Broken Headstock Repair in Manhattan
A Les Paul falls off a stand, a gig bag gets stepped on, a doorframe wins. Angled mahogany headstocks break at the nut, and they break often enough in this city that we repair several a month. A properly glued headstock is as strong as it was, usually stronger, and the guitar plays exactly the same.
Don't touch it
Don't try to glue it yourself, and don't pull the pieces apart if they're still hinged. Loosen the strings, keep every splinter, and bring it in as is. A clean fresh break with the fibers intact is the easiest repair there is. A break someone has already put wood glue on is the hardest.
The repair
From $525: we clean the break, test-fit, glue with hot hide glue or Titebond depending on the wood and the break, and clamp it in the right direction for 24 hours. Short-grain breaks and breaks through the truss rod access get spline or back-strap reinforcement, which is quoted when we see it. Then it's strung up, set up and play-tested. Finish touch-up over the break line is a separate quote; many players skip it and keep the scar.
Costs that come up
A broken headstock often takes the nut with it: a new bone nut is $200, Tusq $150. If a tuner snapped, singles are $30 each to replace. If the truss rod nut was damaged we'll quote that too.
Prices
| Headstock ReglueBase price, quoted after inspection | from $525 |
|---|---|
| Standard SetupIncluded check, full setup if needed | $145 |
| Hand-carved Bone NutIf the nut broke with it | $200 |
| Single Tuner ReplacementEach | $30 each |
| Full Tuner InstallFull set | $125 |
See the full repair and setup menu for everything else we do.
Headstock repairs take 1 to 2 weeks because of glue cure time. Reinforcement and finish work extend that. Bring every piece, even the splinters.
Get a free quote
Common questions
- How much does it cost to fix a broken headstock in NYC?
- From $525 at Brothers Guitar Shop. A clean hinge break on a Gibson or Epiphone is usually the base price. Breaks that need splines or back-straps are quoted after inspection.
- Can a broken headstock be fixed?
- Almost always. Mahogany glues extremely well and a correct repair is stronger than the original wood. The only ones we turn away are breaks with missing wood or old failed glue jobs that have to be cleaned out.
- Will it break again?
- Not at the glue line. A reinforced repair moves the weakest point elsewhere. Keep it on a stand with a neck cradle and use a hard case for travel.
- Does a headstock repair hurt the value?
- On a player's guitar, a little. On a vintage Gibson, a documented clean repair is far better than a replaced neck. Either way it's a fraction of what the guitar is worth.
- Do you fix Epiphone and other brands?
- Yes. Epiphone, Gibson, PRS, Gretsch, acoustic headstocks, anything with a glued or scarfed headstock.