are unaccustomed to the angle of an LP neck and put a lot of strain on it, which is why it is such a common problem. I've never broken a neck on any of my LPs, the oldest being 39 years old.


SimbaPenn

Yeah, his first.


Chill-6_6-

Replace it with a better son hahaha.


pertrichor315

This is a good guide. https://www.instructables.com/How-to-repair-a-broken-guitar-neck-headstock/ There are videos on YouTube too. Definitely get a bottle of Titebond glue and some good clamps.


CmmH14

Clean breaks are scary but as good as can be for a bad situation. A good strong glue, clamps and about 24 hours can and will fix this no problem. Also Les Paul necks are notorious for this, a good thing to watch out for in the future.


rockturnercomedy

Maybe a daughter, they don't break as much stuff.


walkerk1972

How did it get broken?


SimbaPenn

Someone knocked it over.


Grouchy_Ad_2236

I would just buy a new neck.


Myitchychocolatestar

Good Tite-Bond wood glue holds better than the wood itself. Glue it then clamp it.


ReillyPeshel

Pain, terrible pain from seeing this 🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺


somehobo89

Yeah I would at least take a stab at repairing that it’s as simple as a job like this gets. If you need more tips than you got here lemme know. It is just titebond, clamps, and maybe 2 days drying time to be extra safe. Cheap AF


ItsChanceyboy

I fixed my neck on an Epiphone SG with JB weld. Sanded, paint, good as new, probably stronger.


Financial_Passion703

Most stories I’ve read say the tone is good. Worth the try if aesthetics don’t matter. Hard lesson to learn. Best wishes.


Emotional_Bed_8831

It’s an epi, it will cost more to fix it than it will to just replace is. Also, even if you fix it, it will never really be the same.


gregbones1999

Get him a jackson


SimbaPenn

He's got one! That was his first full sized electric. We'd recently picked up the LP bc the Jackson has a Floyd Rose which is ng for alternate tunings.


aug_guitarr

Don’t fix it. Personally, it’s better to spend that money on a new guitar. I’d look into Ibanez. It’s definitely my bias but I’ve played many different types of guitars. The newer GIO’s are about 300 ish and you get a LOT of guitar out of em. 24 frets, high output pick ups, 5 way tone switch, etc. plus the finishes on a couple are GORGEOUS. If needed I can drop some recommendations. If you wanna top it off then get a set up on it after. These $300 guitars feel and sound like $500 guitars plus they’re super easy to upgrade if you want to make it even better.


jarrodandrewwalker

That bass looks like it's going to take a spill too


CoachKellyG

Fix it as the lads have said. And buy dear son a guitar stand so he doesn't lean it on things again.....


CiscoKid1975

Had the exact same issue with Les Paul … $350 (from a Luthier in NYC) and it looks like it never happened


SimbaPenn

Also in NYC. Can you send me the luthier you used? I'm probably just going to DIY fix and grab him a new one if needed.


captainbeautylover63

That’s an easy fix.


Infinite-Wasabi2292

PRS or a Tele if you’re after durability


Otherwise_Access_878

A telecaster of course


Tedanki

Fender Stratocaster ;)


dizzylizzy78

Ive seen more snapped headstocks than a little bit over the past couple weeks. What the hell are people doing besides being careless?


CodeNameCobra666

That’s likely repairable


dontlookatthebanana

my honest opinion is to get a fender product. you can use the headstock on the fender to hammer in the nails on this ones coffin and still play it after.


Fire_Mission

I would have it repaired.


Unhinged_Taco

A fender


KeyLeadership6819

Well he’s a giants fan so there is a pretty good shot he won’t even notice the break :)


SimbaPenn

So broken already on the inside, and now the outside too!


soggychipbutty

A Fender


vitalesan

Nice looking body.


Unter71

I have a 71 deluxe that has broken twice and been repaired sounds great stays in tune no issue


AbjectBid6087

Easy fix, but if you want to get him a new one then you can't go wrong with a second hand ec1000. Bit more pricey but it's legit a better Gibson lp


SimbaPenn

That is a beauty. I'll try to find one local for him to try out.


sleeplessinCentral

a Strat, burn that Flag before it brakes Any Thing else


ForzaFenix

No point im fixing that on a guitar that sells used for $350. A new Epi Les Paul is a decent idea. 


Plumbus251

Oh shoot! I just bought that exact guitar 2 days ago! Paid $1,800 and it’s in good shape too.


Plumbus251

Wait - I missed that this post is about an Epi.


SimbaPenn

Hahaha I was gonna say, "I think you got ripped off!"


Stone_Roof_Music_33

It's a common repair on these shitty guitars


Ok_Crew7084

New neck from Warmoth will fix it right up.