Cracks in neck pocket

[Michel]

Hi everyone,

I just started removing the paint from one of my old Teles, and I noticed cracks in the neck pocket. Would you have a look at these photographs and tell me what you think?

On the front, there's a tiny crack (almost invisible on the picture) starting at the top right screw hole, and a bigger on both sides of the bottom right screw hole.

Looking at the side, you see the cracks continuing, and then on the back they go to the side screw holes, and then a bit further.

What do you think? Should I do something about it?

Michel

[Telenator]

Yup, someone got a little crazy over tightening the neck screws. Happens pretty often.

I would run a couple screws through the holes and tighten them to the point that the gaps open up a bit, then thin some glue and inject it into the cracks.

Then I would drill a hole across the neck pocket - between the forward and rearward holes - and force a 1/4" gluey dowel in there across the grain.

[mellecaster]

I would finish stripping it completely to bare wood...have a better look at it...and then perhaps take Telenator's excellent advice....It should be as good as New.

[Michel]

Thanks for the advice, guys.

A couple questions, as woodworking is not my forte:

What type of glue should I use? Wood glue? What should I use to thin the glue?

Telenator, about the drilling of a hole across the neck pocket: which direction should the hole follow?

[boris bubbanov]

Does not look like they took the time to clean out the neck to body holes to 11/64ths inches, and this may have compounded the trouble.

There's also a chance the guitar was dropped and made contact to the neck, first. Probably while overtightened.

How do they do this, anyway? Anytime I've begin to overtighten, the neck plate begins distorting very badly.

[Michel]

Originally Posted by boris bubbanov

There's also a chance the guitar was dropped

A chance? The poor thing has been abused through years and years of punk and garage antics.

Originally Posted by boris bubbanov

and made contact to the neck, first.

That I don't remember. Which doesn't mean it didn't happen.

[david_lewis93]

Tight bond original any good hardware store has it ,do not use the 1 or 2 it's not as strong or as warer resistant.


bend em tight and let er scream.

[Michel]

Originally Posted by david_lewis93

Tight bond original any good hardware store has it ,do not use the 1 or 2 it's not as strong or as warer resistant.

Not sure if I can find Titebond here in Belgium... I'll have a look around.

Thanks!