How bad is this crack ?

[Reedt2000]

music man necks are sanded so the playing length has a satin feel while the rest is glossy (or oil finished or however they get them like that ). But that's normal.

Why is this neck yellow only below the headstock? That alone would be a “red flag” for me. The yellow begins right at the nut and there is a definite straight line that separates the yellow from natural, like it may have been taped off at some point which may inducate a possible previous headstock repair.

Just guessing but I would be “running away” from this deal.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

Why is this neck yellow only below the headstock? That alone would be a “red flag” for me. The yellow begins right at the nut and there is a definite straight line that separates the yellow from natural, like it may have been taped off at some point which may inducate a possible previous headstock repair.

Just guessing but I would be “running away” from this deal.

Laquered headstock and gun oil finished neck

 

[rojo412]

For me, that looks like "just enough damage for a large discount, but reasonably safe enough to play it."
Yes, it's a calculated risk. Certainly one I wouldn't pay top dollar for. But it doesn't look like it's going anywhere any time soon without a MAJOR hit. So if it were me, I'd be okay with it.
That said, I build basses from scratch, so I'm not really normal. If a headstock snaps off, I am not freaking out in the same way others might.
No matter who you are though, this is a worthy crack in the sense that major discounts are in order.

 

[Dirk Diggler]

Hey Pep, good eyes on the discoloration! That's a sign someone's been working the area.

The closer shots show a bit of a shadow in the crack which might indicate it might open enough
to force some glue in there.

This is the kind of thing that would be interesting if you could apply pressure to force the glue into it.
I'm thinking like a nice pressure glue up bag. That said it's theoretical, I have never used one for that purpose.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

If MusicMan necks were readily available and the price were right, I might take a chance on it if the price is right. But EBMM basses are mostly available unless it's a rare color or something. Personally, I'd pass.

 

[tindrum]

Hey Pep, good eyes on the discoloration! That's a sign someone's been working the area.

The closer shots show a bit of a shadow in the crack which might indicate it might open enough
to force some glue in there.

This is the kind of thing that would be interesting if you could apply pressure to force the glue into it.
I'm thinking like a nice pressure glue up bag. That said it's theoretical, I have never used one for that purpose.

That’s how Ernie Ball finished their necks - laquer on the headstock and gun oil on the back of the neck. The line shows where they tape it off during finishing do it’s not a sign of anyone working that area. I’ve owned several EB’s and every one of them look exactly like that including the brand new one I bought a few weeks ago.

 

[Pep]

That’s how Ernie Ball finished their necks - laquer on the headstock and gun oil on the back of the neck. The line shows where they tape it off during finishing do it’s not a sign of anyone working that area. I’ve owned several EB’s and every one of them look exactly like that including the brand new one I bought a few weeks ago.

That’s good to know, but i’d still stay away from that bass. Too much mystery surrounding the crack near the headstock. Plus I’ve never seen lacquer crack like that unless there was a crack in the material under it.

 

[Eneade]

Thanks everyone for your advices. I just told the seller I will not buy the bass.
I have checked it one more time, it looked like a crack in the lacquer and not in the wood... but there is no impact so the wood must have moved in some way.
It was a nice USA Sterling HS with matching headstock. I really appreciate the Sterlings, I have 4H, 4HH, Classic... so this one would have completed the "collection". They are quite rare (at least where I live).

 

[Kubicki Fan]

"Crack" is always bad!

U cracked me up!

However, there is one exception I could cite but 'tis a family site.

OP, I vote also to keep away from that cracked neck.

 

[Metal Sombreros]

Its a meaningless crack its fine