$100 Ibanez Semi-Hollow - with a CATCH!

[samato]

I bought this Ibanez Artcore. I hope it wasn't a mistake. A previous owner did some serious damage to it. It must have fallen forward and the headstock hit something, causing a major crack in the back of the neck. Someone did a bad job of glueing it back together. It didn't break completely off.

I bought it because in spite of this it seems to be fine and I'm thinking I might be able to improve the repair job. I don't have any experience with this type of guitar or with these kinds of repairs so I was hoping to get some input from you guys.

The neck is pretty straight, I haven't tried adjusting the truss rod yet. it plays pretty good with the light gauge strings that are on it but I want to put 11-49's on it. Electronics work perfectly and it sounds good, though I'm not used to humbuckers so I need some time to figure out how I like to set things. Aside from the major flaw it's a beautiful guitar.

Questions:
1) Do you think the stability or functionality of this guitar is compromised beyond repair?

2) Does it make sense to try and fix/redo the repair? I think the area that was glued needs to be sanded down to smooth it out and maybe refinished. I'm not concerned about making it look like new or even good, I just want it to be strong and not feel rough like it does now.

3) It seems to work fine now with light gauge strings on it. Will putting heavier strings cause problems?

EDIT: I just realized the pictures are pretty bad, so hopefully you guys can get the idea but maybe I'll try to get some better ones later. The damage doesn't look as bad as I think it is in these shots.

[bossaholic]

Hard to say unless you try the heavier strings.

[samato]

I'll probably try the heavier strings tonight.

I also want to take it to my local luthier to see what he says but I don't think I'll be able to make it over there for a few days.

[aunchaki]

Originally Posted by samato

Questions:
1) Do you think the stability or functionality of this guitar is compromised beyond repair?

2) Does it make sense to try and fix/redo the repair? I think the area that was glued needs to be sanded down to smooth it out and maybe refinished. I'm not concerned about making it look like new or even good, I just want it to be strong and not feel rough like it does now.

3) It seems to work fine now with light gauge strings on it. Will putting heavier strings cause problems?

The only way to really know if it's busted beyond repair is to string it up and start playing it. You may want to start with light strings (if you like them), but I'd just go for the strings I'd plan to use anyway (you're going to have to try them eventually). If it holds, then I'd think about cleaning it up a bit, sanding the rough glue repair, etc...

I wouldn't try to intentionally re-break it just to fix it again. String it with your strings of choice. If it breaks off, you can go about re-repairing it properly. If it doesn't break off, enjoy!

I don't think it's a goner by any means. I really like the Artcore line and this one's a beaut. I've seen a few Les Pauls and SGs that have had their headstocks snapped completely off and reattached successfully.

Good luck, let us know how it turns out.

[JohnK24]

If it breaks, I would say your luthier bill would result in the cost of a good used Artcore (thinking repair in the $125-175 range)...imho.

[samato]

Originally Posted by JohnK24

If it breaks, I would say your luthier bill would result in the cost of a good used Artcore (thinking repair in the $125-175 range)...imho.

I'm sure you're right. Paying someone to fix it is not an option here. I would ask him to take a look at it and see what he has to say. He doesn't mind doing that.

If I can't fix it myself or get a relative of mine who is a cabinet maker to help then this will be a loss. I don't think that will be the case because it seems fine right now.

[chrisgblues]

Take it to a qualified luthier if you want to know the answers. Even then, the luthier might say 'I have to take it apart to see'. In which case it's gonna cost you a lot (relative to the overall value of the guitar).

If it were me...I'd just play it. If it breaks again, and you REALLY like it, then take it to the luthier to put it back together properly. If it doesn't break...then the gamble paid off.

Just my two cents worth.

[samato]

Well yeah, I'm just gonna play it. If it works after putting 11's on it and setting it up I wouldn't want to re-break just to fix it or anything like that.

I would want to smooth out the area with all the excess glue though. I guess I could just sand it until it feels right and that's it?

Right now it's not staying in tune very well and the intonation is off but I haven't messed with it at all except to play it. I don't think the tuning issue is because of the crack but I could be wrong, that's my concern. I think it's just a matter of old light strings that can't handle my heavy touch, nut slots & stuff like that.

[charlie chitlin]

If it's wood glue, you could smooth it out with a wet cloth

[samato]

Originally Posted by charlie chitlin

If it's wood glue, you could smooth it out with a wet cloth

I'll try that but I don't know what kind of glue it is. The excess glue is one issue but I think even without that it would still be a little rough just because of the crack itself. Might not be a big deal though so I guess the wet cloth should be my starting point.

[Duke1953]

I recently bought a Fender Squier LP that had the same repair done, it works fine. Good luck and enjoy.

[tpaul]

It should hold if it was glued and clamped properly. If not, a cabinet maker should be able to reglue it. It's not rocket surgery.

[samato]

Judging by the looks of the repair job I doubt anything was done correctly. It looks like it should hold though. It seems to me that the string tension should help because it's pulling it the right way.

[Al Watsky]

Usually an Ibanez has a nice durable Poly finish.
It looks like Krazy Glue.
Lucky that the solvent for krazy glue is acetone.
Luckier still that the Poly finish on many Ibanez guitars is impervious to acetone.
Test a spot with a q tip first if the finish doesn't score or etch you can wipe the glue off with a rag and some acetone.
That works fine.
That sort of crack is common, as long as the glue holds the guitar will function as it should. The string tension will in fact hold the thing together.
So string it up with your 11's it should work fine.
Then test a spot , the back of the head stock for instance, just to be safe and then wipe the excess glue off with your acetone. Make sure you have good ventilation. You don't want to soak your self with the acetone or breath it in or get it in your eyes its a powerful solvent. Exercise common sense.
Nice find.

[sonserve]

Originally Posted by Al Watsky

Usually an Ibanez has a nice durable Poly finish.
It looks like Krazy Glue.
Lucky that the solvent for krazy glue is acetone.
Luckier still that the Poly finish on many Ibanez guitars is impervious to acetone.
Test a spot with a q tip first if the finish doesn't score or etch you can wipe the glue off with a rag and some acetone.
That works fine.
That sort of crack is common, as long as the glue holds the guitar will function as it should. The string tension will in fact hold the thing together.
So string it up with your 11's it should work fine.
Then test a spot , the back of the head stock for instance, just to be safe and then wipe the excess glue off with your acetone. Make sure you have good ventilation. You don't want to soak your self with the acetone or breath it in or get it in your eyes its a powerful solvent. Exercise common sense.
Nice find.

Right. In most cases the glued part will be the last part of the neck to break should it fall again. Be careful how you store or transport any guitar with a tilt back headstock. They crack pretty easily.

[samato]

Al Watsky - That's good info on the finish, glue, solvent, etc. - thanks

sonserve - Good point about the tilt back headstock. I need a good case for it. None of the ones I have fit this guitar.

[String Tree]

If it sounds great when you turn it up and stays in tune, don't worry about it.

I bought a Black LP custom 20 years ago with the headstock broken off at the nut. THAT was messed-up! Your crack may just be superficially cosmetic. I hope it is anyway.

Re-setting around an existing truss rod is not a job for a cabinet shop.
You need REAL help.

My repair was done by a seasoned pro and it plays like it.

As I said, I hope your damage is superficial and has only cracked the finish.
If that is the case, you scored a sweet axe for a hunnerd bux.

[samato]

I'm pretty sure it was a lot worse than just a finish crack. It looks to me like the thing almost broke completely off but not quite.

I'll know a lot more when I change strings and set it up. I might need to adjust the truss rod at that point to give it less relief. That's the part I'm worried about. We'll see.

[Al Watsky]

Originally Posted by samato

I'm pretty sure it was a lot worse than just a finish crack. It looks to me like the thing almost broke completely off but not quite.

I'll know a lot more when I change strings and set it up. I might need to adjust the truss rod at that point to give it less relief. That's the part I'm worried about. We'll see.

If the glue holds it will work fine.
If the glue doesn't hold glue it again, then it will work fine.
Bottom line is just play it if you can, if not fix it.
I'm not blowin' smoke.
I'm a repair man.
This is a common repair.
Its not as bad as it looks.
Wipe off the glue and practice.
If its going to break, it will, other wise your good to go.
Don't overthink it, as you know its a 100 dollar guitar.
Just use it.

[TaylorPlayer]

I say congrats on a great find! For $100 bucks you can't go too wrong. I have an Artcore AF75 Jazz box that rocks!

I picked up this beauty, (1969 Framus 12 String) for the price of an old Blues Driver that was a freebie from an earlier trade. It has cracks down one side that someone had tried to glue but looks horrible, a hole in the other, cracks on the solid sitka top and the neck was at about a 45 degree angle when I "Saved" it. IT WAS STILL STRUNG UP TO SOME SORT OF PITCH!!!

I immediatly took the strings off and because it has a bolt on neck was able to dowl and glue the old holes and reset the neck. The cracks and holes I am leaving alone. I keep it cased with a humidifier in the winter and sitting out during the summer. It has lasted for quite some time with no problems. I only keep it because for some reason, I can actually play fingerstyle on this 12 string and have struggled with Taylors, Guilds and other 12's. I think it has something to do with the Zero fret, metal nut and adjustable bridge with metal string guides.