Is this headstock repair dodgy?

Bidley

Looking at buying this guitar, and the seller has been up front about it having had a headstock repair. Although I don't know how concerned about it I should be! Pics...

ICBM

Probably. It almost certainly hasn’t been done by a professional, anyway...

It has at least been clamped pretty tightly by the look of it, but the question is what glue has been used - if it’s the wrong type (eg PVA) then not only will it probably come apart again, it will be almost impossible to clean the wood up well enough to use the right type.

If you’re thinking of buying the guitar, you need to take into account the possible cost of a full professional splint or scarf joint re-repair, plus refinish - then double that, and take it off the final value of the repaired guitar, if it’s to be a safe purchase.

steer

Any repair like this should reduce the price hugely, so unless you are getting a great price, walk away or negotiate hard.

guitars4you

ICBM said:

Probably. It almost certainly hasn’t been done by a professional, anyway...

It has at least been clamped pretty tightly by the look of it, but the question is what glue has been used - if it’s the wrong type (eg PVA) then not only will it probably come apart again, it will be almost impossible to clean the wood up well enough to use the right type.

If you’re thinking of buying the guitar, you need to take into account the possible cost of a full professional splint or scarf joint re-repair, plus refinish - then double that, and take it off the final value of the repaired guitar, if it’s to be a safe purchase.

totally endorse that

Very hard to hide any repair work to a potential buyer with a good eye - But it can be repaired by a professional tech that will make it secure - But any finish touch up will always add extra cost and generally still leave some signs of such work carried out

ref that pic - I've seen worse, but I'd expect far better

proggy

Who repaired it?  .....David Blunkett

JezWynd

and the seller has been up front about it having had a headstock repair.

How noble of him. 

Bidley

I think I'll give it a miss then!

Shame, it was a great price for a Super Swede (I think I can tell why).

HarrySeven

From my perspective (which is usually fairly skewed, I admit...), I would totally endorse @ICBM and @guitars4you, other than to add - if it's uber-cheap, go for it (but I suspect it isn't?)