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Gibson 'Busted Heastock' Syndrome

Duceditor

New member
Joined
Oct 30, 2017
Messages
26
As I stated in my new member intro I'd been a Gibson guy in the `60s. Those were my working years. Untold gigs, rehearsals, etc. -- a great many of which included a trusty Gibson guitar.
I use the word "trusty" with no hesitation. We -- my fellow musicians and I -- never took a "spare" guitar along. Never. No, not even for a Summer-long gig such as at a Catskills hotel. Nor did we need to.

Although I own several Gibsons, ranging back as far as 1980 (A wonderful ES-Artist), I'm only now in a sense coming to see myself again as a 'Gibson man.' And as such most of my musical on-line comradeship has been with players of other marques. And as my interest in and affinity for Gibsons has returned I have been amazed at the stories of them supposedly being breakage prone and, well basically, "flawed." -This with a particular focus on the headstock to neck area. In short that every one is just on the edge of easy destruction.

My experience tells me that, while yes, such can and has happened, it is really not an issue that need concern me if I use the same level of care as I/we did back when I was playing regularly with a Gibby in the sixties. Basically just don't drop your guitar, don't thoughtlessly bash it into anything, and be careful where and how you put it down. (I.e., lean it upon that amp only with thought and care!)

Just wondering... What's the current take on this among Gibson Les Paul owners?

-don

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openWndArguments["abd"] = abd; parentRef.postMessage({ type: "blockedWindow", args: JSON.stringify(openWndArguments) }, parentOrigin); } lastBlockTime = Date.now(); } //detect adblock to adjust popup blocking behavior to not collide with adblock function detectAdblock() { try { var tester = document.createElement('div'); tester.innerHTML = ' '; tester.className = 'adsbox'; tester.style.cssText = "position:absolute;top-1000px;left:-1000px;"; document.body.appendChild(tester); window.setTimeout(function () { if (tester.offsetHeight === 0) { abd = true; } tester.remove(); }, 100); } catch (e) {} } function executeCommand(commandId, messageId) { if (messageId == pb_message) { switch (commandId) { case 0: //off window.open = originalWindowOpenFn; document.createElement = originalCreateElementFn; document.createEvent = originalCreateEventFn; HTMLElement.prototype.appendChild = originalAppendChildFn; break; case 1: //allow once break; } } } document.addEventListener("fullscreenchange", function () { onFullScreen(document.fullscreen); }, false); document.addEventListener("mozfullscreenchange", function () { onFullScreen(document.mozFullScreen); }, false); document.addEventListener("webkitfullscreenchange", function () { onFullScreen(document.webkitIsFullScreen); }, false); document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', function () { detectAdblock(); }, false); (function () { window.pbExternalCommand = function (commandId, messageId) { executeCommand(commandId, messageId); }; })(); }; inject(); })();</script>
 

P.Walker

New member
Joined
Apr 17, 2007
Messages
941
As I stated in my new member intro I'd been a Gibson guy in the `60s. Those were my working years. Untold gigs, rehearsals, etc. -- a great many of which included a trusty Gibson guitar.
I use the word "trusty" with no hesitation. We -- my fellow musicians and I -- never took a "spare" guitar along. Never. No, not even for a Summer-long gig such as at a Catskills hotel. Nor did we need to.

Although I own several Gibsons, ranging back as far as 1980 (A wonderful ES-Artist), I'm only now in a sense coming to see myself again as a 'Gibson man.' And as such most of my musical on-line comradeship has been with players of other marques. And as my interest in and affinity for Gibsons has returned I have been amazed at the stories of them supposedly being breakage prone and, well basically, "flawed." -This with a particular focus on the headstock to neck area. In short that every one is just on the edge of easy destruction.

My experience tells me that, while yes, such can and has happened, it is really not an issue that need concern me if I use the same level of care as I/we did back when I was playing regularly with a Gibby in the sixties. Basically just don't drop your guitar, don't thoughtlessly bash it into anything, and be careful where and how you put it down. (I.e., lean it upon that amp only with thought and care!)

Just wondering... What's the current take on this among Gibson Les Paul owners?

-don

Same with you. I like my Gibson too much to play a backup (although I guess if I played in the rain or something, that is a possibility).

I don't wipe it down and baby it after every session, just a set of new strings depending on how much practice I get that week.

Regarding headstocks and general maintenance, this is my golden rule: never put a guitar where I wouldn't want to be...ex) hot car, cold car, etc.

Don't lean it on hazardous places, no jewelry bigger than my finger, a straplock (grolsch washer preferably) of some sort.

Not really anymore careful on my gibsons than I am on my fenders, though I a lot disagree with me on that....
 

thin sissy

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 2, 2006
Messages
2,691
I've never broken a headstock, nor have I seen it happen with my own eyes (like you, I almost always just bring one guitar to gigs...). But I HAVE seen many repaired Gibsons so I guess it is common? Maybe just the knowledge that it can happen makes one a little more careful with Gibsons compared to Fenders?

I hope I didn't jinx anything now, I don't want to be the one to break an LP neck :dang
 

Elmore

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 10, 2003
Messages
1,853
Don't use those old style guitar stands! I have a routed '71 Deluxe that I have had since 8th grade in 1976. While siting in one of those stands, someone accidentally knocked it forward in the eighties. The good repair has lasted since then, and the thing just sounds great. My most prized possession, at least sentimentally. A headstock break hurts the resale value, but once fixed well it is the same guitar. This supposed weakness of the Les Paul could never keep me away from buying, owning, and playing one.
 
Last edited:

Humbuster

Member
Joined
Sep 17, 2009
Messages
242
I have owned and played Gibson guitars since 1973.

I have NEVER had an issue with a broken headstock. I just take care of my guitars.
Careful placement when out and back in the case when not in use.
 

Dilver

Active member
Joined
Feb 17, 2016
Messages
114
I have owned and played Gibson guitars since 1973.

I have NEVER had an issue with a broken headstock. I just take care of my guitars.
Careful placement when out and back in the case when not in use.


Add me to this of old timers who played Gibson’s in the 70s or a 70’s Gibson in the 80s without breaking a headstock. But back then I only had one or two guitars so maybe I was pretty careful. Also... many Norlin era guitars had a volute on the back of the neck. Maybe that we extra bit of reinforcement actually helped?
 

Axis39

Member
Joined
Jan 18, 2010
Messages
83
I've had an SG since '87... it had a mishap and ended up with a broken neck, at the body.

I owned a '68 ES-340 for about 18 years, an '08 Traditional, a Special Junior (2012?) and currently own a '15 Less Plus P-90 never had a problem with any of them.

I purchased a repaired broken headstock Custom Lite. It's been rock solid, but there is a crack reappearing in the finish across the repair. I'll leave it alone for now.


I've never broken a headstock on a guitar. I've never had a Fender do anything other than dent and my Gretsches have been rock solid for years. All in all, it doesn't seem as rampant as the Interwebs portray the problem. However, I am also very careful with guitars and try not to let them get knocked around too much. Common sense goes a long way!
 

J T

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 20, 2005
Messages
10,501
Here's on tip you may be already aware of. A friend of mine told me he doesn't bring or use guitar stands at all. He just puts it in the case he brings it in when he is not playing. Saves dragging an extra piece of gear around and you make use of the case you are already bringing anyway.

Some places you play are tight, but when you get there, just take a minute to stand where you will be and get a sense of the space around you. That will get your sense of where you can or cant move and minimize the risk of slamming you guitars headstock on something or someone.

I have knocked the headstock a few times, but luckily never hard enough to break it.

My Martin acoustic has that "diamond" extra bit of wood on the back of the neck just to re-enforce that area. I don't mind it or notice it while playing at all. Gibson did something similar with the volute in the seventies but abandoned it.
 
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