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Crack between neck/guitar binding - Something to worry about?

ExpectingRain

New member
Joined
Oct 14, 2020
Messages
2
Dear all,

First of all, thanks for the great forum in which I read / learned a lot in the past months even though I'm not really a "writer" here :)

But now I need your expertise, because all of sudden I saw a crack at the neck/guitar binding area a few days ago, which I didn't recognize in the past (see attached picture). So I don't think that it was there from the beginning or for a longer time (it is a 2010 Gibson Les Paul Traditional). The crack continues into the second fret and I hope that it won't move any further. But what is your opinion on that? As mentioned within the title, do you think this is something I have to worry about?

Thanks a lot in advance.
 

brandtkronholm

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 3, 2006
Messages
2,737
That’s definitely a thing!
I think it’s time to call the luthier.

I was going to downplay it and say that it could be just the binding and not a super big deal - but if it were my guitar, I’d take it in to the shop.
 

Minibucker

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 12, 2003
Messages
6,372
Hopefully just a finish crack, but I'd definitely want to be sure so probably wise to get checked out. Another thread (from another forum) with a similar issue...



...in comparison, yours definitely looks like there's some actual space between the fretboard and neck at the beginning, i.e. looks deeper than just the finish. It looks more like this...

 

Any Name You Wish

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 15, 2021
Messages
493
Well, if the fretboard is lifting off the neck then that would be a problem. That's what it looks like to me. Is it like that on both sides?

It will probably propagate down the neck some more. Certainly a good luthier can fix it.
 

ExpectingRain

New member
Joined
Oct 14, 2020
Messages
2
Thanks a lot folks, for your helpful replies, and also for the similar threads with the similar problem @Minibucker.

I will now definitely check out my local guitar store / luthier and I tend to let it fix. Don't want to risk a further propagation.

@Any Name You Wish: I've just check the other side. Interestingly there are small cracks too over the same length, but only punctual and not as deep or continous like in my picture above.

/edit

I would only like to know where it came from or for how long it exists. Primarily I am playing at home in a room with a constant temperature / humidity and the guitar is stored in its case when I am not playing. But I remember that a few months ago the strap loosened and the headstock "crashed" (it was not as worse as it sounds) on my amp. I was lucky and glad that nothing happened with the headstock. But maybe this was the starting point for the crack. Anyway, will never know :)
 
Last edited:

charliechitlins

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 16, 2021
Messages
1,016
Fingerboard separation, for sure.
Looks like an easy fix.
I would clamp it and see if it closes up.
The challenge with something like that is, there's already glue in there.
If you put glue in it, you're gluing glue to glue and not wood to wood, as with a headstock crack.
If one could be sure that hide glue was used, I suppose you could inject hot hide glue in and hope it melts the existing glue.
I'm glad it's not on my bench, but this is luthier stuff...I'm just a tech.
 
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