87 RG550 "SOS"

[Shark Tooth Smile]

Just when I thought it was bad having stress cracks in the neck pocket. I was playing it yesterday and as my hand slid up the neck I felt something. I instantly inspected the back of the neck to find that it now has a crack in the neck near the nut which seems to make a "V" shape and then extend around the sides toward the fretboard. I dont understand how this happened It wasnt recently dropped, And I havent touched the locking nut. My real concern is whether this can be repaired and If its even worth it. I love this axe...I thought about replacements but they are all expensive, plus it is roadflare red and I would want the neck to match, And I havent found one yet. Plus Ive been trying to keep this one original. If it is repairable would it still be noticible? And who would I go to for this type of work? A regular tech?

Any advice is greatly appreciated

[Shark Tooth Smile]

[bdk]

I too had the same problem. If you do a search on these pages, someone on the board details exactly how to fix it step by step. Briefly, you sand it down, glue it, clamp it, sand it, refinish with Tung oil and you're done.

[Homebake]

http://www.ibanezrules.com/tech/setup/crack_neck.htm

[littlephil]

And if you dont want to do it yourself, a luthier will do it. Also the neck pocket cracks aren't anything to worry about. Pretty much all bolt on guitars get paint cracks there.

[Shark Tooth Smile]

WOW! Thank you for the speedy replies. I found the article, looks pretty hit or miss considering I could see myself snapping it right in half. lol I dont think I should make an attempt, I guess ill call around and get a few quotes. Hopefully not too much. I was thinking it maybe wasnt that deep, but as those pictures showed its completely through the wood.

[Homebake]

some people just leave those cracks because they don't get any bigger and don't affect tuning stability or anything.

but IMO, if you can repair it, fix it.

[Shark Tooth Smile]

Thats what I dont understand about these cracks, something that is constantly under tension and stress, especially with a trem. how on earth would these cracks not worsen? Im scared to the point I stopped playing it because Ive heard of these cracks causing the headstock to just snap off. And if I didnt have it repaired I couldnt see myself ever using the bar on it again.

[musicdr]

I've had good luck removing the locking nut screws and coating the cracks with a thin superglue.Let it soak in.It adds a little strength and protects the wood.I have had no tuning or stability issues with consistent trem abuse on any of my repaired guitars.

[marianozz]

Thats a "nut too tight" problem... both from the top and from the back...

[metalgod72]

ahh! too painful to look...

no really, it's very common and usually does not get worse unless subject to trauma or extreme temperature change...good luck!