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saphine - Posted - 11/05/2009: 15:11:16
Just noticed a crack running from the nut to the start of the 2nd fret on my new (April this year) Gold Tone OB250+. No idea how it got there but need advice re repair or replacement options. Anyone know of someone in the Highlands of Scotland who can fix or replace it for me. Have mailed the guy I bought it from but the transport costs will be high each way. Is it possible for necks to crack and split all by themselves or do Ineed to consider killing one of my children who MAY have done SOMETHING.
Be who you are and happy, life's a party, go and have some fun.
Grinnin&Pickin - Posted - 11/05/2009: 15:20:33
Could humidity have caused this crack to appear? Don't harm the kids just yet....
dfwest - Posted - 11/05/2009: 15:31:05
It's always a good idea to whup the kids, just in case. Is it still under warranty?
David West
Fort Collins, Colorado & Racine, WI
kwlawson1 - Posted - 11/05/2009: 15:38:45
If it is just a finish crack, then make a speed neck out of it.
justryin2play - Posted - 11/05/2009: 15:55:40
quote:
Originally posted by dfwest
It's always a good idea to whup the kids, just in case. Is it still under warranty?
David West
Fort Collins, Colorado & Racine, WI
Even better if you don't tell em' what the whoopin' is for...
I would let someone look at it in case it is a warranty issue.
uncle.fogey - Posted - 11/05/2009: 15:55:59
I'd call Goldtone right away. The banjo is new and I think it's their problem.
A man wouldn't need many plastic heads in a lifetime.
flake - Posted - 11/05/2009: 16:44:20
I doubt humidity caused it. You need to determine if it's in the finish or indeed in the grain. I suspect, because of the location, it's in the wood.
By the way, if it's still so tight that you've just noticed it, the repair wouldn't be substantial, and probably invisible if done by someone who knew what they were doing.
I agree about checking on you warranty. You're definitely in luck if you've got somebody who can handle it in the Isles. Shipping it Stateside for this sort of thing is ludicrous.
mike
You can't ride home on a bowl of goat. I've always said that.
Edited by - flake on 11/05/2009 16:47:26
Ikaika - Posted - 11/05/2009: 18:44:17
Not sure if this would be of any help to this situation in particular, but when I lived in England, I took a few of my guitars to a guy named Dave Roper - he is by far, the best setup, repair, refinishing, wood repair guy I've ever run across. I don't think he has a website, but the number I found for him online is: 01986-894424.
If your banjo is not under warranty, it might be better to see if he can help, the shipping would at least be reasonable - being that you wouldn't have to ship it all the way over here to the States.
Hope this helps.
"Just play one, just play one."
http://www.myspace.com/imthefid
jkmacman - Posted - 11/06/2009: 06:24:28
i don't know the banjo you broke, but i busted a deering intermediate near the 5th string tuner whole, i krazy glued the busted frame and its held these past 20 years no worries
lightgauge - Posted - 11/06/2009: 07:14:49
If you are capable of removing the neck, shipping should be much more affordable than on a whole banjo.
Polle Flaunoe - Posted - 11/06/2009: 08:39:59
I take, that you´ve bought it second hand - a warranty on instruments will often follow only the original and first buyer.
Do have in mind, that a brand new OB-250 neck - ready for installing - can be purchased for less than $300. You don´t get many luthier hours for that amount.
http://www.goldtone.com/products/de...-OB-250-Neck (the price is retail - you´ll normally have to pay less - do ask a GT-dealer near you)
Regards
Polle
saphine - Posted - 11/06/2009: 10:59:10
Hi everyone and thanks ofr responding.
It's only 6 months old and I bought it new for £1,2000 from Andy Banjo in England so if its a flaw it will be covered by the warranty. He buys from Gold Tone and sets them up here in the UK and was a great guy to deal with so not concerned he won't do the right thing. I'm getting it looked at tomorrow by a guy who makes his own instruments so he can let me know if he thinks it's a flaw or a bump. As for humidity I doubt it as the room I play in is only just warm enough to sit in and it lives in the case from play to play. I'm a bit precious with it hence the shock and dismay when I noticed the damage. Hopefully it's a flaw because its against the law to hit, hurt maime or kill one's children.
Thankfully they are at their dad's this weekend....
Thanks also for Dave Roper's tel no. I may well have to call him depending on how I get on.
Thanks again everyone, love the support.
Elizabeth
Be who you are and happy, life's a party, go and have some fun.
rollinalong - Posted - 11/06/2009: 16:56:24
If it was your kids, then wait for grand kids, their God's way of allowing us to get even with our own kids. Spoil them rotten, fill them full of sweets and then send them home. :)
Works for me....
Bill
The best you can do is the best you can do, and you can do anything if you want to bad enough." - Barry Abernathy, Mountain Heart
a Flathead
an Archtop
and an Open back
dfwest - Posted - 11/06/2009: 17:52:19
What rollinalong said..and don't neglect the caffein. Be sure to give 'em lots of coka cola or pepsi before they go home!
David West
Fort Collins, Colorado & Racine, WI
saphine - Posted - 11/07/2009: 00:38:45
I'm looking forward to visiting them all and leaving half cut fruit on the bread board, wet towels on the floor, doors open behind me (in the middle of winter) leaving empty packets of biscuits in the tin, bowls and plates will be left under beds....this list of 'must do' revenge possibilities is endless......But I do like the idea of spoiling grandchildren and ignoring what their parents tell me, selective deafness will rule!
Be who you are and happy, life's a party, go and have some fun.
mike gregory - Posted - 11/07/2009: 02:02:56
quote:
Originally posted by saphine
Hi everyone and thanks ofr responding.
It's only 6 months old and I bought it new for £1,2000 from Andy Banjo in England so if its a flaw it will be covered by the warranty. He buys from Gold Tone and sets them up here in the UK and was a great guy to deal with so not concerned he won't do the right thing. I'm getting it looked at tomorrow by a guy who makes his own instruments so he can let me know if he thinks it's a flaw or a bump. As for humidity I doubt it as the room I play in is only just warm enough to sit in and it lives in the case from play to play. I'm a bit precious with it hence the shock and dismay when I noticed the damage. Hopefully it's a flaw because its against the law to hit, hurt maime or kill one's children. Thankfully they are at their dad's this weekend....
Thanks also for Dave Roper's tel no. I may well have to call him depending on how I get on.
Thanks again everyone, love the support.
Elizabeth
Be who you are and happy, life's a party, go and have some fun.
Now, let's all grab them banjos and sing!
===================================
You're not allowed to render some terrible snot---Maimed!
No matter that they went and did, not .....Maimed!
They might have ruined your best banjo,
Wrecking up the neck to beat the band.
But it's illegal to get their hides tanned!
You fantasize that they ought to be....Maimed!
But then in a warrant you'd be ....Named!
Who ever thought the children would put
Your whole entire house to flame?
They've made you feel alive again,
They've given you the drive again,
To make you wish they'd survive but be again, ....Maimed.
===================================
saphine - Posted - 11/07/2009: 02:30:56
Mike thank you so much. Getting a little ditty from your good self has made me feel I really am a banjo picker and fully blown BHO member.
I love the photo xxx
Be who you are and happy, life's a party, go and have some fun.
spoonfed - Posted - 11/07/2009: 03:56:55
the location of the crack suggests to me that the truss rod is over tightened, this would in all likelyhood be the fault of immature or poorly seasoned timber in the neck straining against the truss rod, I have seen this happen several times to guitars, they either crack behind the nut or strip the thread of the truss rod at, or near the point you describe, not uncommon when an instrument has been imported from sunny climes to the cold damp old UK. It is still under warranty so take it back !
spoonfed
fynger - Posted - 11/07/2009: 04:55:40
I like the fact that Mike has given you full pemission to WHOOP yer kids but will deny all knowledge of you if questions are asked..... :-)
-----------------------------------------------
Have you hugged your Banjo today ?
Ol Lefty - Posted - 11/07/2009: 05:29:10
I wonder about a bad run of necks. There is a fellow selling on ebay-several GT necks with the very same cracks. I doubt someone sat upon all of them. I bought one and fixed it up using hot hide glue and two cam clamps. The seller is far from an amateur on banjos. Ol'Lefty
"Don't pick it; it'll never heal"--with apologies, that always makes me grin.......... "I'm not crazy, I'm colorful." Struther Martin, "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid"
mike gregory - Posted - 11/07/2009: 06:19:15
Glad you liked the song & photo, Saphine.
That's one of your Brit babes, little Angie Lansbury, all growed up and wowing 'em on Broadway.
We Yanks mostly remember her as Jessica Fletcher, a somewhat comfortably upholstered old gal on "Murder, She Wrote".
But, back about 1956, in The Court Jester, /w Danny Kaye, she stunned and won my 11-year-old heart forever, with her beauty, grace, and wit.
saphine - Posted - 11/08/2009: 01:37:57
She was quite a stunner in her day. I was a fan of Murder, She wrote when I was at home being a Mum...daytime tv kept me a little bit sane.
Re cracked neck...It seems my banjo fell over at my party in August, only no-one told me. I left it in the case at the hall after the sound check with my brother, went off to get ready and food sorted and when I got back it was sitting squint on the cradle stand. One of the screw pegs at the back is cracked so it seems likely it was damaged then. The crack may have taken this long to show through as on a closer look the crack runs around the other side of the head albeit a hairline. The warranty won’t cover the repair sadly. However, I’m taking the ‘rock chic’ approach and seeing it as a part of my banjo journey/story and adding it to the history of the banjo (which I have never had any intention of ever selling anyway). On the up side (am ever the optimist me) I have found a jam session takes place ata local pub every Tues night so I’ll take it along and ask the banjo players there if they know a local luthier. I’ll be taking my Tranjo too in the hope I might be invited to join in….so the optimist in me sees an opportunity to get into something good. Life throw all sorts of stuff at you which at the time seems a bit off but every cloud and all that. I was quoted a ridiculously high price to relace the neck but the guy in the music shop reckons it can fixed quite easily.
I want to thank you all again for your support, understanding and suggestions. It has quite simply kept my hearl light.
Elizabeth
Be who you are and happy, life's a party, go and have some fun.
