Our Works Journal
Arch top Gretch - change over of pickups
Posted: 24th August 2008
1. Before the change
2. Changing the neck pickup
3. Adding a cable tie
4. Working on the second pickup
5. Assembling the last pickup
6. Asssembled and stringed, and ready to rock
Fixing a broken neck on a Gibson - Les Paul
Posted: 17th August 2007
The neck of almost all Gibson guitars are usually constructed in
'set neck' style. To many players, they are known for better
sustain than the 'bolt on necks' but one set back is that if the
guitar falls off it's guitar stand or simply had a fall it will
likely to sustain a broken neck and that's guitarist nightmare. You
cannot replace a new neck like the bolt on's. To replace the neck
it will require a major professional work by the very experienced.
The weight of most Les Pauls are heavy and the weakest part will
give in and it's usually at the neck. Most often it breaks just
above the nut, in some cases along the head stock. Why just above
the nut ? because that's where the least wood is. Above the nut is
a cavity groove for the trust rod nut (just underneath the trust
rod covers) so therefore leaving very little wood left for holding
on to the head stock.
To repair a broken neck is a careful task.
Tools required for the repair:
- Clamp with at least 2”—3” tongue.
- Rubber skids.
- Wood glue.
- Small piece of rag.
- Fine grid abrasive paper of 500 and 800 or 1000.
- Rubbing compound.
The task:
Inspect the broken area and try to press it in into each other and see whether they meet together without any gap. If they do not meet well, try to get it to meet well before the glue is applied. Possibly there are some wood splinters that are bent well off the wood grain, if so remove them away. Once the cracks meets up very well then apply the wood glue into the crevices of the crack and work the glue in with your fingers. After applying the glue, use 2 pieces of rubber skids - one on the top where the clamp sits on the crack and the other at the bottom where the other side of the clamp meets. Make sure that the clamp sits over the cracked area and locking the clamp in. After locking the clamp in use a dam rag to clean off the excessive over follow glue that follows out from the cracks.
Allow to dry for 24 hours, then remove the clamp and clean off those excessive glue marks around the crack area. Now the broken neck is glued down. Use 500 grid to rub down along the repaired area and later smoothen it out with 800 or 1000 grid. Rubbing compound may be use at the end of the process if no touch up is required.
Otherwise, you may sent the guitar in for a professional air brush job to blend into the original colour on the repaired area and then lacquered. By now the guitar will look as good as before.
Amplifier Restoration: A 70's Silverface Fender Twin Reverb
Posted: 1st November 2005
Before restoration: Fender Twin Reverb, picture 1
Before restoration: Fender Twin Reverb, picture 2
After restoration: Fender Twin Reverb, picture 1
After restoration: Fender Twin Reverb, picture 2
