1987 Ibanez Jem neck joint worries : one to avoid?

Fortheloveofguitar

Hey all

Been offered a vintage 1987 Ibanez Jem that’s in good condition at a great price

The only thing that’s potentially concerning me is that where there is a join in the neck it is now slightly raised though currently not enough to affect playability

should this be sometime I need to be worried about further up the road repair bill wise. One to avoid?

Many thanks 

ICBM

It looks OK in the pic. Any sign of an actual gap, or movement if you put stress on it? If not, it’s probably just differential shrinkage between the two pieces.

Funkfingers

If the headstock has not dropped off after thirty two years, it is probably going to remain attached.

Fortheloveofguitar

ICBM said:

It looks OK in the pic. Any sign of an actual gap, or movement if you put stress on it? If not, it’s probably just differential shrinkage between the two pieces.

I’ve not seen it in person yet as it’s a couple of hrs drive away 

Guy has told me ‘seems to be separating ever so slightly’ so that’s all I have to go off and the picture 

OilCityPickups

Fortheloveofguitar said:

ICBM said:

It looks OK in the pic. Any sign of an actual gap, or movement if you put stress on it? If not, it’s probably just differential shrinkage between the two pieces.

I’ve not seen it in person yet as it’s a couple of hrs drive away 

Guy has told me ‘seems to be separating ever so slightly’ so that’s all I have to go off and the picture 

If it really is 'separating ever so slightly' ... that is, if the glue/wood has let go here and there is any form of gap, I would personally avoid it like the plague, unless you are prepared for a fair sized repair bill, and the seller adjusts the price accordingly. There's bugger all 'meat' on those necks anyway, and string pull is going to be opening up any weakness. 

Jetfire

Ask for a side profile picture

ICBM

If it’s actually separating then it will need to be repaired. At that point the difficulty is to get it apart far enough to get glue into it - although superglue will wick in pretty effectively, count on needing at least some finish work done as well if you use that. If you can get heated epoxy into it you can probably clean the excess off before it sets and avoid that.

Water-based glue like Titebond probably won’t work well without separating the pieces completely and removing the old glue.

DefaultM

It will probably be fine, but at the same time it's not like you need that specific one so id just wait. Get one with no issues.

Fortheloveofguitar

Thanks guys much appreciated

 I’ve decided to avoid it then. Too much of a gamble 

sweepy

How much was it btw, enquiring minds etc, with a Jem, I’d be more concerned with posts and knife edges tbh