Gibson SG61 Neck Broken HELP

[laguna88]

I take my Gibson SG61 from London to Shanghai thru the baggage system and it is damaged upon arrival....
The upper Neck is broken and I wonder is it possible to change a new Neck?
Where can I find them... I try many google page but fail....
Some one please help me pls and inform me more info....

THANKS!!!

[redstringuitar]

Well, with the number of "Gibson"s coming out of China at the moment, you shouldn't need to look too far...

[imsilly]

Gibson break like matchsticks due to the soft mahogany wood used. That means it is quite a commons fix. Most luthiers will be able to set the neck and reapply the lacquer like nothing has happened.

As long as you let a proffesstion Luthier handle it there won't be a problem.

[echale iii]

Just glue it back together and go.....

[laguna88]

thanks, but the break is very bad I will take some photo and post it tomorrow.
Still it will be much better if I can buy a original Neck for it... do you think is possible that Gibson can sell it to me?

[Wayne Alexander]

You can send the guitar to Gibson and they'll redo the neck. Not cheap if you're sending from Shanghai. Gibson won't sell a neck separately, to my knowledge. If you had insurance on the guitar, sell it for scrap and get a new one.

[Mark Davis]

Originally Posted by laguna88

thanks, but the break is very bad I will take some photo and post it tomorrow.
Still it will be much better if I can buy a original Neck for it... do you think is possible that Gibson can sell it to me?

These are set neck guitars you cant just take out 4 screws and replace the neck like on a Fender.

You dont need a whole new neck just have it repaired.

If you send it to Gibson for a new neck it could cost way more than you think.

When you pack a setneck guitar you have to be sure the guitar doesnt move at all inside the case and is well padded. All it takes is the box to fall over and your neck is broken.

[dconeill]

Originally Posted by laguna88

thanks, but the break is very bad I will take some photo and post it tomorrow.
Still it will be much better if I can buy a original Neck for it... do you think is possible that Gibson can sell it to me?

Gibsons aren't made like Fenders - the neck isn't replaceable by most users. Replacing the neck involves heating the glue that holds the neck joint together, prying apart the pieces, and many other steps. A skilled repairperson can do this; maybe you should look up a Gibson factory-authorized repair facility in your region and get it to them.

How did you pack the guitar when you shipped it?

[dconeill]

I looked on the Gibson website and found this:


Support
In the USA:

1-800-4GIBSON (1-800-444-2766)
service@gibson.com

AOL Instant Messenger, Yahoo! Messenger, & MSN Messenger
users can IM Gibson Customer Service at customer.service1@gibson.com

In Europe

00+8004GIBSON1 (00+800-444-2766-1)
service.europe@gibson.com

In Japan Only

service.japan@gibson.com

In China Only

800-820-8841
service.china@gibson.com

[Joe-Bob]

File a claim against the airline.

It can probably be fixed, but it can never be made unbroken.

[Dave W]

I'm sorry your SG's neck broke, but don't look to Gibson for another. Gibson does not sell replacement necks separately. Your warranty does not cover accidental damage, so even a Gibson-authorized repairman is not going to be able to get a replacement.

Filing a claim with the airline may help, depending on the airline's liabilty rules. Was there visible damage to the container? If there is, then you may be able to get some compensation. If not, they are going to say it wasn't properly packed.

[iansmitchell]

Originally Posted by imsilly

Gibson break like matchsticks due to the soft mahogany wood used. That means it is quite a commons fix. Most luthiers will be able to set the neck and reapply the lacquer like nothing has happened.

As long as you let a proffesstion Luthier handle it there won't be a problem.

IT'S NOT THE MAHOGANY.

It's the fact that they-
a.use 50's-60's spec designs with 2000's wood
b.route the truss rod cavity to the point that there's about 1/3rd of an inch of wood in some areas
c.the grain of such a neck is weakest at that point, due to being carved from a single piece of mahogany.


ALso, it's gluing a head back on, not resetting a neck.

I've done the HS repair at home twice, once for me, once for a friend.
You don't need to relacquer if it's a clean break(plus matching old finish is next to impossible), and the hairline crack and drop and a half of glue aren't going to interfere with anything but resale value.

OP, sorry to hear about your SG.

[laguna88]

pls refer to pics and you can understand much better. The case is totally damaged after shippment and worst is the neck is also affected....
If Gibson can fix are they going to change a new neck for me or...?
By the way China does not have a authorize repair center but nearest to me is Germany they claimed....

[laguna88]

The case was new as brand new before the shippment I hardly use it when I take it outside for playing... After the shippment the case seems badly treated... the neck is found to be broken off totally......

[Wardpike]

Remove all hardware and strings. Get some carpenter's (Yellow) glue. you'll also need two pieces of flat smooth hardwood and some clamps. Put some glue in the grooves of the break areas, Line everything up perfectly, put a piece of hard wood on either side with something in between the hardwood and headstock (thin piece of cloth or paper can work) and apply clamps. Clamp it really tightly until most of the glue is forced out. Then wipe off any excess. Leave it to dry for 48 hours. Remove clamps and hardwood (they will want to tick to it all) by tapping the pieces, then clean-up any excess glue and paper/material with a super sharp single-sided razor blade and warm water.

If you line up everything perfectly, you won't even see the crack in the finish.

You also probably signed a waiver with the airline against damages. That's part of their published tariff and I doubt you can claim more than $500. You can sue, but I'd just get the $500, fix the guitar and get a new case.

Next time use an ATA approved flightcase!

[Stuco]

Aside for getting a flight case, you can/should also put some padding under the headstock to prevent it from bending back and breaking.

[Big John]

Originally Posted by Joe-Bob

File a claim against the airline.

It can probably be fixed, but it can never be made unbroken.

Absolutely 100% YES !!, get it repaired PROPERLY and even if that means shipping it somewhere then let the airline pay.

[kingnimrod]

get one of these and never worry about a broken guitar neck again:

[bluesfordan]

classic gibson headstock break, very easy to repair, will be stronger than before. Next time you travel with a gibson, remember to loosen your strings. What they did to the the case, though, is unconscionable. File a claim against the airline for replacement value of the guitar. DO NOT LET THEM KNOW IT CAN BE FIXED, OR THEY WILL TRY TO **** YOU. Get it repaired. Give the rest of the money to a charitable cause. That way, something good comes out of this whole unfortunate mess.

[laguna88]

Thanks for the advise I have filed already, I did not buy travel insurance I wonder what is the max I can get paid by the airline?
I told them it is a valuable guitar to be during check in and I ask if I can take into the plane as oversize baggage but they told me no and they will handle with care... but not really when I found out upon landing.... sad and angry...

[dean]

Wardpike's gluing method described above is the way to go. You should be able to do it yourself with little effort. Make sure you apply the glue to all broken surfaces and line everything up as perfectly as possible - then clamp and wipe the excess glue. Go to this site and scroll down to the section on "Broken Headstocks". Read through those procedures, and you should have enough knowledge to successfully repair your SG.

The break on your guitar is classic and happens to many Gibsons for the reasons other posters have stated. I have repaired at least five breaks like that, and they all have held up very well over the years.

Next time you ship a guitar, you need to make sure it's in a crush-proof case - you also need to bubble-wrap the neck and suspend it between the top and bottom of the case. Most cases are for protection when you're carrying them or transporting them by hand. If they are to be shipped, they need to really be protected.

Good luck!

Dean

[evol04gt]

my lespaul was like that but worse at one point and time, even had a twist crack down to the 9th fret.... LAYS GUITAR REPAIR in kenmore ohio fixed her stronger and better than ever... the guitar will never be worth a fortune.... but its better than it came..

contact dan shinn at laysguitarrepair.com tell him the lefty JOSH PATTERSON from VeriZon sent you.. he does stuff from all around the globe...

[Nicky B]

http://www.edroman.com/rants/les_paul_necks.htm

He may be stubborn, but ill be damned if he dosn't make a lot of good points on his site.

[SMPTE]

Make sure to read your contract of carriage. Because it was an international flight you're covered under treaty about how much you get etc.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warsaw_Convention

Both the EU and China have signed the Montreal Convention:
http://en.wikipedia.org
/wiki/Montreal_Convention
http://www.icao.int/icao/en/leb/mtl99.pdf

And always be polite and firm with them. If you're the calm and reasonable guy who's been wronged you'll get alot further along than if you're the nutcase with the broken guitar. IMHO.

[laguna88]

Originally Posted by SMPTE

Make sure to read your contract of carriage. Because it was an international flight you're covered under treaty about how much you get etc.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warsaw_Convention

Both the EU and China have signed the Montreal Convention:
http://en.wikipedia.org
/wiki/Montreal_Convention
http://www.icao.int/icao/en/leb/mtl99.pdf

And always be polite and firm with them. If you're the calm and reasonable guy who's been wronged you'll get alot further along than if you're the nutcase with the broken guitar. IMHO.

What is the max I can get? is it enough to buy a new one? I know the new one is around 2000USD now right?

[JackStraw]

File a claim, get a new guitar. A guitar with a repair like that is worth considerably less even if it is done professionally.