guitarron headstock broken twice

[Lee Gendvilas]

I repaired this Chinese made guitarron last year. The student who uses it keeps setting it up against a wall and it eventually falls sideways on the headstock. As you will see in the pics his dad has repaired it and son broke it again. I'm trying to contact dad to find out what glue he used. In the meantime, the owner would like to know if it can be repaired. Since I've not done a second time headstock repair like this I'm looking for advice as to how to proceed. I think replacing the neck wouldn't be cost effective and maybe the repair (if repairing is possible). Thanks again for your comments.

[Lee Gendvilas]

Here's two more pics.

[Paul Verticchio]

Hi Lee.

Tough call.

Personally, the first thing I'd do is I'd explain to the kid (& his Dad) how THE KID ruined his own instrument through neglect and/or mistreatment.

There is a point that we're all nearing when we're going to have to become accustomed to telling potential customers that the (essentially) disposable cheap instruments they bought are not designed to be repaired. They are designed to be replaced, and hence, priced accordingly. We have to accept the fact that some instruments just aren't worth the time & effort.

Now on the technical side of the coin: is that neck made from Basswood or a very soft maple? If that's the case, I'd pass on this one.

Come to think of it, given the kid's well documented carelessness, I'd pass all together to avoid any future disputes.

So, if you're soliciting votes: I vote- PASS ON IT.

Have a good one :)

[Lee Gendvilas]

Hi Paul!

Thanks for the fast reply. The child is high functioning ADD and it has been explained to him. My research has found the neck is made of Nato wood and the guitarron costs around $450. I have not heard of this type of wood so I look for those who have the knowledge to let me know what is possible. I do understand what you're saying about cheap instruments and I have no problem letting them know it's not repairable. But, I like having options, so if this were made from wood other than basswood or soft maple, would it be possible to get it back together and hold?

[Mark Pollock]

Is that a screw in the neck? That screams "Avoid this repair" to me - the fact that it has been compromised by a screw and unknown glue makes me think this is not doable.

This is probably a good object lesson in "Treat your instruments well." And, I don't care if the kid is high-functioning ADD - the dad can go get a wall hanger for the instrument and take care of the problem. (In education, this would be considered a "necessary accommodation").

[Kerry Krishna]

 Lee, I will 3rd this on telling you to give this a pass. That IS a screw in there too Mark. I refuse ( as do quite a few repair folks here) to work on someone's home-botched repairs. I send them out the door faster than they came in! 

   At the vera least, if this were in my shop, it would be getting a whole new headstock. But you are just gonna give it back to the owner and tell him 'Sorry' though, so it doesn't matter right? 

[Lee Gendvilas]

Hi Kerry,

In considering putting a new headstock on, time/effort vs money, it would be better for them to buy another one. Does that sound right to you?

[Paul Verticchio]

Lee,

I know what it's like having a child with a behavioral disorder. I have an Autistic granddaughter and a grandson with severe ADHD. They, however, have been taught not to touch grandpa's instruments.  It can be done with repetitive reinforcement & constant coaching. But....we're not here to discuss those things.

I'll come out and say what I was trying to infer with my original post:

Regardless of the cost, it's a cheap, disposable instrument. Nato (oft referred to as Nato Mahogany in ads for cheap guitars), like all other woods, comes in several "grades" and the neck wood on that instrument is of extremely poor quality.  Yamaha used good quality Nato on it's MIJ instruments in the '70's (and still does, I believe) and it was nearly indistinguishable from Honduran Mahogany.  Good quality Nato is the same color as mahogany. Cheap Nato is the color of basswood.  Another clue to the poor quality of the instrument are the ultra cheap tuners.

Like Kerry, I won't fix cheap instruments that have been severely hacked by amateurs, even if by the most well-intentioned do-gooders. To me, this is a severe hack compounded by the fact that it's on a poor quality instrument.

My greatest fear would be that the kid will break it again and then YOU'LL be an s.o.b. for not fixing it right.  I see this as a distinct probability that you'll have a customer from hell on your hands.

Good luck with your decision & best of luck with the customer :)

[Lee Gendvilas]

Thanks again Paul for your info and patience in helping understand what I have in my shop and what I have gotten into. I need to get more educated on wood and your description of Nato really helps. I feel I have the info I need to defend my decision (should I need to do so) to not to take on trying to repair it.

Also a big thanks to Kerry and Mark for giving your time and opinions! 

[Ned Knepp]

 I'm "high functioning" ADD and I've never, ever had a guitar fall over much less break because of careless habits. ADD isn't a cause, reason or excuse. IF the instrument was important to the kid, he would take care of it.  

That said, I've looked at a couple of these sort of breaks and wondered if it is possible to plane both sides of the break flat then insert new material. I haven't tried it and it could easily be more than it is worth to do it this way.

THAT said, I'd only try this if it was my personal instrument so this one would be a pass for me too.

[Lee Gendvilas]

Hi Ned. Thanks for your reply. I wasn't excusing the child. I agree, if the child was concerned about it then this would not happen. The parents should have been more attentive after the first time it broke. I really appreciate all the comments and views about ADD. Hard lesson to be learned by both child and parents. That said, it's time for me to get back to refretting the Vega #9.

[Len Biglin]

I have seen that wood crack clean across the grain , so I say there is no way to make it strong ...pass.

[Kerry Krishna]

 Paul is perfectlt right in his comment that the NEXT time it gets dumped and headstock broken, it will be you who is asked to fix it for free possibly. I know a long time Luthier in Winnipeg who has had a guy with headstock breaks come back into his shop multiple times with three different guitars trying to get it all done for free.  The 'cereal headstock breaker' guy was finally asked to find someone else to abuse.