Pricing advice: Gibson 335 headstock break *Updated

Kylef

I’ve had this for a while but done nothing with it. Now I need to decide whether to fix it, sell it or both. 

Its a very clean break, don’t know if that’s a good or bad thing. For guys in the know, 1. what price would I be looking at to sort this, 2. what should I price this at to sell as it is, and 3. what should I price this at if I sort the break first then sell it on?

Should add it’s a 2011, gloss finish, and excellent nick bar the break. 

https://i.imgur.com/T1r5MZO.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/yrHTnef.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/zyeLOIC.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/85zF9zF.jpg

guitars4you

As breaks go that does look clean and an 'easier fix - Can't see how much damage to the front black facia, but I dare say it will leave a 'crease' - With a translucent finish it is hard/impossible not to 'hide' any such repair work - Not sure who near you is the best bet for such repair work - @ICBM might help on that - A guesstimate of repair work and 'appropriate' refin and you'd be around £150 maybe 200 - value after and I'd say £1000 on a bad day - £1250 on a good day

Best to sell it with the repair work carried out IMO

roberty

I fixed a similar break on a (much cheaper) guitar. It was a lot easier than I thought:

https://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/143176/edit-now-diy-headstock-repair-ngd-almost-snapped-v100-pics-now-working#latest

You could do this with around £20 outlay, then decide later if you care about the finish

guitars4you

roberty said:

I fixed a similar break on a (much cheaper) guitar. It was a lot easier than I thought:

https://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/143176/edit-now-diy-headstock-repair-ngd-almost-snapped-v100-pics-now-working#latest

You could do this with around £20 outlay, then decide later if you care about the finish

We all know accidents like this can happen - And full credit to the work carried out on a Vintage - To be honest some are more skilled and handy at this type of work than others  - But If I came to buy a used Gibson 335 with a headstock break, the worse the repair looked then either the furthest I'd walk away, or the more I'd want a price reduction - I've seen to many bodge jobs that you tend to just ignore the guitar all together  - But I've seen clean breaks with such a good repair and touch up that it is barely worth a mention  

On such a job as this 335, then even with a professional touch up, it is nigh on impossible to hide any signs of repairs on such a translucent finish - But I'd want the repair and finish to be baby skin smooth and not a hint of a ripple around the back of the neck by the repair 

fandango

That looks like the split is along the exact line of the scarf joint.

If this were me, I'd take it to a pro luthier. I'm thinking @Feline, because of what they did on the Judas Priest guitar.

I wouldn't be too precious on the colour of finish, but agree that's it's got to be flush as flush can be.

tony99

fandango said:

That looks like the split is along the exact line of the scarf joint.

If this were me, I'd take it to a pro luthier. I'm thinking @Feline, because of what they did on the Judas Priest guitar.

I wouldn't be too precious on the colour of finish, but agree that's it's got to be flush as flush can be.

The Judas Priest Gibson Resurrection thread is the stuff of legends, years from now old luthiers will pass the story on to their grandkids about what Feline did.

Sometimes I feel like purposely snapping the neck on my Les Paul just so it can undergo such a professionally skilled process.

Collings

fandango said:

That looks like the split is along the exact line of the scarf joint.

If this were me, I'd take it to a pro luthier. I'm thinking @Feline, because of what they did on the Judas Priest guitar.

I wouldn't be too precious on the colour of finish, but agree that's it's got to be flush as flush can be.

There isn't any scarf joint on a USA 335 is there?

WezV

get it done properly first time and that will be nearly invisible..   Definitely better to sell it with the guitar fixed properly.

There is no scarf on a Gibson, just a weak point in the grain.   A well done scarf is actually much stronger than solid wood in this area

ESBlonde

Yep, no scarf on a Gibson. Get it done properly.

The cost might be up to £250 for the repair and finish. Expect the resale to lose 15-25% if declared at sale. It's just how it is the market is despite some great Gibson guitars having head fixes and being used on classic recordings. Some people will swear their guitar plays better than before the break!

You can get a stinger paint job on the headstock heal and it would make the repair invisible, except knowledgable types assume such a stinger is probably covering something.

Kylef

Thanks for the comments guys. I bit the bullet, took it to a reputable luthier and had then fix it. 

It’s now solid, really pleased. As said being a transparent finish it’s not invisible, but it’s smooth to the touch. Delighted with it. Problem is the intention was to sell it, but I’m now in 2 minds. The luthier has set it up too so it’s playing great. Apart from the break the guitar is like brand new. 

Some pics:

https://i.imgur.com/HagporM.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/roAZ0RS.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/oeWk8Ey.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/gcUpUcL.jpg

Teyeplayer

Kylef said:

Thanks for the comments guys. I bit the bullet, took it to a reputable luthier and had then fix it. 

It’s now solid, really pleased. As said being a transparent finish it’s not invisible, but it’s smooth to the touch. Delighted with it. Problem is the intention was to sell it, but I’m now in 2 minds. The luthier has set it up too so it’s playing great. Apart from the break the guitar is like brand new. 

Some pics:

https://i.imgur.com/HagporM.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/roAZ0RS.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/oeWk8Ey.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/gcUpUcL.jpg

Looks awful that mate, I’ll trade you.

Seriously, a job well done there. If you don’t need to sell, don’t, just enjoy it.