skunk stripe crack

[loend68]

I have a 90’s jazz neck with a skunk stripe. About halfway down the neck, there is a small crack on one side of the the strip. It feels a little bit raised, but not really separated. The finish looks cracked. Is this anything to worry about? I’ve seen it discussed in another thread (Weird American J Bass...) and it was mentioned just to sand it down even and that it was just wood working against wood (shrinkage/movement). Also is there any structural concern? Does the truss rod put any pressure on the skunk stripe?

[jrfrond]

Skunk stripe separation is pretty common. Nothing that cannot be fixed with thin Super Glue, accelerator, and a little wet-sanding and buffing.

[loend68]

Thanks! I looked at it again and it's not that bad.

Is there a link you could give me that would show me the process to fix? Do you just fill any spaces with super glue and then sand/buff it out?

[knuckle_head]

A little more to it than filling and sanding but it is pretty simple.

Just dropping cyano in the void won't necessarily fill it. If you do a ittle preliminary sanding to get it almost level some of the dust will settle into the void. Encourage that, and don't blow it out of the crack. Press more dust into the separation if it hasn't filled itself in at that point (having some walnut on hand that you can create some of your own filler dust is a good idea). If you drop thin cyano into the dust it will both bond and fill at the same time.

Just dropping thin cyano on/into the void may allow glue into the truss rod cavity. This may or may not cause a problem, but the risk is unnecessary.

[Retic34]

Don't apply Super Glue. Super glue is extremely hard when its dry and will chip out eventually, and you will NOT get it in the crack completely.
I've fixed MANY guitars with this problem of the skunk srtipe becoming loose.. Heres how I do it:

1. Remove the neck.
2. Tape up the headstock.
(here is the scary part)
3. sand the back of the neck with 400-600 sandpaper DO NOT USE WATER.
4. After removing the "clear finish", Get a SHARP RAZORBLADE. (exacto knife)
5. lightly score the skunk stripe edges the enire length of the neck.
6. keep scoring deeper and deeper.
7. eventually the skunk stripe will let loose from the neck. REMOVE THE SKUNK STRIPE.
8. APPLY PRO BOND or TIGHT BOND wood glue (waterproof) Blue lable, ALL around the skunk stripe. (Fender likes to skimp out on the glue in this area)
9. Set the skunk stripe back in the neck.
10. Clean all excess glue off the neck with a damp cloth.
11. Using Blue painters tape, tape the skunk stripe in place. lay the neck on a flat table FRETS DOWN.
12. set some heavy books along the length of the skunk stripe.
13. Let dry for 24 Hours.
14. sand the back of the neck with 800 grit sand paper (no water) until you cannot feel the skunk stripe.
15. Now sand the entire back of the neck with 1000 grit.
16. Re-clear the neck with urethane clear. allow 2 days to dry.
17. now sand the neck again with 1000 grit. (lightly)
18. polish.
19. Done. it will never separate again.

This is a common problem. but an easy fix. But use common sense, This is your baby. Not a leg on a stool....So be careful. Take your time.