cldavis26 - Posted - 03/30/2026:  13:45:33

Wait might it cost to fix this crack? Is the structure of the neck compromised or can I play it with this crack until I get it fixed?

Crack doesn’t connect on both sides of the neck just the top. Thanks I live far away from a luthier.

Old Hickory - Posted - 03/30/2026:  14:55:52

Pictures:

Old Hickory - Posted - 03/30/2026:  15:09:20

The crack is on both the 1st and 5th string outsides of the heel. We do not know if it goes all the through inside -- yet. But that's where it's headed.

I believe you cannot continue to play the banjo this way. I assume you're aware the neck attaches to the pot with bolts that are screwed into the heel in the areas above and below the crack. I'm not an expert, but I believe the neck is now responding separately (instead of together) to stresses in those locations. That means movement, which will exacerbate the crack until it becomes a full break.

I can't at all estimate the cost of this repair. Maybe some of the luthiers here will offer a ballpark

If you have no qualified repair person close enough to drive to, you can remove the neck and ship it to someone to do the repair. I've shipped three different necks over the years for work that didn't require them to be on the banjo. Greatly saved shipping costs.

Good luck.

martyjoe - Posted - 03/30/2026:  16:22:48

Sometimes the nastier the crack the easier they can be to fix. That’s one nasty looking crack to my eyes and eminently fixable.

Banner Blue - Posted - 03/30/2026:  17:19:30

Disassemble, deal with any splintering that might keep the crack from going back together, inject glue into the crack and clamp. Remove the two pearl dots at the twelfth fret. Drill holes and then insert screws running almost the length of the heel in the holes for the two pearl dots. Replace pearl dots. Details missing from this brief suggestion.

RBuddy - Posted - 03/30/2026:  18:40:32

It is an easy fix. Glue and clamp with protective pads on the clamp, clean up any squeeze out while the glue is wet and very minor touch up. It needs nothing else. Take strings off and remove neck from pot and fix the break. It would be a $50 repair in my shop if someone just brought in the neck. More if I had to take it apart and restring it...