How to Repair a Broken Headstock 💔 Beau Hannam Guitars and Ukuleles
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- Опубликовано: 7 сен 2024
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This video is a 2.5 hour deep into how to fix an extreme (almost right angle!) headstock break. This is the worse break i've seen due to the angle of the break and it being a 12 string guitar !!!!
In short, I:
1- I epoxy the two parts together.
2- Make a custom radiused jig to route extra deep splints for each side of the truss rod.
3- Add a back strap, which goes really deep for a super strong fix.
4- Add/Carve a new volute for extra support.
5- Spray black stain.
6- Mix clear nitro so no buffing is required.
I delivered this guitar back to the customer in under a week.
Some tools I use in this video:
West systems 105 epoxy resin- amzn.to/35HUudP
West systems 206 slow hardener - amzn.to/3zRg79p
Laminate trimmer- amzn.to/2TWMmTQ
Chisels- amzn.to/35JWamX
Scrapers- amzn.to/3zNPcv4
Stewmac razor files- amzn.to/3d5TNij
Shinto saw rasp- amzn.to/3xKuF8Y
Finish work:
Clear coat gun- amzn.to/3h0fsdb
Cheap touch up gun for detailed color work- amzn.to/3d3qvkD
Transtint black- amzn.to/3zS6EhR
~ I never promote products I don't personally use or believe the quality therein.
This video is not sponsored and may contain product affiliate links which means if you buy something Beau will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.
#beauhannamguitars #beauhannam #guitarheadstockbreak
~ Luthier of luxury heirloom quality Guitars and Ukuleles ~
WEBSITE: beauhannamguit...
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Beau, this is the ABSOLUTE BEST guitar head and neck repair video I have found so far in my research. I am getting ready to repair my guitar neck and head broken similar to this one in the video, so this will help me do well. This is just time and patience, along with all of the details and materials needed for the repair. Thank you Beau!
Thanks so much. I try to teach something as thoroughly as possible. Also see my video on the double headstock for my jig upgrade.
If you have a good guitar and this is the first time you are doing a headstock, it might be best to take it to someone. In short, don''t practice or do this the first time on a good guitar as it can all go wrong (like everything in life).
you did a great job .. and you don't have to be afraid to sand the paint you put on .. because it will actually tell you how uneven the wood is ... we do the same with the thresholds .. we put a felt-tip pen on them and sand until we make it ... .sanding and just sanding ...and finally sanding again 🤣🤣🤣, well done you have a like from me
Brilliant video! Thanks Beau! I do a bit of guitar repair myself and I'm pleased to see I'm not the only one who spends half their working day scraping superglue down with razor blades and sanding! I have a Gibson SG Special (1998 I think) which I've done one repair on already (inherited a half-finished headstock re-glue) but I'm thinking of putting in the same splines to make sure it's really not moving... so this vid was very helpful! 🙂
Thanks so much- check out my double neck video which is sort of a part two of this video- I make the jig more adaptable to various jobs :)
i know,i know...the video is too long BUT if someone is skilled enough,can do the repair by learnig from this. the best repair video i've seen
Yep. Some
Videos are long on purpose for thorough teaching
I prefer long videos
10/10 This is truly the good oil
on a technical repair. Details are important, regardless video length.
Thank you for sharing your efforts
and expertise. Sam
Thanks Sam. I appreciate you saying that. The more complicated the job, the longer it takes to teach it :)
Great tutorial, I have an epiphone with a similar break. I like the simple jig you made as well ,thanks for posting.
Thanks and my pleasure - I’ve recorded but yet to edit a similar video but it’s on an epiphone double neck SG!
Beau, Amazing as usual.. This is the first neck repair I have ever seen where the person doing the repair added a hunk of wood too make a valute. I think Your way is the best I have ever seen everyone else just puts the splines & calls it a day. You always teach me something every single vid. Thank you Sir🙏🙏🙏🎸🎸🎸🎸🎹🎼👨🏻🦯
Thanks Scott- while a volute will always give extra strength to its local area, (and in my opinion always look good) they aren’t always necessary. Ie millions of headstocks without volutes never break. However on this bad break and it being a 12 string, I wanted to do everything I could to keep it going and never see it again- which would have (may have) happened if I had only done splints, or back strap etc- I slept better doing all three :)
It's a good job, congratulations, greetings from Peru 👏👏👏👏👏
Thank you :)
I might have tried a powerful magnet to try to locate the end of the truss rod from the back. The rod anchor plate might be brass but I think every truss rod is steel. Great job thanks for sharing.
Good idea!
Nice job Beau, i've watched many neck repair videos, but this one is by far the best i've seen. Every aspect of the work is detailed, and really helps understanding the process. Thanks for sharing this.
Thanks :) :) :)
I love these grafts. They actually make the necks look better.
Thanks Igor :) 🙏
Thanks, not only the longest video I've watched but one filled with so much information that I'll need to watch it at least once more and make some notes. Just super, thanks so much!
Thanks Alan. I try to be informative!
You're a genius! Full of very clever and inventive ideas. That guitar was scrap. It needed a brand new neck. In fact it needed a, "Viking funeral" Lol! Well done. It was a really good video that. Thanks!
Thank you so much- it means a lot when people say such things :)
This has been a big help. My first guitar in 1982 I dropped and had the fingerboard separate at the first fret. When I glued it back, I put too much clamping pressure at the rear of the neck (I made it too thin) and broke though the wood behind the truss rod. I have been putting the repair off for decades. I wanted to route out the back around the truss rod so I can glue up a slice around the truss rod after cutting a slit on the splice. The neck will be thicker at the lower frets but it will save the neck. Thank you for the video. In hindsight, the only thing I would have done different is chisel out the wood between your splices to preserve the splices from being removed so much. Great video.
Glad I could help :)
Amazing video , i have watched a few of these neck break repair jobs and i would say this the most comprehensive one I have seen . Everybody seems to get the same result all using slightly different methods. It just goes to prove there is no right way to an end result .
Thanks so much Derek- I try to say and demonstrate everything I can think of at the time (If I forget something important, I add it to the description).
Spread the word about my channel (and subscribe) to anyone who might be interested :)
Thanks again, Beau
@@BeauHannamGuitars Its the first one of your vids i had seen , will follow from now on . fabulous content
I"ve never seen that done . Very nice work sir .
Thank you
New viewer here, and I am suitably impressed (at least enough to subscribe!!). I really don't understand the RUclips algorithm. I watch all the "standard" guitar builders/repairers - Crimson, Ted Woodford, Jerry Rosa, Dave's World..., etc, etc, yet this is the first time I've been sent your way!? Makes no sense to me - regardless, I'm here now, and it looks like I've got some catching up to do!!
I love this kind of "Deep Dive" videos and will be watching your vids with interest!
Thank you so much Phil. I really appreciate what you said and im glad im not the only one that is perplexed with RUclips's algorithm.
I have alot of deep dive stuff so you will have alot to watch (and welcome to the channel!). Spread the word if you know of anyone that would benefit from watching my stuff. Also, you need advice
and want a video on something, i can usually make that happen. kind regards, Beau.
Thanks for this. I wish I could like more than once! Though making a vid longer, all these little details you add really helps. I think my wife thinks I'm nuts watching over two hours of a vid which basically covers (from her perspective) something which could be explained in fifteen minutes. But your experience is what separates the men from the boys. Signed, Old boy
Thanks Peter. I really like long, detailed videos that teach the subject in it’s entirety. Any complicated thing can be distilled into a haiku like video, but nothing it truly learnt.
I want to put myself in beginning some siimple works of luthery, so thanks tò condivide this hard work!!! 🙏💖✨
Congrats!! That's what we need...to learn from the best🤟
Thanks so much- My next video (or maybe the one after that is complimentary to this, but on a double neck guitar
That was fun to watch! Nicely done.
Thanks so much :)
Very (very) nice. It must be, I've watched you for more than two hours!! :) Obrigado, Sir
Thanks Flavio :)
Thanks for the detailed walk through mate, very helpful.
My pleasure :)
Thank you for this video. I learned much and appreciate you sharing the process. Very nice work.
my pleasure
Incredible!
Beautifully executed from concept to finish! Wow!
Thanks for sharing!!!
Thank you and my pleasure
@@BeauHannamGuitars Agree 100%
Very nice job..Good of you to give a young musician a break also. Best repair of a catastrophic break I've seen yet. One idea that crossed my mind is what Parker does with some necks. They are coated with Carbon Fiber. You could literally stand on one. I guess it's quite a process to apply but maybe worth a look. No one ever did that for a break as far as I know. I heard that it can support thousands of pounds of pressure, that would turn misfortune into major upgrade.
I like the Music choices also, very diverse. Got to look some of those up.
hanks- im not sure how well a carbon fiber skin would do. It would be difficult and strange to fare it into the existing wood (ie, not CF). I might be strong, but id have to do a test.
we like long videos too never worry about that👍
Thank you
thanks. been watching it over and over as I attempt to put the splines in my ES335
For the splints, you can do a straight cut (not the long deep curved ones like I do). The curved ones get really deep and are longer (so better) but the straight ones are easier
Nice work. The way to get the radius splining jig to groove more evenly either side of the break is to start with angled sides. IOW, when making the jig (and before cutting the radius), instead of having the top of the sides parallel with the base, make them taper down away from the headstock at half the angle of the headstock. Then project the centre of the radius down at the same angle to the centre of the break (or thereabouts).
FWIW, I'm surprised it didn't break at the scarf joint. Back when I lived in Brisbane, I saw quite a few of those just peel open with the heat and humidity. Man I can't believe guitar factories still put those things in the neck instead of in the headstock.
Thanks for the content mate.
Thanks Rob. And thanks for the jig advice.
@@BeauHannamGuitars No worries mate. You should make more long form content like this mate. I know it's time consuming. (I have a channel too.) But we need more real luthiers on YT.
What an absolutely amazing job. Every part of it. Love the idea of adding the volute for strength! Love the curved routing jig. And that finish off the gun is great. Well done mate. I am busy with a similar job!
Thanks for the kind words- I’ve still not heard back from the kid so I guess it all worked :)
@@BeauHannamGuitars must have done a good job. Did you choose to use epoxy for its gap filling properties? I did see a bottle of Titebond original there too!
@@DTGuitarTech Epoxy was a better choice for both its strength and gap filling properties. I wouldn't have used it on a vintage Martin etc. For an all black cheapie- its perfect
That's a very short grained wood that Takamine used for the neck.
Great repair.
Thanks
Hi, the two splints you originally installed considerably strengthened the neck. I would have then routed a center channel for a carbon fiber filler bar or two to epoxy in place and cap the channel with a maple filler strip. Then sand and finish spray with black lacquer and your done! That would have been a very strong repair! You cut out all the splints that you put in right over the break point!!!!! Good luck with your completion!
It was strong enough as is. The truss rod was in the center and not very deep so I I added carbon fiber it would have been less then 1/8” tall and added very little additional strength .
Turned out quite right and now much stronger
Yep
Well done Beau! Its a great idea to add a volute on top of the splinters.
Thanks- it seemed like a reasonable thing to do on this 12 string (and it looks good)
Realy great work!
Thank you :)
Kids these days with their two sets of strings….
😟
I wonder how the bridge will hold up over time.
My favorite part was the chisel work.
Great job! 🎉
Thanks :)
The volute never goes out of style👍🏻
True :)
Nice save Beau, never seen the radius spline before, earnt my subscription.
As a luthier in training I wanted to ask if you felt the initial epoxy glue up would have been strong enough to support the prep and install of the backstrap/volute prior to routing out the splines? I realise that the splines added strength to allow the work for the backstrap, I'm just wondering if the repair might have been a little more robust if the splines were added last?
HI- and thanks so much for the subscription :)
In this case the epoxy would have held if i had taken it out of the jig to put in the splints. Adding the splints first then the back strap made it neater. Every though this got sprayed black its what id do if it were a clear coat. Actually, i would have added a full veneer to the back of the headplate if it were clear.
Im editing a video at the moment where that isn't the case though as i removed everythign!- that will be up in about 3 weeks and is kind of an addition to this video but i updated the jig through necessity of working on a double neck SG!
Amazing, i love the music you used in the video!
Thanks Eduardo. :)- This is probably my favorite into sequence/music i've done so far (i do a new one every time)
First if all: excellent repair and video.
Question: could the splints and volute be made out of other kinds of hardwood, like oak or tropical hardwoods ? Or would they not match the mahogany , if temperature humidity changes ?
Thanks and good question. The neck on this guitar is mahoganyish wood while the splints are maple. While Maple is more stable and stiffer then mahogany I only was able to use it on this repair as it is an opaque black finish. If it was a clear finish id have used mahogany and I also would have put a cap over the entire back of the headstock. Also I would have taken more care with everything fitting perfectly as it would have been visible. Further if it was an expensive guitar I would have take more care with fitting (instead of relying on the epoxy to fill small gaps). If more expensive AND still had an opaque finish, I would have considered using mahogany even thought it would not be visible as its more liking to telegraph less as mahog splints in a mahog neck is likely to cause less telegraphing as the two would "move" more with one an other because they share a similar stability (expansion and contraction).
Lastly, in any guitar (cheap/expensive with or without an opaque finish) you can use say rosewood or ebony splints for a in your face decorative look but they would be up to the customer.
Amazing job. I didn’t like the background music and the volume was too loud for your commentary at times. Keep up the great work. Watching from Melbourne Australia 👍
Thanks Peter! It’s been ages since I was in Melbourne but want to get back there. All the best (I agree about the levels being wrong)
Nice work. The Little Japanese Takamine that could 🚂
Great video👍🏼
Thanx and best wishes from Wuppertal/ Germany >Lutz
Thank you!😊
Thanks Beau for your excelent long video, I Saw all the process since the beginning to the end, I learn a lot of of this video. Please can you list the glue that use in the 1:40;20 please is a súper glue but if you have a Brand or where buy it I’ll be greatfully.
Hi Juan- the ca glue I use is thin (EM-02) and medium (EM-150) (I buy the thin in 16oz bottles as i use it heaps) is this: starbond.com/?rfsn=3713651.ed1454
Thanks for your help I suscribe to your Chanel i want lear more from you. God bless you
Everyone's different I guess .. I would have took the fingerboard off . Peeled the truss rod out and made a double scarf joint. Glued it all up routered the truss rod channel back in. Redrilled the tuner holes I had to slice out with the scarf cut ... and reshape, stain, and finish ...
The best part of this break is that its gloss black ...the negative is the type of finish , but still no biggie...
That's just my way ... but it's not better .Just different... maybe a little stronger my way . But his way will probably be just fine too..
Really loved this. Unfortunately some of the background music was so loud I couldn’t hear everything you said.. but a great job!
Thanks- yep- that background music is a bit tricky to get the level nice. I put it lower now.
@@BeauHannamGuitars you’ve still won a subscriber! Excellent job
@@austerymn thanks so much :)
You could never tell it was broken with that bumpy uneven finish.
Funny. This was a cheap $180 (from memory?) repair, on a cheap guitar for a nice local kid. I could make it perfect and charge what I should have for this repair but it would cost $600.
nice background music at 50.00
Thanks/ I forget where I got that and what it is
what is the advantage using epoxy instead of tightbond?
I like the open time of epoxy (25 with the west system
206 hardener) and it wicks in and wets the little fibers more. I don’t use it for every headstock
Break though
Interesting that you hogged out the volute reinforcement with a mallet and chisel. I saw another repair person simply cut it on a bandsaw freehand. It appeared to take seconds.
@@joesantamaria5874 I wouldn’t do this on a bandsaw- when you band saw a curved thing that isn’t touching the base plate of the band saw it can instantly twist and bow you have two necks. Basic bandsaw safety.
Impressive!
Thanks
impressive!!
thank you :)
Why did you remove so much wood to create the volume? That simply made the neck have less material which ultimately weakened it.
I removed weak inferior mahogany and replaced it with stronger wood with better grain orientation - all which made it stronger…. Which is the opposite of weakening it.
I like the look, feel and tone of mahogany, but structurally it's certainly not the ideal neck wood. Especially the more available and inexpensive "mahoganies" that are used for many guitars, it's just weaker and lighter than I like. You did an excellent job on a difficult task there.
Thanks Gee Mac72. Apparently this guitar is still going strong :)
The addirion of a Volute was a good idea. Gibson and Epiphone should pay atttention. Good chisel work.
Thanks :)- I threw every at this!
Very Fucking good Tutorial! Thanks Beau ✌
Thanks Fernando :)
How long did it take you to dismiss the idea of strapping the neck to a table saw, and raising the blade into the break?
I never thought of it as it’s a bad idea.
Really nice work but next time you probing for a truss rod use a magnet.
Magnet is pretty good
If the splints were 10mm deep at the break and 90% of that was sanded away for the back strap, were the splints necessary?
At the nut area, which was where the break was, the splint touched the headplate so it was that thick- about 12mm deep then tapering to nothing. It adds a lot of needed strength. The back strap over that- it all adds strength. Some only do one or the other and I sometimes do to, just depends on the job.
@@BeauHannamGuitars well it looks fantastic. Thanks for sharing.
just out of curiosity, how much would a repair like this cost?
Depends where you live. I didn’t charge much to this customer cuz I wanted to see if I could do it and I wasn’t sure if it would even hold as the break was close to all end grain. Usually maybe $500-$700 depending on the break and the color matching needed. Black is easy! A see through cherry red on a 1960’s Les Paul would take more care and time and cost more.
@@BeauHannamGuitars Absolutely worth every single penny. Incredible job
Hi Beau! Great video! I love your work and learning from you. A small unrelated question..what is the music you use at 1:43:45? ...and earlier in the video? I love it and its driving me nuts trying to find it! Hope you can help! :o) xx
Hi Antonia - unfortunately I don't know- it was probably from either POND5 or youtube free audio library. But i delete my master edit and all the footage as soon as i post it to youtube so I can't find out :(
@@BeauHannamGuitars Oh dear! My search will continue then. Even Shazam can't find it! Thanks anyhoo Beau..🥰xx
Don't they use octave strings? These double regulars can be too much tension.
@@user-qd9nu2zl7s usually a 12 string does, but this guitar was used to play Mexican music on and they double all the strings for that.
while it really looks great he is taking a considerable amount of the splines away that he just put in. The splines work like floor joists. The strength of the splines are much stronger than the back strap in and of itself. at the crucial point i bet he removed 3/4 of the splines he just put in. The backstrap is more cosmetic compared to the splines. a 1/4 inch or less of backstrap with a small flute would have been better, stronger than what he has done in my humble opinion. Thank you.
Luckily, the splines were considerably deep and they did add strength to the weak end grain break.
Great content..I'm now subscribed....
Thanks so much Glenn
Неважно,сколько платит клиент. Богат он или беден. Если взялся за работу,делай качественно и до конца.
True to a degree. You can fix anything cheaply (structurally good, aesthetically not perfect) or perfectly (structurally and aesthetically perfect) it just depends on the budget.
@@BeauHannamGuitars
В любом случае,работа выполнена на отлично!!!👍🏻
Don't ever tell someone you're not sure if you can fix it. That will make them think they are doing you a favor by letting you try. When you return it like new they will be shocked that you charged them for the repair. Most people are dumb and if they don't know how to use tools to fix something they are even dumber.
Hahahhah- I only said that as the break was almost 90 degrees and on a 12 string. it’s more about covering my own ass in regard to warranty. If I’m
Open about not being sure if after I do every I can to fix it it still fractures again, they already know.
And that's why mathematics were invented.
AKA a severed headstock!
Hahahhah
What West Systems epoxy did you use ?
105 resin and the slow hardener which I think is 206
thanks. I think it is exact one i have. Good work and content!
@@Stardust15121978 thanks :)
Re la première réparation était largement suffisante à mon goût vue la tentions des cordes sur la tête ?
Thanks. I
@@BeauHannamGuitarsbonsoir à vous c’était pas une critique mais vous avez fait un superbe travail la je pense que l’on peut taper sur le Bell mère avec .lol je rigole merci pour votre magnifique métier et un grand merci au cameraman pour c’est Bell prise de vue 👍👍👍🙋🏻♂️📹⚒️🎸🪚✂️🤷🙋🏻♂️🙋🏻♂️🙋🏻♂️🙋🏻♂️🙋🏻♂️
🙌🙌
Thanks 😊
If it ain't broke don't fix it. But,, with gibson,,,if it ain't broke it will!!!
Hahahhaha
Bonjour vouloir trop en faire c’était pas nécessaire je pense 👍🙋🏻♂️
When I can hide it all under black paint- why not over do it.
Don't think this guitar is worth the cost of repair. Can buy a brand new one for $620 from sweetwater
We talked about the pro and cons of a new guitar of course.
I did it cheap (like $150 from memory) as I knew it would make for an interesting video, I wanted to see if I could do it well, and the kid was very nice and grateful.
Hey @CaptainRon1913 this is the costumer/owner of that 12 string takamine, i wanted to remark that almost 2 years later the guitar is perfectly working and i am extremely satisfied to this date with his job. The reason to find a repair was that at the time it was a 2 month old guitar (new from Hart Music) and i found a repair would be as satisfiable as the break wouldnt affect the sound.
@@ramonayala6883 HI Ramon- Great to hear the repair is holding up!!!!!!!- I really didn't know if i could fix it but sure glad I did. All the best.
@@BeauHannamGuitars i couldve not picked anyone better to get the job done☺
This really turned out to be a cool project and video. Thanks 😊
Most talk, not so much work
too much talking ufff.!!!
This was an in depth tutorial on how to do it- I like to be thorough when I teach
music disTRACTING
Yer/
It was a bit loud In This video