Buying a sg with fixed broken neck?

[Steve D]

View attachment 37664 View attachment 37665
Repaired break on SG Classic. A very good player, light action. Resale value c. $450 usd. vs. c.$800 usd in very good condition.

That's a really good repair job

 

[Biddlin]

That's a really good repair job

Two cents worth of wood glue and clamped overnight.

 

[DrBGood]

Two cents worth of wood glue and clamped overnight.

One of those two cents was probably wiped out, once clamped.

 

[Steve D]

Two cents worth of wood glue and clamped overnight.

Nice work.

 

[Col Mustard]

great thread, lots of great responses, these all ought to answer the OP's question.
to buy or not to buy.

It really comes back to what you want from your guitar.
Do you want to play music? Or do you want to speculate in the used guitar market...
That's for you to decide.

If you spend $450 on an SG with a broken-and-repaired headstock,
you might be able to get your $450 back if/when you sell, but you won't
make a flipper's profit.

If you spend that money on a repaired SG and then proceed to rock that sucker
and play gigs, ...AND get invited back to play them again, you can figure how long
it takes for your $450 SG to pay for itself, and how long it takes to make a profit
on it with your music. If you're a champ, couple three nights work and you're in
the black. If you're like the rest of us, it might take a few weeks longer.

You do the math. I don't think there's anything wrong with buying a broken SG
(if it was expertly repaired). And it comes down to subjective concerns.
When you play it, does your heart soar like a hawk? Buy it....
When you play it, does your hand cramp and ache and throw tantrums? Pass it by.

...(unless you cleave to my own school of thought, which claims that the human hand
can play any instrument, from a double bass to a mandolin with no problems). If you feel
this way, then tell your hand that you need what this guitar can do, AND AT THIS PRICE...
and tell your hand to play what you need it to play. Then practice... It will comply.

 

[Gahr]

I have two guitars, a 2018 SG Standard and a 2011 Les Paul Traditional with repaired necks. I also used to have a Les Paul Junior which I had to have fixed after the postal services broke it. Great guitars all three of them. I wouldn't hesitate to buy anything with a broken neck if it has been fixed correctly by a pro. The SG I bought new at 60 % off from a dealer, the LP Trad I bought used. Got a very decent price on that one as well.

 

[DaveSG]

OP didn't really specify the type of break, and the discussion shifted towards the ever common headstock break.

Heal joint breaks can be more tricky, and I haven't owned an SG with heel break/repair so I can't comment on those with any experience, except to say that there are plenty of older SGs out there with heel repairs and strings still attached and tuned up ready to rock.

All 3 of my Gibson SGs have headstock breaks. I believe it does not affect tone in the slightest. One came to me already repaired, that guitar is in my avatar. Killer guitar, tons of wear and vibe. The break fits in well with it.

The other two I repaired myself with hot hide glue (doesn't creep) and have been stable and wonderful guitars.

I, as well as another poster above also mentioned, prefer to get a un-repaired broken guitar, so that way I know the quality of work is in my hands.

Not all breaks are the same, either. Some provide a nice wide flat area for a glue joint. Breaks that are more violent/traumatic where the break shears perpendicularly to the wood grain (think straight down from the nut) are much more complicated and may require a new headstock graft or a more complicated repair.

If you can look past the cosmetic factor and the idea of having a broken/fixed guitar doesn't bother you, then they can be fantastic deals. My '99 SG Standard w/ a repaired break is such a wonderful guitar and I've been really enjoying for the past few weeks. Cost was about half of what we know sell prices are on these guitars.

I would dare to say that I gravitate more towards broken/repaired guitars. I connect to them in a sort of way - they are a bit of a reflection of us as people, a little broken and imperfect in our own right. I've never been much for the 'not a single scratch' type of thing. To each their own, but everyone should at least get to experience a phenomenal guitar that has been busted up at some point to defy some expectations.

 

[rockerbilly58]

I'm thinking about taking a punt going for this Gibson SG Angus Young Signature Edition with Original Case | eBay

 

[Layne Matz]

Right! It only makes sense!

Unless you dont mind fixing it yourself, then it only makes sense to spend a fraction of what you normally would.

Personally I love un-repaired broken headstock guitar’s.

Cheap to buy and easy to fix.

Exactly.

that's been repaired by an expert will play just fine, and give
excellent service, and probably out live you. But the value will be about half that
of an unbroken one.

It sure doesn't take an expert take an expert to make a secure repair, although experts make less mistakes in the process and do a prettier job. A general knowledge of power tools and wood working goes a long way. Buying a cheap ($30) guitar to practice repairs/modifications on before working on a Gibson wouldnt be a bad idea.

 

[Layne Matz]

I would dare to say that I gravitate more towards broken/repaired guitars. I connect to them in a sort of way - they are a bit of a reflection of us as people, a little broken and imperfect in our own right. I've never been much for the 'not a single scratch' type of thing.

You read my mind.

 

[ventura]

Always stayed away from the ones with broken necks.

Short answer:
Um, yeah, me too.

Life’s too short for anything less than a good gun, a great guitar, a smokin hot lady, and a fast motorcycle.

 

[ventura]

A repaired guitar of any type should be fine as long as it was repaired PROPERLY.

I have a ‘59 Junior that has a split in the headstock from having Grover’s installed. Who ever did it must have used a dril bit instead of a reamer to enlarge the tuner holes (that’ll split em every time). This Genius then proceeded to use glue, and, wait for it-

-a nail gun, to finish the repair.

I love showing it to other guitar players just to see their reaction.

 

[jtees4]

I have a ‘59 Junior that has a split in the headstock from having Grover’s installed. Who ever did it must have used a dril bit instead of a reamer to enlarge the tuner holes (that’ll split em every time). This Genius then proceeded to use glue, and, wait for it-

-a nail gun, to finish the repair.

I love showing it to other guitar players just to see their reaction.
View attachment 38092 View attachment 38093

Cool! That does give it some serious mojo, along with a good story.

 

[HackeIommi]

I have a ‘59 Junior that has a split in the headstock from having Grover’s installed. Who ever did it must have used a dril bit instead of a reamer to enlarge the tuner holes (that’ll split em every time). This Genius then proceeded to use glue, and, wait for it-

-a nail gun, to finish the repair.

I love showing it to other guitar players just to see their reaction.
View attachment 38092 View attachment 38093

Ehm, do nails gave the guitar more sustain? You know good metallic materials causes more sustain.

Did we invent a possible new urban legend?

 

[Vintage Rocker]

Looks like he “nailed” that headstock repair!

 

[DaveSG]

Short answer:
Um, yeah, me too.

Life’s too short for anything less than a good gun, a great guitar, a smokin hot lady, and a fast motorcycle.

Agreed

But I also think that a repaired guitar can still be a great guitar. Duane's 'Hot Lanta' being a good example.

 

[ventura]

Cool! That does give it some serious mojo, along with a good story.

Ehm, do nails gave the guitar more sustain? You know good metallic materials causes more sustain.

Did we invent a possible new urban legend?

Looks like he “nailed” that headstock repair!

Agreed

But I also think that a repaired guitar can still be a great guitar. Duane's 'Hot Lanta' being a good example.