Slight headstock damage [Archive] - Telecaster Guitar Forum

Gringo13

November 6th, 2009, 10:50 PM

I've been on the market for a '72 Custom RI for a while now. Since I'm not really up to dropping a grand to order a brand new MIM that I can't even play before purchase, I haven't really had many options. I recently came across a used one in a local shop. The guitar seemed in good shape with no major flaws and it played pretty well. Upon further inspection, however, I found a small chip (maybe the size of a pencil eraser) on the headstock against the nut near the high e string. It had obviously been reglued, so I showed the shop manager. He immediately took the strings off and got it under the lit magnifying glass. Upon taking the nut off, it was obvious that it, too, had been broken and reglued (why it wasn't replaced I have no idea). By following the crack under the magnifying glass, I found a very short (no more than an 8th of an inch) and shallow hairline crack in the neck. I am going to have the shop's guitar tech take a look at it with me and hopefully explain it a little. However, since I am fairly clueless on guitar nuts and bolts and I have found this site to be a wealth of info, I have a few questions prior to speaking with him.

1. Should this be an automatic "do not buy for any reason" red flag?
2. Besides resale issues, how significant are these problems for sound and durability?
3. Given the guitar is worthy, how much more wiggle room does that give me for negotiating the price?
4. Any other suggestions? Anyone looking to unload a 72 Custom RI? ; )

Obviously, if I do get this guitar, I will be replacing the nut with a high quality piece and have the guitar properly set up.
Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Russ


	Telecaster Guitar Forum > Other Discussion Forums > Tele-Tech > Slight headstock damage PDA Slight headstock damage Gringo13 November 6th, 2009, 10:50 PM I've been on the market for a '72 Custom RI for a while now. Since I'm not really up to dropping a grand to order a brand new MIM that I can't even play before purchase, I haven't really had many options. I recently came across a used one in a local shop. The guitar seemed in good shape with no major flaws and it played pretty well. Upon further inspection, however, I found a small chip (maybe the size of a pencil eraser) on the headstock against the nut near the high e string. It had obviously been reglued, so I showed the shop manager. He immediately took the strings off and got it under the lit magnifying glass. Upon taking the nut off, it was obvious that it, too, had been broken and reglued (why it wasn't replaced I have no idea). By following the crack under the magnifying glass, I found a very short (no more than an 8th of an inch) and shallow hairline crack in the neck. I am going to have the shop's guitar tech take a look at it with me and hopefully explain it a little. However, since I am fairly clueless on guitar nuts and bolts and I have found this site to be a wealth of info, I have a few questions prior to speaking with him. 1. Should this be an automatic "do not buy for any reason" red flag? 2. Besides resale issues, how significant are these problems for sound and durability? 3. Given the guitar is worthy, how much more wiggle room does that give me for negotiating the price? 4. Any other suggestions? Anyone looking to unload a 72 Custom RI? ; ) Obviously, if I do get this guitar, I will be replacing the nut with a high quality piece and have the guitar properly set up. Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks! Russ mellecaster November 6th, 2009, 11:19 PM You can email me if you have any interest in this one...Plastic still on Pickguard, unplayed condition. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v234/mellecaster/72%20RI%20Custom/475224.jpg http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v234/mellecaster/72%20RI%20Custom/72RI.jpg