Is this fairly easy to fix or not? Baby Taylor headstock....

[davo]

...recently cracked when the wind knocked it over. About how much should I expect to pay for the repair?

many thanks!
Davo

[Russell Vance]

Yep, lotsa surface area on the fingerjoints and its a clean break with new wood for glueing exposed - the finish on these guitars is rudimentary and a satin refinish in the neck areas with a little steel wooling comes up well. To glue it up and refinish (including restring and setup but excluding string cost) for a walk-in customer,- about AUD$200 with a 24 month warranty. That's our blue book price here in Oz. Rusty.

[Bob Gaddis]

Fix it yourself. I'd probably charge a minimum of $75 if there are no major problems encountered. If the joint is fractured too much figure it will cost more. This is not a high-dollar guitar, so you have to weigh the value of the repair against the value of the guitar. Unless you're really fussy and want a 100% invisible repair, you can probably handle it.

If the joint will flex or move slightly and will go back to its original position, open it up as much as you can without causing more damage, run some titebond (unless you have access to hot hide glue)in there. Then clamp it just firmly enough to draw it back together with no gaps. You have to improvise there-maybe a nylon rachet strap or a wooden cradle and wedges. If you have any gaps or splinters missing you can fill those with some superglue and sand and polish.

[Russell Vance]

Bob, Hi, further to your good advice on this one and drawing on our experience as consultant to the fine furniture/cabinetmaking trades I can advise that you can exercise a relatively high pressure clamping regime without problems which will give tighter alignment at the break and less evidence of a repair.

There is some resistance to high clamping pressure which is justified with tight grained wood like maple which is often also 'case hardened' by low quality machining but, mahoganies and similar neck woods (especially where end grain glueing and some internal shattering is in the mix) can take a lot of pressure without compromising the glue joint. I have used the rachet strap system you mention in combination with clamps and found it most effective.

We do not use superglue as our primary neck break glue due to it's poor strength in the gap filling role and its degredation over time - we use Titebond which is injected into the break (22 & 24 guage needles FYI) and once set we use superglue to wick into the fine cracks that are unopened. We also (generally) apply the glue with the finish still on which helps prevent the excess glue squeeze-out (esp the superglue) from penetrating and discoloring the area surrounding the break. Superglue needs to be used with care in a finish environment as it eats lacquer.

Hope this adds to the corporate knowledge, Rusty.

[Jim Bancroft]

You can probably fix it yourself.
Can you flex it back to the original position?
If you can, I'd make a dry clamp run. In other words flex it back to original position and apply a cork padded caul on both sides of the peghead and apply clamps as needed. If that looks good then you can remove clamps and cauls and apply glue.
For glue I would use thin superglue, as it will wick into all the small cracks. flex it open slightly and apply superglue, flex it shut and apply cauls and clamps(apply wax paper between cauls and peghead so you don't stick the cauls to the peghead. Also clean up glue ooze, quickly, as you apply and clamp. Superglue will want to run all over the place if you apply too much, so be careful.
I wouldn't use titebond for this repair, it's too thick. You possibly could use thin hot hide glue, flex the joint as you apply it to get it completely into all the cracks, then clamp, use wax paper w/cauls with whatever glue you use. Don't have to worry about cleanup with hot hide glue until the glue has dried, then clean up with warm water and a sponge or rag.

That's it as basic as I can explain.
Jim

[FRANK]

my minimum charge is $75 and up

[jason Burns]

You can by a replacement neck from Taylor for 135.00. You have to call and give them the serial #
jason

[FRANK]

yea thats the way to go

[Mike Kolb]

Interesting how different economic views come into play. I will usually repair a simple cracked/broken headstock for about $30, maybe $40 if there's some fancy paint touchup requested. On compound fractures with missing pieces, etc. the price may go to even $50. In the area where I live (rural Oregon, about an hour out of Portland or Salem) these prices seem right in line with the time spent.

This may be a great topic for an 'all-skate' discussion.

[Nick Anthony]

not for a finger joint ...not that turns out good ...you gotta be kiddin' thats way too cheap...do us all a favor and up your prices!!!!

[Christian Johnson]

I'd charge about $100. Hide Glue. The clamping's the thing. Gotta get it tight.