Tale of woe and warning

[jamro217]

I know this won't take the pain away, but from the pics the damage looks worse than it probably is. As others have stated, a good luthier can make it playable again, and this isn't the most costly type of repair. It is devastating when it happens, though. Sorry you had to go through this.

 

[FDR Jones]

I've only ever hung one guitar on the wall and it was suspended directly over a bed.

 

[whero]

I've always liked the idea of having a wall full of basses. But seeing as I only have two and the wall would be a little underwhelming, I prefer to put them away in the cases when I'm not playing them. Keeps them safe.

 

[JimmyM]

A good guitar repair person could have that looking pretty much like nothing happened pretty quick. All Gibsons break at the headstock. It's law.

 

[Thumpin6string]

That is why I would never hang my basses or guitars on a wall. They are kept in hard padded cases instead. Keeps them safe and also keeps them clean. Hopefully you can get it fixed.

 

[interp]

Ouch!

 

[dmt]

Tough break! (so to speak)

If it makes you feel any better, my buddy had the headstock on his Les Paul break from a fall. He got it repaired and it still works fine. Only negatives are that the repair isn't invisible and that resale value would now be quite low. But you don't see the repair from a few feet away and it plays fine.

Hanging on the wall isn't really the best idea in my opinion. Of course some people do it and enjoy the results: a nice display, instruments always ready, floor space saved — I can see the attraction. But anything off the ground has more potential energy, any thing left out has to be dusted (in particular, strings), and walls can have their own temperature/humidity profiles separate form the room itself. Also, anything on a wall exposed to sunlight will fade. I dunno, I've thought about it, and my wife has even encouraged me to go the wall-hang route, but I'm sticking with a combination of cases, a rack, a 3-instrument multi-guitar stand and a single stand or two, to keep everything at the ready, semi-ready, or, in the case of the cases, stored safely.

Anyway, welcome aboard and good luck with the repair!

 

[Axstar]

A good guitar repair person could have that looking pretty much like nothing happened pretty quick. All Gibsons break at the headstock. It's law.

There was an interesting discussion on one of the Les Paul forums about how many classic 'Lester' recordings had been cut using Les Pauls with broken headstocks. Gary Moore had Peter Green's old Les Paul in the trunk of his car one time, and an rear-end shunt accident reduced the neck and headstock to matchwood. It was all pieced back together.

I'm sure all the Allman Brothers Les Pauls had repaired headstocks. Back then a repair was basically a high roadie stuffing epoxy into the cracks as well. No finesse or forensic work like a modern luthier might put into the job. A lot of classic rock records feature broken and hastily repaired Les Pauls.

 

[Tuffluck]

I appreciate the support from this great community. Ive been p.m.ed with a few options as to a repair. Im close to Chattanooga with Atlanta and Nashville both in easy driving distance. Now the real question remains is the cost of the repair. Im concerned its going to cost more than I paid for the bass itself. Hopefully I can start getting some quotes this afternoon..

 

[H2okie]

Long time lurker, first time poster. For months I have spent down time following threads here, enjoying the stories and advice shared.
I wish this was a NBD thread or something fun, but its not.
2 Months ago i moved from a tiny apartment to a modest home in the mountains. Previously my collection of guitars had been boxed away with the exception of my 2010 Epiphone Explorer Bass. I decided that i would hang all my guitars in the new house instead of using floor stands.
Everything was fine until today. I got up and put away all my cables and pedals, hung my explorer on the wall (it normally reisides on the stand next to my amp) and swept/ mopped the floor.
Fast forward an hour or so, I'm making lunch and hear a crash. Its laying back down on the hardwood floor. I grab it up and notice the nut looks funny. The hockey puck headstock is misfigured and strings askewed.
I will try to post pictures..
Lesson learned. Make sure if you hanging your bass its fully seated.
View attachment 3461521 View attachment 3461523

So sorry ... but thanks for taking the time to post. Good reminder to pay attention to securing our stuff on a stand or wall hang properly. I carelessly had one fall off a floor stand and got my 1st ding on a minty bass. I was feeling sorry for myself until now!!! Damn ... sorry for ur loss ... hope the perfect replacement shows up. Happy hunting!

 

[bearhart74]

Still learning the forum.. Its totally on me. I had the strap and cord hung up on the hanger as well and apparently didnt push the bass back far enough that it slipped. I have built/installed cabinets for the last 10 years so i have a good knowledge of woodworking. Unfortunately it looks like the fret board will need to be removed to make a permanent repair. Not something i currently have time or place to attempt.
Talked to a good friend /musician that told me the universe was ready for me to step up to a better 5 string. This was my only functioning bass. Im completely bummed right now.

If you have a "good knowledge of woodworking" you should give it a try yourself. The right glue/epoxy couple of clamps, a bit of patience should do the trick. Ill bet youtube has some vids that you can watch as this is not a unique problem.

 

[tadawson]

I appreciate the support from this great community. Ive been p.m.ed with a few options as to a repair. Im close to Chattanooga with Atlanta and Nashville both in easy driving distance. Now the real question remains is the cost of the repair. Im concerned its going to cost more than I paid for the bass itself. Hopefully I can start getting some quotes this afternoon..

Costing more than you paid for it is irrelevant! The key is costing *less* than replacing it to get back to the same place . . . .

 

[dr doofie]

Long time lurker, first time poster. For months I have spent down time following threads here, enjoying the stories and advice shared.
I wish this was a NBD thread or something fun, but its not.
2 Months ago i moved from a tiny apartment to a modest home in the mountains. Previously my collection of guitars had been boxed away with the exception of my 2010 Epiphone Explorer Bass. I decided that i would hang all my guitars in the new house instead of using floor stands.
Everything was fine until today. I got up and put away all my cables and pedals, hung my explorer on the wall (it normally reisides on the stand next to my amp) and swept/ mopped the floor.
Fast forward an hour or so, I'm making lunch and hear a crash. Its laying back down on the hardwood floor. I grab it up and notice the nut looks funny. The hockey puck headstock is misfigured and strings askewed.
I will try to post pictures..
Lesson learned. Make sure if you hanging your bass its fully seated.
View attachment 3461521 View attachment 3461523

I'm not even gonna "like" this cause it's simply too sad... I am so sorry about that...

 

[grinx]

I was in a band with a guy in 1973, who had an original 1963 Gibson Explorer. We didn't know what it was, maybe some kind of weird Firebird. He let a guy sit in, and the strap came off. BOOM! On the floor, broken headstock. My pal traded the Explorer and some money for a used 70s Les Paul Deluxe. Larry Henrickson came through town and bought it from the store, for probably $300.00...

Who is Larry Henrickson?

 

[JCW308]

Studs / StudFinder / Hercules is the only combination I trust.

 

[dan1952]

Who is Larry Henrickson?

Larry was an early vintage dealer/collector in the Chicago area. Among other things, at one show where he displayed, he had at least 5 or 6 blonde Custom Teles with black binding. I didn't know that Fender even made that finish at all!

 

[Maynjo]

Believe me! Even when you decide to never ever mop your floor again…

When Murphy meets Newton happens! Always!

View attachment 3461569

may the bass be with you

Wise(b)ass

On a side note, I wonder if he happened to be mopping his floor with this...

 

[bdplaid]

I keep most of mine in cases or inexpensive gig bags and take them out when I want to use them. This tale is one reason, the other is I don't like them getting all dusting and cruddy for no reason.

 

[johnson79]

Ugh. That stinks. Headstock breaks like that are somewhat common on Gibson instruments, so you're Playing Authentic TM. They can generally be repaired, and on a black bass it should be invisible after some paint. BCR music in Lemoyne PA does quite a few of these, so if you don't have any luck locally check them out.

 

[Cave Puppy]

This happened to me in a small m&p music store! I picked up a bass to try it out, put it back on the wall, went to look at some other stuff and ... BAM! The bass falls on the floor. I left very soon after that. I don't think anyone knew it was me.