Unbelievable Headstock Repair: Making It Invisible and Undetectable on a Rare Gibson Les Paul Lite!

Тәжірибелік нұсқаулар және стиль

In this heartwarming video, witness the incredible restoration of a rare Gibson Les Paul Lite that was accidentally knocked over by a small child. The distraught owner, on the verge of tears, brought the broken guitar to me with a single request: to make the repair invisible.
Using my expertise and meticulous craftsmanship, I embarked on the journey to restore this cherished instrument. Employing the same nitro lacquer used at the Gibson factory, I skillfully repaired the headstock, ensuring it would seamlessly blend with the original finish. To further conceal the remaining crack, I meticulously filled it with a tobacco brown nitrocellulose lacquer, precisely matching the guitar's unique hue.
Not stopping there, I went above and beyond by refinishing the entire back of the guitar in a slightly darker tobacco brown, meticulously covering the entire repair. It's important to note that the color is a rich brown, not black, preserving the original aesthetic of the instrument. Additionally, I took care to redo the front of the headstock, painstakingly removing all the prior scratches accumulated from regular use.
The result is truly astounding-the guitar now appears almost new, with an impeccable finish and a rejuvenated appearance. Most notably, and to the owner's delight, the repair is completely invisible. No matter how closely you examine it, you'll be astonished to find no traces of the unfortunate incident. The guitar stands as a testament to the power of restoration and the skillful craftsmanship that can breathe new life into beloved instruments. Witness the transformation and marvel at the artistry involved in this remarkable headstock repair.

Пікірлер: 111

  • @tiagosina3158
    @tiagosina3158 Жыл бұрын

    Superb job. It would even pass the black light test. The headstock is likely now stronger than it was originally. Ed Roman used to joke that all Gibson headstocks should be broken and glued at the factory before they are sold.

  • @WoodesosGuitarMods

    @WoodesosGuitarMods

    Жыл бұрын

    Thanks dude. Can't believe next year will be 10 years learning this crazy stuff😂

  • @dickietinklesongreaction9225

    @dickietinklesongreaction9225

    6 ай бұрын

    Unbelievable

  • @solarismoon3046

    @solarismoon3046

    5 ай бұрын

    @@WoodesosGuitarMods TEN YEARS?! I've been doing this for more than THIRTY YEARS. And it never seems to change.

  • @Hitman23NYY
    @Hitman23NYY Жыл бұрын

    Nelson, that looks amazing! Beautiful work.

  • @LegitHippo
    @LegitHippo Жыл бұрын

    Glad to see you're back Nelson, Keep 'em commin!!

  • @mojorisen74
    @mojorisen74 Жыл бұрын

    Thanks for the upload! I've been missing your videos. Fantastic job as always

  • @gsstrings339
    @gsstrings339 Жыл бұрын

    Beautiful job!!! Good to see a new vidja!!

  • @LapsangTe
    @LapsangTe Жыл бұрын

    That was really impressive! I have missed you on KZread, by the way. I hope we won't have to wait a year for your next video.

  • @WickedFesterBand
    @WickedFesterBand Жыл бұрын

    Very nice! Great to see you back!

  • @1980bwc
    @1980bwc Жыл бұрын

    Looks great Nelson.

  • @robs3253
    @robs3253 Жыл бұрын

    Welcome back sir! Great job!

  • @rockhead69
    @rockhead694 ай бұрын

    Fantastic work, my man... congrats !

  • @jameshughes6049
    @jameshughes60493 ай бұрын

    Awesome work!!

  • @Coppertunes
    @CoppertunesАй бұрын

    This is the 'Less+' model, thinner body with the belly cut. They also came with the robot tuners, brass nut, one tone knob, the other was replaced with a mini toggle switch, they also had real mother of pearl inlays instead of the acrylic ones.

  • @solarismoon3046
    @solarismoon30465 ай бұрын

    That was beautiful! It's the easiest repair I've ever seen. I've fixed my share of guitars and guitar necks but this is by far the easiest repair and the best I've seen personally or on KZread. Thank you for sharing this with us.

  • @jasonlong1036
    @jasonlong1036 Жыл бұрын

    Hell of a job Nelson. Damn impressive. Glad to see a new video.

  • @paulsharp6559
    @paulsharp655923 күн бұрын

    Absolutely beautiful work. 👍

  • @tommythiel9268
    @tommythiel9268 Жыл бұрын

    Welcome back, we miss your videos

  • @cnserviceuy
    @cnserviceuy Жыл бұрын

    Welcome back Nelson! We miss you a lot

  • @philsinclair
    @philsinclair Жыл бұрын

    I was randomly thinking this morning how I enjoyed your videos and this pops up on my feed. Weird! Great video, nice to see you back.

  • @kerryfrymoyer4551
    @kerryfrymoyer4551 Жыл бұрын

    incredible repair work!

  • @adrianpineda3346
    @adrianpineda3346 Жыл бұрын

    Damn, awesome job

  • @timlyons8994
    @timlyons8994 Жыл бұрын

    I have not seen a video of yours in a long time I hope you start posting like you did before I love your videos thank you so much for posting again I hope yon post like you did before

  • @saarbrandvin7749
    @saarbrandvin7749 Жыл бұрын

    Amazing job

  • @denisholland1850
    @denisholland18505 ай бұрын

    Good to see you back. Nice repair, looks great. 👍

  • @pileofstuff
    @pileofstuff Жыл бұрын

    Oh, hey! I remember this dude. Good to see you again

  • @dalepal
    @dalepal Жыл бұрын

    Excellent job. It takes extra effort and skill to make the repair invisible.

  • @theneigh
    @theneigh Жыл бұрын

    Nice job !

  • @jessebrigden2920
    @jessebrigden2920 Жыл бұрын

    Glad you're back man!

  • @davidwood351
    @davidwood351 Жыл бұрын

    Welcome back, it’s been a while since I’ve seen new videos from you.

  • @rikjones5924
    @rikjones59243 ай бұрын

    Watching you work reminds me of a Dr visit,look and explain..great job!

  • @user-bj2nd8ge7x
    @user-bj2nd8ge7x17 күн бұрын

    brilliant job well done

  • @williampereira8868
    @williampereira886811 ай бұрын

    Wow well done and also welcome back missed your videos

  • @brunolevasseur
    @brunolevasseur6 ай бұрын

    Really awesome work, man ! 👍👍👍

  • @ashleyjackson8538
    @ashleyjackson8538 Жыл бұрын

    Amazing effort

  • @maxpuppy96
    @maxpuppy96 Жыл бұрын

    Great repair, probably better than new.

  • @jakesmith4506
    @jakesmith450611 ай бұрын

    excellent work

  • @JuddLofthouse
    @JuddLofthouse Жыл бұрын

    Nice job 👌

  • @srt8speed
    @srt8speed4 ай бұрын

    Helluva good job man !!!!

  • @wolfgang4136
    @wolfgang4136 Жыл бұрын

    Awesome job👍👍👍

  • @dananthony6258
    @dananthony625811 ай бұрын

    I had my neck glued like that but it didn’t hold very long before it broke again. There’s another way to cut and put supports in but it’s way more time consuming. I would have tried had I known but it was years ago. Looks awesome . I hope for the person who’s guitar that is it never comes undone. What a heart breaker.

  • @elwrongo

    @elwrongo

    11 күн бұрын

    yes my luthier routed four inch slots and glued carbon fibre cleats in there when this happened to mine. that was six years ago

  • @EmbelekoBand
    @EmbelekoBand Жыл бұрын

    Awesome work it’s been a while. 👍🤘

  • @lateralus614
    @lateralus614 Жыл бұрын

    Oh hell yeah you're back.

  • @robertcaffrey6097
    @robertcaffrey60979 күн бұрын

    Great glueing job, you must have managed to get every strand of the timber fibres to go back into exactly where they were ripped apart from and bonded them so tight it will be a much stronger neck. BTW thats a really cool and beautiful guitar.... a real keeper.

  • @glennjohnson7828
    @glennjohnson782810 ай бұрын

    Welcome back sir, missed ya👍

  • @rockinchairboogie3222
    @rockinchairboogie32225 ай бұрын

    This is a Gibson Les Paul Access model, that you did a great job on man.

  • @thehandseesall
    @thehandseesallАй бұрын

    Good job. I have a Yamaha Revstar Standard to repair a Parcelforce headstock break on... I too am a big fan of dive watches.

  • @monmixer
    @monmixer Жыл бұрын

    Had that happen to me once. Well, not to me but it was my NEW guitar that was handcrafted by a very reputable company that was building hand crafted guitars in 70's and 80's called Hamer. Bassist asks me if he can try it. I said sure, don't drop it. No strap locks. 1 minute later it was on the floor and broken. No he did not pay for it, Then he tried to sleep with my wife. Yah, he was fired forever.

  • @seanhoward5562

    @seanhoward5562

    7 күн бұрын

    Damn bassists! lol

  • @tommy8608
    @tommy8608 Жыл бұрын

    HES BACK

  • @jamalabdul2009
    @jamalabdul2009 Жыл бұрын

    That was amazing!!! I doubt professional luthiers could have done a better job!!!! You have a gift my friend.

  • @jamescooper5372
    @jamescooper5372 Жыл бұрын

    Welcome back Nelson.

  • @BlueberryStinkFinger62
    @BlueberryStinkFinger62 Жыл бұрын

    Happy birthday Les Paul and thank you for inventing the solid body guitar in the Epiphone factory 1939 - 41..if not for you and Epiphone there would be No Gibson Les Paul today period!..Also I would Add that Les Paul played Epiphones especially recoding from the early 1940s to the end of the 1950's..when he was under contract with Gibson..Gibson eventually to him to stop and when his contract ended with Gibson he started playing both epiphone and Gibson Live I should know saw him in March of 2009..

  • @violao206
    @violao2068 ай бұрын

    Thank you for sharing your skills with the greater community. Now, when players break their necks, they will not panic knowing that there are skilled chaps like you that can come to the rescue. Yes, we did miss your videos and we are glad you are back. Please ignore the torrent of jerks out there that try to tear your efforts down. They are just a bunch of pathetic sad sacks and we should all just feel sorry for how miserable their lives must be. Your videos inspire many to learn more about their instruments, and even attempt basic repair and maintenance ourselves. Thanks for all the great education. Cheers, Nelson! (I never knew that was your real name--just tracking to other's comments.)

  • @michaelj63
    @michaelj63 Жыл бұрын

    Yeah as others have said, Less Plus model, i had one of these but the neck was so fat, couldn't get on with it. Hardcase was cool with these also. And good to see you upload again.

  • @edwinh7908
    @edwinh79086 ай бұрын

    NICE! That's The Way To Do A Headstock Repair!

  • @colourlessbluethings
    @colourlessbluethings Жыл бұрын

    Hope you're actually back this time and this isn't another of your teasing one offs.

  • @douglasmorrison9098
    @douglasmorrison9098Ай бұрын

    I get SOOO tired of people putting Gibson down because of Headstock breakage and ACTUALLY that isnt all that common with gibson. Ive owned Gibson and epiphones all my life and never had not even one headstock break and the ones I have heard of has always been because the instrument got knocked over in ALL the cases Ive heard of and you are right it does devalue the guitar some but if repaired properly it is stronger after the repair than it was before the repair. Jerry Rosa always cut a V shape with the top of the V being under the fretboard and headstock face and glued back in place and reshaped and when he got finished you couldnt tell it had ever been broken

  • @staive70ss
    @staive70ssАй бұрын

    Dude, there's nothing tragic about it, assuming you know what you're doing. It's literally a chapter in the life of many many Gibson's and my Heritage btw. It will be stronger than ever after you fix it.

  • @crucifixgym
    @crucifixgym2 ай бұрын

    Best possible break scenario

  • @mikecatg
    @mikecatgАй бұрын

    Great video, what glue did you use, how long did you leave it clamped, what grit of sandpaper did you use.

  • @GregsGarage
    @GregsGarage Жыл бұрын

    I was just praying the headstock back didn't peel off the face veneer like a post-it note... Tragedy reversed!!!

  • @spconn3867
    @spconn3867 Жыл бұрын

    Good to see you're back. Nice job on the headstock repair. Sorry you stabbed your finger removing the strings. The tuners looked like Locking Tuners. If they were Locking how come there was so much winding on the post?

  • @Seven7Pain1
    @Seven7Pain1 Жыл бұрын

    The man is good I mean real good 🤘🏼

  • @bigbasil1908
    @bigbasil19085 ай бұрын

    The real tragedy is the prices Gibson charges for their guitars

  • @rideough
    @rideough Жыл бұрын

    I love my 2015! Cuz I got clumsy fingers!

  • @wayneg296
    @wayneg2967 ай бұрын

    👍👍😎✌️🤟 All guitars deserve a chance, keep them in your case!!!

  • @sneifert1968
    @sneifert1968 Жыл бұрын

    When did they make les pauls with belly carves at the top?

  • @gregm959
    @gregm9597 ай бұрын

    Apparently they are a les paul light. Sporadically released over 80s, 2000s. Nice work mate.

  • @tommythiel9268
    @tommythiel92686 ай бұрын

    How long did you wait before wet sanding?

  • @PaulLue
    @PaulLue Жыл бұрын

    Oh man. Hate seeing headstock breaks. So unfortunate.

  • @royshroud9536
    @royshroud9536Ай бұрын

    Hadn't seen anything from you in awhile. Hope all is well.

  • @wuldntuliktonoptb6861
    @wuldntuliktonoptb68618 ай бұрын

    It blows my mind that someone breaks a 2015 rare limited run Gibson. Use strap locks that have the treads superglued for a strap that won’t fall off. If ya have young kids or animals don’t place it on a stand still plugged in when taking a short break. Invest in a hard shell case. Then just use common sense and be careful. Have a non limited run 10,000 Les Paul as your everyday and gig guitar. I’ve had 2 90s Gibson Les Paul Studios that never were dropped by me or the previous owners. They’re great player guitar workhorses and if your careful they won’t ever get dropped. It amazes me that a Les Paul with probably under 500 playing hours already had the headstock snapped off. Unscrew those OEM strap buttons and screw 2 Schaller buttons to the guitar and dpend 30 bucks on a fender tweed strap. Stick the strap locks in then tighten the bolts down. Might take a bit of work to loosen the leather to get them set nicely. Once it’s sufficiently tightened down add superglue to the threads of the bolt and strap lock and allow to dry. Good luck ever getting the bolts back off but since the actual locks have no glue ya won’t have to worry about hurting the guitar. Now regardless if your standing or sitting out that strap on and your not gonna drop it so it hits the ground. So long as ya put it away in the Hardcase and don’t like swing the headstock into a wall ya won’t really have much chance to break it. So long as the temperatures don’t drop into like the negatives in your home or in the trunk of your car the problem is solved. Ya can always change pack the OEM buttons if ya sell your guitar and since ya haven’t snapped the neck your gonna make at least 500 or more on the resale value.

  • @gaylen8467
    @gaylen8467Ай бұрын

    sounded like you were gonna cry

  • @RattiDave
    @RattiDave9 ай бұрын

    Just wondering why you didn't use splines or some other type of reinforcement on the break. Even with Titebond it's still a weak spot.

  • @TheWGLOVER

    @TheWGLOVER

    5 ай бұрын

    Maybe Gibson should have done that in the first place. Leo engineered his guitars, Gibson didn't.

  • @Beats_by_Bill
    @Beats_by_Bill Жыл бұрын

    That Richard changes guitars like changing underwear.

  • @1980bwc

    @1980bwc

    Жыл бұрын

    I think he changes guitars more often than underwear. Lol

  • @danmcleod7365
    @danmcleod7365 Жыл бұрын

    How's it sound???

  • @user-lp2yg7gc5g
    @user-lp2yg7gc5g6 ай бұрын

    Most of them damage has come from like you said a toddler somebody stepping on it .

  • @harlequingr
    @harlequingr Жыл бұрын

    It's a les paul lite. Thats why it is thin.

  • @schmoemi3386

    @schmoemi3386

    5 ай бұрын

    Actually, in 2015 they were called the "Les Paul Less+". Someone must have replaced the truss rod cover... else it would've read "Less+" on it.

  • @andrewmize823
    @andrewmize823 Жыл бұрын

    If I'd smacked over something that cost as much as a Les Paul as a toddler, my baby pictures would be all over KZread in videos about missing persons and cold cases.

  • @MrVulcanbomber
    @MrVulcanbomber7 ай бұрын

  • @thestuffmikedoes2309
    @thestuffmikedoes2309Ай бұрын

    That will for sure break again, adjacent to the first break. All those surrounding fibers have weakened.

  • @peterwilliams8922
    @peterwilliams8922 Жыл бұрын

    Less Plus model - amazing guitars, wish they had pup covers though! I do wonder if the guy who replaced the nut went too far to hide the original, a titanium replacement was offered for free. But hey, we all know it's a weak spot.

  • @Seven7Pain1
    @Seven7Pain1 Жыл бұрын

    Hey buddy I follow you on TikTok this is old video are the trolls as bad here as the clock app 😂

  • @johnrathbun2943
    @johnrathbun29435 ай бұрын

    Yes it was a good repair but I think I still would have done a couple of Mahogany wood strips from the neck into the headstock. This is double security that this won't happen again unless you did something almost deliberately to break the headstock again.

  • @dennisneo1608
    @dennisneo16087 ай бұрын

    Breaks your heart that Gibson won't alter the angle of their necks. A Strat headstock never broke in 60 years.

  • @vadenk4433

    @vadenk4433

    Ай бұрын

    They did go from 17 to 14 degrees around 1966 and all it did was make the guitars less resonant. They still broke and will still break if you leave them on a stand and it gets tipped over. Gibson went back to the historic headstock angle post Norlin era. They also tried laminated necks with volutes and those guitars still broke at the same rate. Any angled piece of wood will break when dropped with 120 pounds of string tension on it. And I’ve personally repaired multiple Strat headstock breaks btw. My singers tele also broke when it tipped off a stand at a bar gig. It cracked right through every tuner hole. Obviously a Strat with zero degree headstock angle is gonna survive way more abuse than a 17 degree Gibson. Any angled headstock guitar (which is probably 75% of them) will break when dropped. Gibson’s design is what makes them sound and feel the way they do. The design is good, it how violins and other stringed instruments have been made for over 500 years, but people just tend to be careless with guitars and either drop them, lean them against the couch, or a wall, or on a stand. I’ve owned a 1968 Hummingbird for 30 years, and before that my dad owned it since 1970 and it has never been broke- because I won’t allow that to happen. Just put them in the case when you’re done playing and they’ll never break. It’s actually very easy to prevent a headstock break from happening- you just don’t allow it to happen. People who can’t do that shouldn’t own a Gibson guitar

  • @edisonkillingelephants
    @edisonkillingelephants4 ай бұрын

    How come when it's a customer's guitar they come out looking insane but when you do one for you it's always getting dropped or the finish gets messed up

  • @jaydean3543
    @jaydean3543Ай бұрын

    I would have been so tempted to take off that awful anniversary les paul logo and put a proper original style one back on..... That would have helped increase the value back up! 😛😉

  • @gregoaks4413
    @gregoaks44137 ай бұрын

    Les Paul Lite

  • @royyazzie6028
    @royyazzie60283 ай бұрын

    You didn't even lose the truss rod and take off the brass nut w/ washer this shouldn't prevent from what your doing with head stock repair

  • @joewilson495
    @joewilson495Ай бұрын

    you didnt fill the crack it will show though next day

  • @3cardmonty602
    @3cardmonty602 Жыл бұрын

    Where the hell you been?

  • @WoodesosGuitarMods

    @WoodesosGuitarMods

    Жыл бұрын

    Bit sick.. but I'm on the mend.

  • @3cardmonty602

    @3cardmonty602

    Жыл бұрын

    @@WoodesosGuitarMods Dude, I had open heart surgery for a hole in my aortic valve. I know what being sick is.

  • @metriczeppelin
    @metriczeppelin14 күн бұрын

    Why additional stress on the headstock by unwinding the strings?? Just cut them, you're not going to reuse the old strings are you?

  • @artistx76
    @artistx767 ай бұрын

    Less plus is un underated guitar

  • @humfridsprout8015
    @humfridsprout801511 ай бұрын

    "Promo sm" 👊

  • @scottreeves1226
    @scottreeves12263 ай бұрын

    And that's why God invented the guitar case. Not unlike my experience with an angry cat: that's why God invented the guitar case lid...

  • @seless9105
    @seless91053 ай бұрын

    👎🏻

  • @JoseGomez-lw2qk
    @JoseGomez-lw2qk6 ай бұрын

    CAN YOU MAKE YOUR REPAIR VIDEOS SILENT TOO MUCH TALKING .PLZ

  • @shartne
    @shartne5 ай бұрын

    Guitar was so nice the toddler got excited and showed his enthusiasm towards it. I like this guitar this much wack. Yeah baby.

  • @dickietinklesongreaction9225
    @dickietinklesongreaction92256 ай бұрын

    No no no. You did nothing to strengthen it. Needs wood channel put in. A 10 year old could have done that.

  • @jorgenkarlsson4220
    @jorgenkarlsson4220Ай бұрын

    Great job

  • @malcolmhardwick4258
    @malcolmhardwick4258 Жыл бұрын

    Nice job !

Келесі