Neck/nut headstock joint crack les paul HELP

[what?]

Hi guys, I've got an edwards les paul shipped from Japan and when I got it I found these two cracks here shown in the picture on both sides of the joint. Its exactly where the nut and headstock meet.

Its being held at the post office for 3 months now. I'm still hoping the insurance would finally be done and they'd replaced my broken paul with a new guitar. :(

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j150/tanr05/crackR1.jpg

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j150/tanr05/crackR.jpg

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j150/tanr05/crackL1.jpg

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j150/tanr05/crackL.jpg

[David Collins]

There's nothing broken there except the finish. Probably got whacked just hard enough to stress the nut/fingerboard/binding/neck joint, but nothing broke. Just flexed enough to stress and crack the finish.

[what?]

So there's nothing to worry about?not worth "fixing"? it wont be worsen with string tension etc etc?

[skylabfilmpop]

Probably the wood expanding from a change in temperature. Its fine.

[walterw]

it probably is fine, but it would drive me nuts every time i saw it. i would hold out for the replacement.

[Bo Faulkner]

tension would actually hold it together I would think

[David Collins]

So there's nothing to worry about?not worth "fixing"? it wont be worsen with string tension etc etc?

"Nothing to worry about" is of course relative. Structurally, no, there's no structural damage there, it's just the finish.

Will it worsen over time? Maybe. Not structurally, but finish cracks and crazes over time, and those cracks like to spread from some catalyzing point of origin. Ten or twenty years of cyclic humidity changes, and yes the cracks will likely spread, along with others that will inevitably have started by then.

Yes I say it's nothing to worry about, but of course Walter's point is very good as well. It's a new instrument, and it seems like a bummer to have that bugging you to start out with. Waiting for a replacement would be nice, but I personally would opt to get a repair quote from a shop, file a damage claim for that amount, then take the reimbursement and leave it how it is. Call it a scratch and ding discount. That's fine for me, because the cracks wouldn't bother me much at all. If they bug you, then by all means it's fair to go for a replacement. That way you at least have the honor of putting the first dings and scratches in it yourself. ;)

[BryanMatthews]

On a new guitar, that would drive me nuts, If it were mine id be looking a replacement.

bryan

[in a little row]

There's nothing broken there except the finish. Probably got whacked just hard enough to stress the nut/fingerboard/binding/neck joint, but nothing broke. Just flexed enough to stress and crack the finish.

Guess Ill be the ass...
I disagree...it looks like it could be deeper than just the finish to me...theres a crack in the binding in the first pic, is fretboard weakened...plus you cant see under the nut or between the nut and the headstock, although there doesnt seem to be a separation...regardless, the crack in the finish will spread...

Hold out for another one...you buy a new guitar it should be pristine...dont compromise and keep it, even for a discount/reimbursment


j