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Help! Fracture in my fretboard!

howardslespaul

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Jul 16, 2001
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1,635
This is a recently purchased '99 R9(not used)..........Between the nut & the first fret just below the high E there is a hairline crack that runs all the way to the mahogany. If I squeeze the bindng the piece moves slightly. Should I fix
this or return the guitar? It has a nice top plays nice & sounds great...you guys know these guitars, what do you think?
 

howardslespaul

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Jul 16, 2001
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They have a "Murphy aged", another flametop (Which I didn't care for) & a plaintop. So for tradin' this one out.........the only one I'd be interested in
trading with is the "Murphy" They want more than I'm willing to give for that guitar. I'm thinkin' the fretboard can be fixed? I'd appreciate everybodies .02
 

plaintop

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Jul 15, 2001
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is it just the finish? the binding? the neck? the fretboard? can we see a pic?
 

Phil M

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Jul 16, 2001
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How long have you had it? Depending how long you're had it (I'm not sure what you mean by "recently purchased"), I'd try to get the guitar replaced or at least professionally repaired.
 

howardslespaul

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Jul 16, 2001
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It's a hairline fracture just below the high E. It starts at the nut & ends at the 1st fret. Initially I thought it was the grain in the wood. A couple of nights ago under further inspection while applying some lemon oil I noticed it was indeed a "crack". In fact when I pushed on the binding oil would exit from this fracture. I bought the guitar a week ago. It is a '99 but I am the first owner.
Yeah, I believe this would most definately be covered under the warranty. But
I feel that may be a little time consuming & this dealer offers 30 days same as cash. So if I want I can just return the guitar with no loss to me......apart from a nice guitar. I know it can be fixed but for the money I paid....a large part of me feels that this is not something I should have to deal with just yet?
 

hogy1

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Jul 15, 2001
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361
This would have been a piece of cake to repair. But now that you squirted lemon oil down the crack, it's pretty much over. I don't know of any glue that'll stick to oil. hogy
 

Plankspanker

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Jul 16, 2001
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3,797
If it is under warranty tell them you want a new fretboard, and while you're at it tell them to pick out a nice dark one if that's your
taste, otherwise they'll squirt some epoxy in there and put a couple of clamps, spray a little touchup, buff and on it's way back
to you. I think they can carefully clean out the lemon oil with some
acetone on a Qtip, depends on how much you've saturated it with
lemon oil.
 

Tonefiend

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Jul 15, 2001
Messages
7,656
Its an easy fix. And not a very big deal. You just need someone ot fix it that wont f@ck it up. Acetone may mess up the rosewood. Not sure. I'd use some Naptha and a cotton swab. That would be good enough.

You need 2 cauls made with a piece of 1/4" foam or rubber. Leather would work too. Glue or double stick tape them to a piece of 1/4" thick wood. About 2" long, and 3/4" wide.

Mask the neck off around the crack, and down the sides with tape so you dont make a mess. Get a syringe and fill it up with Titebond. Use the syringe to inject the glue deep into the crack. Wipe up the mess with a damp towel.

Get a 4" C clamp and use it and the cauls on the edge of the binding parralel with it to clamp the fingerboard together. Make sure they are straight, and careful not to damage the neck. Thats what the foam or rubber is for. You will see beads of glue squeeze out. Clean them up now.
Let it sit overnight, and take the clamps off. It should be fine.

You don't want to go through the hassle of a new fingerboard. Gibson will take forever, and I guarantee it wont be the same. If they send it out, I guarantee it wont be the same, They'll fuck it up somehow. Epoxying in the crack probably isn't a good idea either. It may crack again.
 
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