Would you buy a guitar with a broken and repaired headstock?

[BeZo]

I got a deal on a late 60s Guild Polara with a broken headstock. It played great. Headstock repair was ugly, but felt nice. I played it for a bit, then the guy I got it from wanted it back so I sold it back for the same price. He has a guitar store in his house and had a customer that wanted it. For such an ugly repair, that guitar was in demand.

 

[WizardAmpIphoneClip]

PedEx crunched a sick Warlock I sold so I had to refund bro and get it fixed. Was repaired well, so I kept it. I did file a claim with those fuckfaces and actually got a check. A miracle

 

[Floyd Eye]

I have a '76 SG Special with the obligatory headstock crack. Repaired it myself. Must have been 25 years ago now. Guitar is still fine. I never refinished it because I don't care and have no plans to ever sell it.

 

[reignman454]

Welp, I'm Les Paul shopping, apparently. I have already formed an opinion about the matter, but what say you?

Without inspecting it or knowing the luthier? Hell no.

That being said, what kind you hunting? I had one repaired by a master luthier, trans ebony flametop... killer guitar, just don't play it.

 

[phillybhatesme]

Without inspecting it or knowing the luthier? Hell no.

That being said, what kind you hunting? I had one repaired by a master luthier, trans ebony flametop... killer guitar, just don't play it.

Did I buy it from you earlier today on Reverb? It's a 2019 LP Standard with the translucent ebony top lol.

 

[skoora]

Not if I can help it. The guitar would have to be pretty spectacular in the how it felt and sounded and was priced. I’ve seen a few repaired guitars lately where people are trying to get too much for them so they’re definitely a Hell no.

 

[reignman454]

Did I buy it from you earlier today on Reverb? It's a 2019 LP Standard with the translucent ebony top lol.

Negative. Mines a Studio plus top pro transparent maybe? Sounds like you grabbed a cool one.

 

[FourT6and2]

No. Plenty of other guitars out there.

On a side note, this is why I gravitate toward bolt-ons. Granted, I play Super Strats, not LP-style guitars these days. But if something happens to the neck, easy to bolt a new one on.

 

[scottosan]

For the right price. The rule of thumb is 50% of market value if repaired properly

 

[DanTravis62]

For the right price. The rule of thumb is 50% of market value if repaired properly

This is the sticking point for me.

I would 100% buy a headstock repair guitar if it was priced reasonably. Unfortunately, that's almost never the case.

I haven't seen a fairly priced "headstock repair" gibson in years if im being honest. In recent years, sellers seem to think that 75-80% of market value is fair. and that's why they never sell.

I am a player, not a collector, so I would have no problem buying a headstock repaired guitar (as long as it was obviously repaired well)

Because I would most likely be buying it to play as a "stage" beater that I wouldn't be worried about.

 

[jchrisf]

Are proper repairs really "better than the original"?

 

[endofall]

I would buy a Gibson with a broken headstock that needs repair before buying one that has already been repaired most likely; unless done by a luthier with a great reputation. However most broken/repaired Gibson's are priced insanely high anymore

 

[DanTravis62]

However most broken/repaired Gibson's are priced insanely high anymore

Yep, this is the problem. People think their broken headstock guitar is worth a hair under the reverb sold listings for dead mint.

So, they never sell. Then, they sit in listings for so long that people get pissed and just take them off the market.

 

[ZEEGLER]

Depends on a lot. I did have a 1980 Deluxe that had a properly repaired headstock break, and it was fine. As long as the price is significantly lower, and the repair is done well, and it's a guitar I really like...then maybe.

 

[njshred]

I have two, both of which were one off custom orders. They have been fine.

I would not buy a generic guitar with such an issue, because it will always be an issue in the future.

 

[acidvoodoo]

If it’s done well absolutely, one of my best Lester’s had a headstock repair before I got it!

 

[gclef]

I'd buy one if it was something I really wanted, and was well done.

Of course, I'm not paying all that much for one.

 

[anomaly]

I've got an Ibanez LP copy that I had to repair the head stock on. It doesn't look good because the wood no longer lined up with the neck properly. But I repaired it anyways and it stays in tune and still resonates well. It's a guitar I'll be holding onto cause no one would ever want to buy it with the way the repair looks.

 

[harddriver]

Some luthiers say the repaired neck is stronger post repair but it would bug the shit out of me if I am honest with myself. I probably would not purchase a guitar that had the neck broken, especially a mahogany Gibson LP neck. If you really like the guitar and can play it before buying but that won't tell you much longer term if you did buy it, like tuning stability down the road.

 

[phillybhatesme]

Should be here tomorrow and I'll unfold some details.