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  #1  
Old 05-15-2012, 12:16 PM
lutehole lutehole is offline
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Default Headstock fracture

How do i know if my headstock has fractured?
I have a 12-string jumbo with checking where the the neck meets the headstock; just behind the nut. This is possibly due to my poor attempt to tighten the truss. I think i heard some creaking when i tightened it. It seems to play alright however but i am a beginner so i don't think i would hear it.

*Just added some pictures




Last edited by lutehole; 05-26-2012 at 11:04 AM.
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Old 05-15-2012, 01:34 PM
clinchriver clinchriver is offline
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Default What do you see?

You should be able to see a crack in your headstock. Truss rods typically need very little adjusting 1/4 turn is a lot and give it some time to react.
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Old 05-15-2012, 01:38 PM
HHP HHP is offline
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Post a picture here or take it to a repair shop for a check.
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Old 05-15-2012, 02:21 PM
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Bern Bern is offline
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It happened to my guitar once a long time ago. I couldn't figure why my guitar made a kind of funny sound (like something was lose) when I hit one of the lower strings. I brought it to guitar tech, he listen to it and knew right away what it was.
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Old 05-25-2012, 12:56 PM
lutehole lutehole is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bern View Post
It happened to my guitar once a long time ago. I couldn't figure why my guitar made a kind of funny sound (like something was lose) when I hit one of the lower strings. I brought it to guitar tech, he listen to it and knew right away what it was.
Does the volume decrease a huge amount?

What are the symptoms?

Mine appears to sound the same but i haven't had time to go in to the repair shop recently so if any techs' out there could chime in that would be great.
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Old 05-25-2012, 02:14 PM
mb propsom mb propsom is offline
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Re: Tightening the truss rod. If you heard a creaking when you tightened the nut, it could be that the nut is seizing up. In that case, it's a good idea to completely back the nut off the rod and lube it with some white grease, wax, or similar lubricant. Then, of course, the nut should be retightened with the string tension backed off.
As far as the peghead being cracked? Some cracks are obvious, others not. To make certain, I agree that a competent repairperson would be able to tell you.
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Old 05-25-2012, 03:16 PM
lutehole lutehole is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mb propsom View Post
Re: Tightening the truss rod. If you heard a creaking when you tightened the nut, it could be that the nut is seizing up. In that case, it's a good idea to completely back the nut off the rod and lube it with some white grease, wax, or similar lubricant. Then, of course, the nut should be retightened with the string tension backed off.
As far as the peghead being cracked? Some cracks are obvious, others not. To make certain, I agree that a competent repairperson would be able to tell you.
Thanks Michael. Is there any way I can tell just by the sound or anything else?
I just assumed if there was a crack (where the neck meets the headstock) that there would be a gap.
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Old 05-25-2012, 06:51 PM
Ned Milburn Ned Milburn is offline
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Truss rods sometimes creak when adjusting so don't worry about that.

Visible cracking should be seen by a pro if you are unsure.
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  #9  
Old 05-26-2012, 11:02 AM
lutehole lutehole is offline
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Just added some pictures. It is a nitro finish and although the guitar is a few months old, there was some nitro checking on the top (2 checks) due to temperature changes i assume.
I think that the neck 'cracks' in question were caused by my poor attempt to tighten the truss but i am unsure.
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Old 05-26-2012, 11:06 AM
HHP HHP is offline
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Those don't look like cracks, just finish.
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Old 05-26-2012, 11:11 AM
lutehole lutehole is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by HHP View Post
Those don't look like cracks, just finish.
Thanks for your reply. Do you think they could be hairline fractures?
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Old 05-26-2012, 11:15 AM
HHP HHP is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by lutehole View Post
Thanks for your reply. Do you think they could be hairline fractures?
I wouldn't think so, curved shape looks like finish. They seem to originate in the same area so maybe the truss rod moved the wood enough to displace the finish.
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Old 05-26-2012, 11:18 AM
mb propsom mb propsom is offline
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I agree with HHP. Cracks in that area almost always follow the direction of the wood grain.
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Old 05-26-2012, 11:30 AM
lutehole lutehole is offline
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Thanks guys. Should i now bother to get it checked out? It was quite an expensive instrument.
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  #15  
Old 05-27-2012, 07:30 AM
John Arnold John Arnold is offline
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It is extremely unlikely that the neck would crack across the grain.
Quote:
It was quite an expensive instrument.
One that has been exposed to temperature extremes.....not a good thing for the lacquer.
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