The Acoustic Guitar Forum

Go Back   The Acoustic Guitar Forum > General Acoustic Guitar and Amplification Discussion > Electric Guitars

Reply
 
Thread Tools
  #1  
Old 02-24-2021, 09:01 AM
TDavis's Avatar
TDavis TDavis is offline
Charter Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Missouri, USA
Posts: 1,737
Default Gibson electrics...neck breaks at headstock

Perhaps a "Capt. Obvious" question...but I see a ton of Gibson Les Pauls & SG's that have had the neck broken at the base of the headstock. I see it mostly on older instruments for sale, not newer models so much.

Is this from people knocking the guitar over while on a stand onstage...or just being too careless with their instruments? Is this a weak point on Gibson electrics...and, why?
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 02-24-2021, 09:08 AM
redir redir is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Mountains of Virginia
Posts: 7,657
Default

It's more common on Gibsons because the neck is angled back as well as the head stock too. Unlike a Fender for example where the head stock is flat on the same plane as the fretbaord. And yes falling off guitar stands is a common cause. When you walk off stage and trip on the cord and pull your beloved Gibson off the stand and it hits the stage. IF it falls backwards then the first point to hit the ground is the tip of the head stock.

A weak point? Well yes kind of but the back angle on the neck does make playing more comfortable for many people.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 02-24-2021, 11:44 AM
BoneDigger's Avatar
BoneDigger BoneDigger is offline
Charter Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Tyler, TX
Posts: 7,184
Default

As redir noted above, it seems to mostly be caused by the headstock making contact with the floor, as in someone knocking it off of the stand or dropping it. I'm not aware of any that just broke for no reason, but I'm not saying it couldn't happen. I had an Epiphone LP at one point that had a neck break. It was an easy enough repair, but it's still disconcerting.
__________________
https://www.mcmakinmusic.com
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 02-24-2021, 12:13 PM
Tele1111's Avatar
Tele1111 Tele1111 is offline
Charter Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: The Windy City
Posts: 1,397
Default

Hey Ozark,

I think the reason you see it on older instruments is because back then we didn't have guitar stands. Nobody did. We leaned them up against our amps or a chair or whatever was around. It was inevitable that some would fall or be knocked over. you don't see as much of it nowadays, because we have tons of stands to choose from. That is why (or at least one of the major reasons) stands are now so common. I don't remember exactly when they became widely available, but i think it was late 70's early 80's.
I have a good memory, it's just short.

Mark
__________________
Guitars; Esteban -"Tribute to Paula Abdul L.E." Arturo Fuente- Cigar Box"Hand Made" First Act-"Diamond Bling" Main Street- "Flaming Acoustic" Silvertone-"Paul Stanley Dark Star" Daisy Rock- "Purple Daze"
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 02-24-2021, 01:13 PM
blue blue is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: WetSiiiide! WA
Posts: 7,851
Default

It can happen with either forward or backward falls. It can happen in or outside the case. The angle of the headstock. the weight and size of it. The lack of Volute... On forward falls it's a matter of momentum and inertia. The headstock wants to keep moving after the neck stops. Whiplash if you will.

It's one of the reasons PRS has a small headstock.

And some folks consider a repaired neck break as "better" Not me. But they are out there!
__________________
I only play technologically cutting edge instruments. Parker Flys and National Resonators
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 02-24-2021, 02:01 PM
Bob Womack's Avatar
Bob Womack Bob Womack is offline
Guitar Gourmet
 
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Between Clever and Stupid
Posts: 26,990
Default

You know, they don't spontaneously break. Someone has to drop the thing or knock it down. That isn't recommended for musical instruments, thou knowest. I've got a 1974 Kalamazoo Les Paul Standard I bought used in '77 that has survived this long without a break. Knock on wood and thank the Lord. In fact, none of the six Gibsons I've owned have suffered a broken neck.

Bob
__________________
"It is said, 'Go not to the elves for counsel for they will say both no and yes.' "
Frodo Baggins to Gildor Inglorion, The Fellowship of the Ring

THE MUSICIAN'S ROOM (my website)
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 02-24-2021, 02:20 PM
Bluside Bluside is offline
Charter Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Florida
Posts: 1,755
Default

Years ago, I bought 10 Epiphone Sheratons (John Lee Hooker model) from MF on a SDOTD. It was either 4 or 5 of them had a headstock break when they arrived at my house via UPS.

They were in their hard case in in the original shipping boxes. Somewhere along the line, they took a pretty good hit.

I sent them back without any problems.

Last edited by Bluside; 02-24-2021 at 03:32 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 02-24-2021, 04:06 PM
Alnicol Alnicol is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: May 2018
Posts: 77
Default

The headstock is also weakened with the cavity where the truss rod is .
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 02-24-2021, 09:30 PM
hatamoto hatamoto is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 434
Default

It's from people knocking it over, but, I believe alot of it has to do with Gibson's neck design. The break always happens at that exact point which is the "V" part that joins the neck and the headstock.

I've heard stories of people leaving it on the stand where the wind knocked it over and it hit the floor which caused the break.

The most nerve-racking experience for me was that I had to fly and check in my LP on a 14 hour flight. Thankfully it survived.
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 02-25-2021, 12:05 AM
ChrisN ChrisN is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Seattle Area
Posts: 1,508
Default

Loosen the strings for shipping, airplanes, etc. I insist on it when purchasing long distance.
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 02-25-2021, 01:48 AM
Jeff Scott Jeff Scott is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 4,364
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ozarkpicker View Post
...I see a ton of Gibson Les Pauls & SG's that have had the neck broken at the base of the headstock.

Is this a weak point on Gibson electrics...and, why?
This is a built-in feature to prevent far more massively destructive damage to the rest of the guitar.

Hope this helps.
__________________
(insert famous quote here)
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 02-25-2021, 05:59 AM
TiffanyGuitar TiffanyGuitar is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Oct 2019
Posts: 906
Default

Agree with all of the prior comments, but some of it also has to do with mahogany as a neck wood. Mahogany isn't actually that strong on impact. Maple is much tougher (you might say more flexible, I guess).
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 02-25-2021, 07:01 AM
rmp rmp is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 6,897
Default

Not just Gibsons,, any guitar with a set neck and that back angle with the head stock is vulnerable, it's literally the Achilles heel and Gravity is not your friend.

I know a few techs that say fixing these breaks is probably the biggest single source of income they have. And most are 100% fixable. The best bet if this happens to you, is just find someone who's been in the bizz for a while, chances are, they've fixed dozens of them before.

I have 6 Gibsons, a few of them have some years on them, knock on wood, none of them have ever had to have a headstock repaired.
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 02-25-2021, 09:47 AM
redir redir is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Mountains of Virginia
Posts: 7,657
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by rmp View Post
Not just Gibsons,, any guitar with a set neck and that back angle with the head stock is vulnerable, it's literally the Achilles heel and Gravity is not your friend.

I know a few techs that say fixing these breaks is probably the biggest single source of income they have. And most are 100% fixable. The best bet if this happens to you, is just find someone who's been in the bizz for a while, chances are, they've fixed dozens of them before.

I have 6 Gibsons, a few of them have some years on them, knock on wood, none of them have ever had to have a headstock repaired.
It's definitely bread and butter for a lot of shops. I can almost tell when they walk in with that deer in the headlights look. Their beloved Gibson has a cracked headstock and they think it's toast and I'm like, "Nah man it will only cost ya $100 bucks and will be good as new."
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old 02-25-2021, 10:30 AM
Bob Womack's Avatar
Bob Womack Bob Womack is offline
Guitar Gourmet
 
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Between Clever and Stupid
Posts: 26,990
Default

That's funny. My luthier tech tells me his bread and butter is correcting the bad work some other techs do. But really, he's one of those guys who always has a bunch of out-of-town work waiting in his shop. It's good to see him busy.

Bob
__________________
"It is said, 'Go not to the elves for counsel for they will say both no and yes.' "
Frodo Baggins to Gildor Inglorion, The Fellowship of the Ring

THE MUSICIAN'S ROOM (my website)
Reply With Quote
Reply

  The Acoustic Guitar Forum > General Acoustic Guitar and Amplification Discussion > Electric Guitars

Thread Tools





All times are GMT -6. The time now is 02:38 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Copyright ©2000 - 2022, The Acoustic Guitar Forum
vB Ad Management by =RedTyger=