cracked neck HELP!

[b-rich]

hey, im new to this forum so if anyone has any advise please help.

This local guy has a 1994 RG550 for sale and its in really good condition but the neck is cracked in the back, its about 2.5 to 3 inches long and its like a dent, it seems like 2 small cracks about a Centimeter apart and one runs from about the 4th fret up the the top locking nut screw, but it sorta fades away as the crack gets closer to the nut, i have described the best i can since i dont have pics. i want to know if this will spread later or efect the tuning or intonation, or if it will crack more if i use the trem, because the seller said its been there for 10 years and it hasnt gotten worse and doesnt change the tuning [he said it happend becuause it slid off one amp and hit the corner of another] but i cant take his word completely, , i would just buy a new neck, but its sorta hard to find a maple fret AANJ, but would there be a way to repair this ever? please help out because i really want this
thanks

[ken_r152]

I own a guitar that had its entire headstock broken off and repaired, and its fine. No problems with tuning or alignment. No further cracks, either. But you might want to canvass around to hear what others' experience is with cracks.

[THEE HAMMER]

i'd ask this awesome guy i know
Brad Muffet theguitarshop@embarqmail.com

he's fixing a rg560 thats chock-a-block with issues and he's fixed tons of stuff cracked,broken,twisted etc.

shoot him a line if you can.

[ryanb]

A lot of RGs have hairline cracks coming from the nut bolt holes and they are no problem, but a crack that long is worth paying attention to. I don't completely buy that story. If it hit an amp hard enough to make a 3" crack, there should be some other damage -- like dents where it hit. I think it's more likely that the crack started smaller and is creeping larger over time. That's where most of the stress in the neck is located.

It can definitely be glued, which would make it perfectly fine and stable. It still is worth a discount on the price tag though. Negotiate the price down, get the crack glued properly, then enjoy.

[LonePhantom]

This may be of help if you are handy:
http://www.projectguitar.com/tut/crack.htm

Or find a local luthier that you can trust to do it for you.

[b-rich]

yeah, well i buy the sellers anweres more than my local "technicion" if thats what he calls himself, becuase he give a bunch of bull**** when you dont buy something from his store, and idk if he will bargian down anymore cuz im already paying 220 for it, but the crack is more like a dent, but the weird thing is i can push the indented peice in just a LITTLE like its hollow behind the wood, is that something i should be worried about? i just dont want the crack to expand after changing guage, trem use or truss rod adjustments.

[moonlight]

The crack you describe is more serious than the typical hair line cracks near the nut bolts IMO. If you have some wood working experience check out ibanezrules.com- tech link - how to repair a cracked neck,it's way down at the bottom of the page.(sorry,I don't have enough posts here so I can't post a link.)
I watch for Rg550 AANJ maple fretboard necks on "that auction site" every day and have bid on every one that's been listed for the last three years. In that time I have won one neck at $230 that was in good but not perfect condition. The other two were in better condition and went for $242 and $330 for a like new condition neck, more than I was willing to pay. So ya, they are hard to find and expensive. I actually bought a complete Rg550 just for the neck and case not long ago. Anyway maybe you can use this in your decision to buy or price negotiation.

[ryanb]

I agree that the "indentation" you describe sounds worse than the typical neck crack. But it's pretty hard to tell much without good pictures. Pretty much any neck crack can be successfully repaired, so as long as you think you are getting a decent price for it, you can most likely have it fixed (if necessary) into a fully-useable guitar. From your description, I wouldn't trust your tech either. If you can't do the work yourself, you need to find someone you can trust to do it for you. Otherwise, you might be better off to look for another deal.

[mdmoyer]

I had an RG that cracked right in front of the scarf joint (nut side). it was the typical crack the whole way across the neck that RG's are prone to (darn military storage). I used a glue syringe available through stew-mac and a padded quick release C-Clamp from home depot and filled the crack with gorillia glue. another tip, once glue is put in, wrap the area in one or two lengthwise folded dryer sheets then put your clamp on. dryer sheets will not stick to the glue/neck or clamp. after some sanding you can still see the glue joint because gorillia glue is white haha. but its smooth and stays intune unless i use my single locking trem on it (garbage). hopes this helps a little bit.