How Bad is this Neck Crack

flexo · #1 01-17-2008, 04:04 PM

Hi,

I'm looking at a bass to buy and it has a hairline crack in the neck.

The seller has told me that he has not had any problems with the bass and the crack has not affected anything.

Not having any experience with stuff like this, I'd like to get a second (and more!) opinion. Here is a pic of the crack:

http://bltdev.com/warwick/pages/IMG_3444.htm

What do you guys think? Would it be worth buying if its cheap?

FanOfAlice · #2 01-17-2008, 04:18 PM

this crack looks like it has the potential to be bad being that it is right on the headstock/neck joint.

if you could get it for really cheap i would say go for it and if (or when) it breaks you could glue it back together and it would be just as good as new as glue joints are stronger than the wood sorounding them.

i would only recomend buying it if when it does break you fix it yourself because luthier cost would probly make it not worth it.

that is what i think

oh yeah what model warwick is it? just curious

**Eric Perry** · #3 01-17-2008, 04:56 PM

I have nothing useful to offer here except: Boy Wenge sure is purdy!!!!

meev992 · #4 01-17-2008, 05:05 PM

looks like bad news to me, but it's up to you.

Add a poll

202dy · #5 01-17-2008, 05:42 PM

This crack is sometimes referred to as a flame break. That describes the general shape of the crack. Repairing this kind of crack is relatively straight forward. The break is forced open and glue is injected into the cavity. It is allowed to close and is clamped shut. Specially shaped cauls are used to allow the clamps to have parallel surfaces on which to rest. When tightening the clamps care must be taken to use the right amount of pressure. Too little pressure will leave too much glue in the joint making a weak bond. If too much pressure is used, most of the glue will squeeze out of the joint resulting in a "starved" joint that will not hold long term.

This is not a repair for the inexperienced. If you are not seriously good with your hands, understand gluing and clamping procedures, and have the ability to make proper clamping cauls do not attempt this repair. The failure rate will be high and the pro who will have to redo this one will charge big because they will have to clean the glue out of the crack before they can proceed.

If you are going to purchase this instrument the cost of the repair should be deducted from the purchase price. Shop the pictures around to the techs in your area to get an idea of price. Otherwise, it looks like an o.k. piece.

flexo · #6 01-18-2008, 05:49 PM

So the general consensus is that its a pretty bad crack then?

Would a crack like that be likely to hold, without repair? Like, is it possible that the bass would function normally without having to repair the neck crack or would it affect the neck?

I'm not capable of handling the repair myself so that option is out. Since I'm in Australia, the repair may also cost a ton to fix too, however it is a Streamer Stage II and it may be worth the effort since they are very expensive here.

62bass · #7 01-18-2008, 06:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flexo

So the general consensus is that its a pretty bad crack then?

Would a crack like that be likely to hold, without repair? Like, is it possible that the bass would function normally without having to repair the neck crack or would it affect the neck?

I'm not capable of handling the repair myself so that option is out. Since I'm in Australia, the repair may also cost a ton to fix too, however it is a Streamer Stage II and it may be worth the effort since they are very expensive here.

Give it a pass. You aren't capable of doing the repair yourself. That crack will fail sooner or later, probably sooner. Unless you get it so cheap you can afford getting someone to fix it.

lavmonga · #8 01-18-2008, 06:42 PM

Yea... that looks pretty bad to me. I wouldn't buy it.

HMZ · #9 01-18-2008, 08:06 PM

Wouldn't touch it just move on.

RD · #10 01-18-2008, 08:38 PM

Give it a pass! There's a million other basses available, cheap.
RD

T-Bird · #11 01-19-2008, 01:19 PM

Hi, flexo.

Quote:

Originally Posted by 202dy

Repairing this kind of crack is relatively straight forward. The break is forced open and glue is injected into the cavity. It is allowed to close and is clamped shut. Specially shaped cauls are used to allow the clamps to have parallel surfaces on which to rest. When tightening the clamps care must be taken to use the right amount of pressure. Too little pressure will leave too much glue in the joint making a weak bond. If too much pressure is used, most of the glue will squeeze out of the joint resulting in a "starved" joint that will not hold long term.

This is not a repair for the inexperienced. If you are not seriously good with your hands, understand gluing and clamping procedures, and have the ability to make proper clamping cauls do not attempt this repair. The failure rate will be high and the pro who will have to redo this one will charge big because they will have to clean the glue out of the crack before they can proceed.

If you are going to purchase this instrument the cost of the repair should be deducted from the purchase price. Shop the pictures around to the techs in your area to get an idea of price. Otherwise, it looks like an o.k. piece.

Exactly what he said.

The more visible crack isn't a hairline crack, the one(s) along the trussrod are almost hairline crack(s). Those has to be repaired also.

It's IMO/IME bad crack as it is, as dirt and oils from the players hands will spoil the glue joint if ordinary glues are used. And that crack will most likely open a lot more in the near future.

If and when I buy repairable instruments the price is max half of the price of a perfect one. That's because any repair will lower the value about 15 to 40 %, IME in Finland of course

.
In other words, the price of the bass+repairs must be quite a bit lower than the current market price IMHO.

So as it's been said earlier, the repair is relatively easy to a luthier and the bass seems to be otherwise in good condition, You have a decent set of pics about the problem and it seems to me that You want that bass

.
I'd shop around with those pics for a repair quote as 202dy said, as any instrument that needs repairing isn't that easy to sell. Unless it's really cheap of course.

Regards
Sam

lug · #12 01-19-2008, 01:58 PM

String tension is counter to the crack, i.e. the strings will have a tendancy to pull the crack open. Not a good spot at all.

Pilgrim · #13 01-19-2008, 03:18 PM

It's repairable, but I agree - if you buy it, the price better REALLY be right. Only an experienced luthier should repair that one.

If it was a guitar I really wanted and the price were right, I'd buy it - but I'd get a firm repair quote first, then buy it, take the strings off and carry it straight to the luthier for repair.