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11-08-2008, 11:49 AM
|  | Registered Gear-o-holic | | Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Just north of Baltimore, MD | |  Crack in Fret Board - Issue or Not?
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Hi all,
I have an old '78 jazz. It has a crack in the fret board at the first fret. Although the picture of the one below is NOT mine, mine also has the same issue and the cracks look identical. The cracked area is slightly raised, but does not cause any playability or tone issues (no buzzing, etc). Is this common on old Jazz basses? Could this be an issue down the road? Is there a good way to fix this?
Thanks!!! 
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11-08-2008, 02:38 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Gladstone, QLD, Australia | | | if the crack isn't deep, not an issue...because the inlay stops the crack from growing one way and the nut stops it in the other direction...
I would, however, take the strings off...
mask it good and carefully put a drop or 3 of CA glue into the crack to help further stabilize it...
if you carefully wax the surface wood first (don't get any wax in the crack) you can do a cleaner job...
take your time and use good lighting to work
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11-08-2008, 05:38 PM
|  | so far, so good | | Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: US-NY-NYC | | | I'm really interested in the opinion of someone who has done lots of repair work and has seen this before. Just looking at it, I'd guess that the crack continues underneath the inlay. What worries me is the possibility of something bad happening if the crack continues back to meet up with the truss rod slot. It also looks like the crack might have originated there and made its way to the surface. |
11-08-2008, 09:05 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Gladstone, QLD, Australia | | | I too would like to hear a more experienced opinion (I'm curious)...
however, IMO, it would make sense to stabilize any crack ASAP...issue or non-issue
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11-09-2008, 09:05 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Minneapolis | | | I have a 72 Jazz with the same issue. I bought it in 74 and it has the exact split. It has never caused any problems for me and it is still in that same condition. I would leave it alone but watch it to see if it moves.
As far as a few drops of CA... I would think twice about that! you could lock up the truss rod nut at the end, if the CA runs that deep into the crack. Then you will have a stable crack with an unusable truss rod!
Nomad98
Last edited by Nomad98 : 11-09-2008 at 09:08 AM.
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11-09-2008, 10:06 AM
|  | Registered User | | Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: New Orleans, LA /El Paso TX | | | I would be worried that the crack is caused by the truss rod end curving up. I have seen a 70s Jazz where the rod was trying to get out of the neck. |
11-09-2008, 10:49 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Westchester County NY | | | Didn't Dan Erlewine discuss this very problem in an article in Bass Player a few years back? |
11-09-2008, 10:50 AM
| | Registered Gear-o-holic | | Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Just north of Baltimore, MD | | Quote:
Originally Posted by daveman50  Didn't Dan Erlewine discuss this very problem in an article in Bass Player a few years back? | If so, I'd REALLY love to know what he said. Thanks!
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11-09-2008, 11:05 AM
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Builder/owner Redeemer Basses | | Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Waco Tx | | | As Nomad pointed out DO NOT put CA in that crack, if the glue gets in the threads of the truss you'll regret it. This seems to be a common problem with Jazz basses, and several other brands that mount the truss adjustment at the headstock, which is a poor design for several reasons. It would be better just to keep an eye on it to see if it gets any worse, if you see the crack extend past the first inlay or nut, then you'll know you have a problem that needs attention.
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11-09-2008, 05:26 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Gladstone, QLD, Australia | | | hmmm..didn't consider the glue going all the way through to the TR....
this is easily enough dealt with as far as the threads go...(remove the bullet nut and candle wax the threads)...
however, I can see how the TR could bind to the wood right near the inlay and that would not be a good thing...
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11-09-2008, 06:58 PM
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Builder/owner Redeemer Basses | | Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Waco Tx | | Quote:
Originally Posted by PilbaraBass hmmm..didn't consider the glue going all the way through to the TR....
this is easily enough dealt with as far as the threads go...(remove the bullet nut and candle wax the threads)...
however, I can see how the TR could bind to the wood right near the inlay and that would not be a good thing... | While the wax is a great idea, It's not only the threads that have to be considered, you have to keep in mind the rods themselves slide over one another a small amount when adjusting. If the two rods were glued together they wouldn't move like intended while making adjustments which would make the truss useless.
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11-09-2008, 08:18 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Gladstone, QLD, Australia | | Quote:
Originally Posted by scottyd While the wax is a great idea, It's not only the threads that have to be considered, you have to keep in mind the rods themselves slide over one another a small amount when adjusting. If the two rods were glued together they wouldn't move like intended while making adjustments which would make the truss useless. | agreed... if it's a '78 it's one rod, not two...but the rod binding to the wood would also have the same detrimental effect.
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11-10-2008, 08:53 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Boone, NC | | | Is there a paste type epoxy product that could be used to pack the surface and stabalize the crack without going through to the TR? |
11-10-2008, 01:19 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Freakmont | | Quote:
Originally Posted by scottyd As Nomad pointed out DO NOT put CA in that crack, if the glue gets in the threads of the truss you'll regret it. This seems to be a common problem with Jazz basses, and several other brands that mount the truss adjustment at the headstock, which is a poor design for several reasons. It would be better just to keep an eye on it to see if it gets any worse, if you see the crack extend past the first inlay or nut, then you'll know you have a problem that needs attention. | I completely agree. The best thing you can do is leave it alone and watch it. If it starts to expand then you have a real issue. If it makes you uncomfortable, take it to guitar doctor and have them look at it.
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11-10-2008, 02:03 PM
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Shawn Ball - Owner, SDB Guitars | | Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Coeur d'Alene, ID | | Quote:
Originally Posted by uprightben Is there a paste type epoxy product that could be used to pack the surface and stabalize the crack without going through to the TR? | You might put a wood putty in the surface crack, but it wouldn't really stabalize the underlying issue.
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11-10-2008, 02:59 PM
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Owner/builder LeCompte Electric Bass & V-Groove Basses | | Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Houston, TX | | | The old saying, "if ain't broke don't fix it" comes to mind, but it looks broke to me. I'm with Pilot. I bet the crack runs under the inlay and maybe even under the nut. I'd have it repaired. There's nothing wrong with headstock adjustments, it's just the way Fender did it with these bullet nuts. They removed a decent amount of wood from the back side of the fingerboard to make room for the bullet nut, leaving the fingerboard really thin at that point.
If it was me fixing it I'd remove the inlay, the nut and the bullet nut. I'd hit the crack with some CA glue in hopes of stabilizing the it. Then use a Stew-mac truss rod rescue thread cutter on the end of the rod to remove any CA that might have dried on the threads. I'd fill the crack with "something" that matches the maple, then reinstall the inlay, make a new nut, reinstall the bullet nut and respray the first fret area.
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11-10-2008, 09:26 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Listowel/KW Ontario | | Quote:
Originally Posted by budman The old saying, "if ain't broke don't fix it" comes to mind, but it looks broke to me. I'm with Pilot. I bet the crack runs under the inlay and maybe even under the nut. I'd have it repaired. There's nothing wrong with headstock adjustments, it's just the way Fender did it with these bullet nuts. They removed a decent amount of wood from the back side of the fingerboard to make room for the bullet nut, leaving the fingerboard really thin at that point.
If it was me fixing it I'd remove the inlay, the nut and the bullet nut. I'd hit the crack with some CA glue in hopes of stabilizing the it. Then use a Stew-mac truss rod rescue thread cutter on the end of the rod to remove any CA that might have dried on the threads. I'd fill the crack with "something" that matches the maple, then reinstall the inlay, make a new nut, reinstall the bullet nut and respray the first fret area. | Looks like you have your answer Fred, send it to Bud.
lowsound
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11-10-2008, 09:33 PM
| | Registered Gear-o-holic | | Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Just north of Baltimore, MD | | Heck, I may just do that. 
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11-11-2008, 08:40 AM
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Owner/builder LeCompte Electric Bass & V-Groove Basses | | Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Houston, TX | | | Don't, 'cause I don't have that truss rod rescue tool. It's muy 'spensive.
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11-11-2008, 09:08 AM
| | Registered Gear-o-holic | | Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Just north of Baltimore, MD | | Quote:
Originally Posted by budman Don't, 'cause I don't have that truss rod rescue tool. It's muy 'spensive. | No sweat Bud. Thanks for the info!!!
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