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I got this Fender Villager, late 60's 12 string with a bolt on neck. Owner, who bought new' said a 'friend' thought the screws in the plate on the bottom adjusted the neck, basically the screws were tightened to the point the neck block broke. 1. the head block shifted, causing it to cave in and break just below where the neck attaches. Several breaks in block, top & side where neck attaches. 2. the bolt/screw holes were 'drilled out' to allow replacing the neck, 3. cardboard and white glue were excessively used to 'fix' by the 'buddy', no clamping all breaks out of alignment. 4. Soundboard sticks out about 3/16ths in slot for neck. See results in pics. Sorry, pics are not so good.

From what I can figure there are 2 options.

1. Clean and re-glue the breaks in the neck block, re-glue the soundboard to neck block, straighten as much as possible. Shim and adjust the neck set for playability. The 3/16" shift of the neck block will be an issue for intonation. Customer will have to live with the 'Uglies'

2. The right way to fix this would be to remove the top, remove the neck block, re-glue and straighten, replace to and fix all the breaks. Costly for customer. Value is $3-400 from internet searches.


Anybody see a mess like this before? I'm planning to do #1. Any warnings, tips?


Jerry

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Finished it......repaired the headblock, reglued it with several clamps. re-glued the soundboard to the headblock. Drilled and pegged the damaged screw holes in the neck and headblock. Couldn't find a replacement 3 7/8" chrome screw (1 of the 4 was broke) made one from a 4" sheet rock screw, made a new neck set peg, created a 3/16" ship w/ binding on the show edge below the neck to re-set the action. Put it back together, did minor repair of the cracks and breaks where the neck met the body & block, Customer happy.

This guy also has a 60's Ovation solid body electric he wants set up....anxious to see it.

Jerry
"Or, if the customer insists, get very serious money upfront. "Sentimental value" customers are notorious
for remorse."


Well said, Jeffrey -

Payment up front is the only way to handle some jobs. When it comes to those incompetently designed, poorly made Fenders, I try extra hard to talk people out of keeping another one alive. . .
Amen Jeff, wise words. Rusty.
Yeah, it's a, "Been around that block, left stranded with no cabfare home", kinda thing...

There's also the classic, "I found this in a dumpster, what's the least amount to make it playable?"
Amen brother you are preaching to the choir.
Maybe kindling wood would be another possible option?

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