crack on body

montana · January 10th, 2004, 04:55 AM

i have an original 1969 tele that i aquired about two months ago. just took it apart for the first time to look it over really good and noticed a crack on the body between the neck pickup cavity and the neck pocket.

i will try to linked a picture.

the crack doesnt go all the way through but its about half way down to the floor of the neck pocket/pickup cavity. does anybody know what this might mean to the playability of the guitar? mostly im wondering, if it ever did go all the way through and break off, would the neck fit more loose in the neck pocket and be an issue with playability?

i also notice a routed hole (see picture) between the neck cavity and the neck pocket. is this original and what would it be for?

anyhow, thanks for any and all input you can give.

TeleGeir · January 10th, 2004, 07:15 AM

Picture doesn't show, the site that you uploaded it to says "The owner of this file has exceeded their daily usage limit." So it is hard to say. Maybe you can post the picture somewhere else. If you have no good place then send it to me and I will post it for you.

The hole is most likely where they start drilling the hole for the neck pickup wires. Look through it and you will see it continues through the body down to the control cavity or the bridge pickup route. They have got to start drilling somehwere, and in the neck pocket it will be covered by the neck, so that is what they do.

Geir :)

Kevin · January 10th, 2004, 10:46 AM

The routed hole is the truss rod access rout -- the other hole is the wiring channel.

I see the crack that you are talking about. You''ll probably get different opinions re: what to do about it.

Some people will tell you not to mess with it unless it breaks off cos you've got an old guitar. Some repairmen would tell you the best way to fix it is to first break it totally off, and then glue it back together (it is easier to get glue coverage that way). Another option is to saturate the crack with some water-thin superglue; that will stabilize the crack and fill the gaps.

Personally, I'd take it to a qualified luthier -- not just the local shop tech -- and ask their opinion. It's always best to get advice from someone who is actually looking at the guitar.

TeleGeir · January 10th, 2004, 01:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kevin

The routed hole is the truss rod access rout -- the other hole is the wiring channel.

Ah, that is what you get for talking about something you cannot see. I cannot today either, btw.

Geir :)

montana · January 10th, 2004, 09:26 PM

thanks for the reply guys.

yeah, i cant see the photo at work but it comes up fine on my home computer. mmmm?

well the guitar plays great as is so i guess i will just wait and see what happens with the crack. for all i know its been there for years.

thanks again.

Peds... · January 10th, 2004, 09:40 PM

What I would do is put the guard back over it.

Telecaster65 · January 12th, 2004, 05:51 AM

and yet I haven't seen the damage, but if the whole crack is under the pickguard, you may try to 'enlarge' the crack to 'V' shape (by milling with a Dremel or similar tool), cut a slice of hardwood of the same section and glue the slice on the carved crack using a two components epoxy glue like Systemthree or West System.
Once dryed, sand off the surplus part of the hardwood slice.

This should fix in a tough manner the body, but I would have the job done by a reliable specialist.

Ciao
Fabio

January 10th, 2004, 04:55 AM	#1 (permalink)
montana TDPRI Member Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 32	crack on body i have an original 1969 tele that i aquired about two months ago. just took it apart for the first time to look it over really good and noticed a crack on the body between the neck pickup cavity and the neck pocket. i will try to linked a picture. the crack doesnt go all the way through but its about half way down to the floor of the neck pocket/pickup cavity. does anybody know what this might mean to the playability of the guitar? mostly im wondering, if it ever did go all the way through and break off, would the neck fit more loose in the neck pocket and be an issue with playability? i also notice a routed hole (see picture) between the neck cavity and the neck pocket. is this original and what would it be for? anyhow, thanks for any and all input you can give.

January 10th, 2004, 07:15 AM	#2 (permalink)
TeleGeir Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Bergen, Norway Posts: 1,998	Re: crack on body Picture doesn't show, the site that you uploaded it to says "The owner of this file has exceeded their daily usage limit." So it is hard to say. Maybe you can post the picture somewhere else. If you have no good place then send it to me and I will post it for you. The hole is most likely where they start drilling the hole for the neck pickup wires. Look through it and you will see it continues through the body down to the control cavity or the bridge pickup route. They have got to start drilling somehwere, and in the neck pocket it will be covered by the neck, so that is what they do. Geir :) __________________ "This is a room in Paul's house."

January 10th, 2004, 10:46 AM	#3 (permalink)
Kevin Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Terre Haute, IN Posts: 2,967	The routed hole is the truss rod access rout -- the other hole is the wiring channel. I see the crack that you are talking about. You''ll probably get different opinions re: what to do about it. Some people will tell you not to mess with it unless it breaks off cos you've got an old guitar. Some repairmen would tell you the best way to fix it is to first break it totally off, and then glue it back together (it is easier to get glue coverage that way). Another option is to saturate the crack with some water-thin superglue; that will stabilize the crack and fill the gaps. Personally, I'd take it to a qualified luthier -- not just the local shop tech -- and ask their opinion. It's always best to get advice from someone who is actually looking at the guitar. __________________ Of course, I don't see anywhere in my post that says it'll actually work...

January 12th, 2004, 05:51 AM	#7 (permalink)
Telecaster65 Tele-Holic Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Cisano sul Neva (Savona) NW Italy Age: 43 Posts: 840	I'm not a luthier and yet I haven't seen the damage, but if the whole crack is under the pickguard, you may try to 'enlarge' the crack to 'V' shape (by milling with a Dremel or similar tool), cut a slice of hardwood of the same section and glue the slice on the carved crack using a two components epoxy glue like Systemthree or West System. Once dryed, sand off the surplus part of the hardwood slice. This should fix in a tough manner the body, but I would have the job done by a reliable specialist. Ciao Fabio __________________ Sleep tight, my child, sleep well For I'll be at your side That no shadow, no darkness, no tolling bell, Shall pierce your dreams this night

January 10th, 2004, 09:26 PM	#5 (permalink)
montana TDPRI Member Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 32	thanks for the reply guys. yeah, i cant see the photo at work but it comes up fine on my home computer. mmmm? well the guitar plays great as is so i guess i will just wait and see what happens with the crack. for all i know its been there for years. thanks again.

January 10th, 2004, 09:40 PM	#6 (permalink)
Peds... Banned Tele-Meister Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 300	What I would do is put the guard back over it.