Repairing a Broken Guitar Headstock - Part One

http://www.creativeguitarstudio.com/

Andrew Wasson of Creative Guitar Studio presents a guitar lesson in Fingerstyle Guitar...

Q: I don't know if you can help me, I've had a guitar break on me! What happened is, my band was playing at the bar and after 2nd set this drunk woman walked up on-stage and while staggering around she tripped on my patch-cord and sent my guitar smashing onto the stage off of it's guitar stand and this caused my head-stock to snap. A guy that was in the club (who said he was a carpenter) told me to not try doing anything until someone who knows what they're doing could look at it. So, on his advice, I have not touched the guitar since, even the strings are still on it! I loved that guitar, is there any way to fix something like this -- I realize that it may never be the same again, but I'd still like to have it around the apartment as a guitar to just jam on without having to spend hundreds of dollars to repair it. Got any suggestions for me?
- Pedro, Philadelphia

Well Pedro, I can certainly sympathize with you, I've had this sort of thing happen to me as well... it's not a great experience to say the least. But, luckily there is hope for you.

The complete lesson article for this video will be available on the Creative Guitar Studio website shortly. Follow me on Twitter for lesson posting announcements:
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[juliansalazar3d]

Thanks for the video, I just fixed my guitar using your instructions and now my guitar is back <3, thanks again!

[creativeguitarstudio]

@juliansalazar3d,

Great to hear that man! Excellent News!

All the best,

Andrew Wasson

Creative Guitar Studio

[dnielgeo]

the drunk lady should pay for it!

[xaznguitaristx]

guys we have another solution here that he never mentioned

just don't break the guitar =0

and if someone else breaks it, warranty or make em pay up =0

[XxX666newt666XxX]

Happened to me today... Les Paul Epiphone favorite guitar I own got knocked over in college, headstock totally snapped off ;/

[shamanofdrums]

Thanks very much. Ovation fell face down & the head-stock just snapped off leaving 2 parts w/45 degree angle but good surface area. Not a cheap guitar but I couldn't justify taking it in: have a shop, used PL Premium. The angle made "clamping" caused strong movement. I wish I'd made a jig in case this occurred. I had to engineer a fix as I'd applied the glue. The wood fit well dry I so foresaw no problem. I drilled & used a tite pin. I still had a bit of movement but it's lookin good! More soon

[etrigan69]

Thanks Andrew. I have a Les Paul studio that just isn't really feasable to put a bunch of cash into. I glued it with the glue you mention. So far so good! You're the man!

[flatpicker9972]

This is Jerry with JDS-Guitars and Repair, nice job you may want to use some waxed papper under your clamps.

[moucon]

I'm a big fan - but your glue wouldn't be my choice. PV is formulated to attach plywood subfloor to floor joists- filling lg. voids. It req. more thickness than you have to develop enough strength. Yellow glue or moisture-cured polyurethane (Gorilla glue) would be better IMO. I use Titebond if the wood is all there, and moist.cured P.U. if I need to fill minor gaps. Gibson headstock repairs usually need add'l reinforcement- splines/dowels etc. Set up glue/clamp jigs and dry-fit before gluing.

[tlfoley1980]

This is a fantastic video. You've calmed my nerves after a sad accident. A+++

[TheZentaomanager]

Thanks for the video, Andrew. I've got an Epi LP that has a pretty bad break in the headstock/neck area, and knowing that the PL Premium can hold it is a great knowledge.

Best regards. 

[ikymorello]

thanks it help to fix my bass

[Unknown7532]

I hope your film'll save my love.