Need advice, broken Ibanez Universe neck :(

[severinsteel]

Hey guys, so I have an Ibanez Universe that has a broken neck. I've been told by multiple repair people who I trust that it isn't repairable. So, I'm exploring my options. If you were me, would you wait around and try to find a OEM replacement on eBay or Reverb. Or, would you and fund someone to make a custom replacement?

 

[pbz]

Try reaching to Ibanez CS and explain the situation? Maybe they can make a replacement for a cost?

 

[KT89]

Before entering this thread: please tell me it's one of the cheap ones please tell me it's one of the cheap ones


It was not one of the cheap ones

 

[kenneth]

...so that pic looks like there were possibly a few other mods to your guitar, as well as a fair amount of wear in some of the frets.

But I have broken a headstock myself some years ago, and you are left with a situation that completely sucks, you either have to get the neck repaired, hope it works as good/better, and of course take a loss on the guitar if you expect to sell it ever. Or you end up throwing out the neck/guitar, as it is not financially in your favor if you don't have a competent luthier to do the work. Both suck. So stop breaking headstocks is what I learned.

I have to say that break does look pretty nasty, and is there also a missing piece of wood not shown in the pic?

 

[MuzicToyz]

Take a stab at gluing it back together first. A couple clamps and glue will not cost much. Repair folks will avoid due to potential issues, but if you take your time and get everything to fit correctly you could save yourself a bundle. Unless I am missing something it would seem like a relatively easy repair.

 

[Stu Tu]

Is that an original Jem?

 

[wox]

Take a stab at gluing it back together first. A couple clamps and glue will not cost much. Repair folks will avoid due to potential issues, but if you take your time and get everything to fit correctly you could save yourself a bundle. Unless I am missing something it would seem like a relatively easy repair.

Hard disagree. That's not an easy repair. There's a big chunk missing from that photo. That inlay is the 3rd fret, so there's a whole 2 frets that are absent from the pic.

That's a hard puzzle to get back together without grafting in a new section of maple and shaping it.

 

[somecafone]

Try reaching to Ibanez CS and explain the situation? Maybe they can make a replacement for a cost?

That would be my first suggestion as well.
But I’m confident I’ve seen a “Wizard” carve referenced in the Warmouth site or somewhere.
The inlays might be a bridge too far.

 

[Mudder]

I’d check the jemsite forum. Someone might be selling one or they can recommend a replacement.

 

[wox]

Is that an original Jem?

OP states it's a universe.

Seems to be a UV777, 1991-1993. Only 340 were made

 

[diogoguitar]

Don't touch your guitar anymore and contact ibanez customer service.
If ibz can't help you, try this guy: https://www.youtube.com/@twoodfrd

I've seen him repairing the nastiest gibson repairs. If this is the route you choose, prepare your pocket
(I haven't worked with him, so do your due diligence)

 

[wox]

If you were me, would you wait around and try to find a OEM replacement on eBay or Reverb. Or, would you and fund someone to make a custom replacement?

Odds of finding an original spare LNG UV777 neck are pretty much zero. They just don't exist.

One idea is to see if this guy is still making stuff - https://www.perleguitars.com/

He makes Ibanez replica stuff, very good rep with lots of custom work for Jemsite posters.

The Ibanez Custom shop is another good bet. I don't know what their stance is on restoring old instruments, but you should look in to it (seems like Japan is a better bet, but maybe LA is easier to work with? talk to both!)

Ibanez Guitars | LA Custom Shop

www.ibanez.com

 

[Norrin Radd 1966]

OMG! So sorry OP. Just this weekend I was thinking of taking my Universe out of its case and hanging it on the wall with all my partscasters. Thinking now I may just leave it in the case…

 

[Stu Tu]

OP states it's a universe.

Seems to be a UV777, 1991-1993. Only 340 were made

Thanks.

I didn’t know they made the maple/pyramids/green combo on anything but the Jems.

 

[CapnRex]

Dude that sucks. Sorry bro.

 

[agquake]

Odds of finding an original spare LNG UV777 neck are pretty much zero. They just don't exist.

Of course they don’t exist. However, UV777GR necks do.

 

[HoboMan]

Hard disagree. That's not an easy repair. There's a big chunk missing from that photo. That inlay is the 3rd fret, so there's a whole 2 frets that are absent from the pic.

That's a hard puzzle to get back together without grafting in a new section of maple and shaping it.

Ibanez players are shredders. They never use those fret anyways.

 

[vds5000]

My suggestion is to find a donor 7-string Ibanez on the used market and use that guitar's neck as a starting point. Then you can take that neck to a decent luthier and have them 'Universe-ize' it (i.e. inlay work, possibly headstock re-finish to match the color). As odd as it sounds, this may be the most cost-effective solution that would yield decent results.

 

[83stratman]

Before entering this thread: please tell me it's one of the cheap ones please tell me it's one of the cheap ones


It was not one of the cheap ones

There were cheap Universes?

 

[ixnay]

Thanks.

I didn’t know they made the maple/pyramids/green combo on anything but the Jems.