Broken Telecaster? How would you fix it?

[choicey]

I've posted this on another forum (Plexipalace), but perhaps the Tele experts can chime in too.

This guitar has been sitting in my room for two years now. I ended up smashing the guitar in a fury two years ago after a pretty dismal show. It was not my finest moment. Nevertheless, for the short time that I had the guitar, I really liked playing it. It's a pity it has been relegated to its case. I'm interested in fixing this because: I still think it is a playable guitar (whether stage, studio, or couch); I think it is doable; I have serious pride issues related to what happened that night and fixing it will be an ultimate win for me.

I'm interested to see what you guys think. Is this fixable? Is it worth it? These guitars (72 Tele Deluxe RI) can be found for pretty cheap and they are quite easy to replace, but I have always felt that I would be 'cheating' if I just replaced it and junked this one.








There are two main problems: the neck heel which is now not as tight (minor) and the input jack location which has lost some wood (major). Note that I have gathered all the stray pieces of wood that once covered where the input jack was.

The neck heel I think is fixable by putting in thin splints to make sure the neck doesn't move up and down. Any tips?

The input jack problem is a little trickier. I have to find a way to provide some place where the input jack can be anchored. A friend suggested that I glue on the missing chunk, then fit a piece of metal to fit around that curve, and anchor the jack to the metal strip. I'm not concerned with extra screw holes because the guitar is already beaten down. Any other ideas?

If I had the space and time, I would actually like to scrape off the black paint and make the Tele look way different. But I think that might be too heavy of an endeavour.

[Suicideking]

I am more impressed at the chunk you took out of that thing that could not have come off that easy. Does it still play if you plug it in now?

[Maricopa]

Be easier to just buy a new body. If you're thinking a transparent finish I'd wager the wood underneath that black paint isn't a good choice.

[KevinB]

The neck (and everything else) looks okay.

I'd just buy a new body too. It would be a considerable effort to fix up the old one.

[Rich_S]

And in the future, use a right-angle plug in that jack.

[jimd]

Easiest/best - new body

If you are intent on fixing this one, I would strip the body (heat gun?) and then cleanly cut off the broken part, glue on a new piece of wood, rout it match and refinish. It's hard to tell if you damaged the neck pocket or not. It looks a little big, but that doesn't mean it affects how it plays.

[Turmoil]

Duct tape and let it serve as a reminder :-)

[oigun]

Do you still have the pieces? You can glue them back in..

[jpbturbo]

Here are the plans if you'd like to make your own body,
http://www.tdpri.com/forum/2148856-post86.html

[Mark Moore]

To quote Mr. Roy Damn Mercer, "How big a boy are ya?"

I think I'd make/buy another body and hang that one on the wall.

[DMAND]

New body would be best bet. But if you have the pieces, why not try and glue the mess back together? It may be serviceable after that, worth a try, and it will still be the original. And leave the finish as it is. It will have a certain look to it and serve as a reminder to not do that again!

[LocustPlague]

I'd say "**** it" and just leave it like it is. Maybe put something over the bare wood so it won't move/splinter, but I'd leave it. Pretty punk-looking, as it is. I would just not attribute it to a temper tantrum...

[Sterling Indigo]

It's like a car accident I can't turn my eyes away from! New body.

[Suicideking]

Originally Posted by LocustPlague

I'd say "**** it" and just leave it like it is. Maybe put something over the bare wood so it won't move/splinter, but I'd leave it. Pretty punk-looking, as it is. I would just not attribute it to a temper tantrum...

Thats why I asked if it still worked..

[volowv]

it's totally salvagable... if you have the tools.

take it completely apart. stick the affected jack area against a large belt sander until it is completely flat and then glue a chunk of wood onto that flat surface and reshape it... with a bandsaw and router it wouldn't take long.

i wouldn't bother stripping it or refinishing it. maybe a can of krylon.

[Mike_LA]

Originally Posted by choicey

; I have serious pride issues related to what happened that night and fixing it will be an ultimate win for me..

Well, as far as the body goes I agree with Turmoil, Duct tape and let it serve as a reminder and spent some time fixing the neck joint . . .
You could fill the body with layers of durham rock putty and sand down . . .

Rockin good destruction job too, would make Pete proud . . .

[Triton Thrasher]

Originally Posted by LocustPlague

I'd say "**** it" and just leave it like it is. Maybe put something over the bare wood so it won't move/splinter, but I'd leave it. Pretty punk-looking, as it is. I would just not attribute it to a temper tantrum...

I'd say I used it to deflect a sniper's bullet from a beautiful spy in a tight dress. Or a popular president (has there been one recently?) or a crippled orphan.

Or I batted a grenade back out the loophole of the pillbox we were holding against incredible odds in the Grenadian War.

[Thundersleet]

Originally Posted by choicey

(72 Tele Deluxe RI) can be found for pretty cheap

We clearly have different opinions on what a cheap guitar is.

[kokodin]

Fill it with transparent epoxy resin (molding one) and do clear finish over it whole. Should be strong enough and could look awesome :].

[Suicideking]

Originally Posted by Thundersleet

We clearly have different opinions on what a cheap guitar is.

LOL +1