Repair And Restoration
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'75 Telecaster Custom Neck Repair
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'75 Telecaster Custom Neck Repair
Today’s atrocity is this 1975 ’72 Telecaster Custom with a formerly “repaired” gash in the neck at the 11th fret. The customer says she bought it that way in the early ’80s and does not know the former service history. I doubt that she is responsible for all that play wear. She wanted to be the next Chrissie Hinde, but ended up as an accountant.
I can’t tell if these frets are original. Maybe someone tried to pull the 11th fret, and since they were shot in from the side, they tore out a chunk of neck wood. Maybe just off the rails stage antics. Anyone ever see a wound like this? I am not sure what’s in there — maybe some wood filler. Any suggestions for how to fix it?
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8 Replies
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Can we get a couple more angles on this one ? It’s a little hard to tell how much is missing.
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Looking for suggestions on approaches to dealing with that neck blemish. The frets are probably going to have to come out, so that past “repair” has to be dealt with. It might be some sort of wood filler in there. Here are some better pictures to illustrate size:
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That’s a tough one. Filling a void in maple with a clear finish and making it disappear is near impossible.
You could try a “scoopy” from Ding Kings. Rosewood or wood with finish on it is waaaaaaay more forgiving than clear coat maple tho.
I would tell the owner it’s gonna be a few hundred for me to make it possibly look better but no guarantee. Just to cover my butt. In other words I might avoid doing anything to it at all. It’s character!
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It looks like you tackled it and fairly well I might add given what was there.
You could go in and touch up the edges a little where it got dark a little, but I’m not sure it’s worth it. I would do this by very carefully scraping those dark lines back with an exacto knife and then retouching. You could also maybe extract the dark bits under the tang of the fret and fill with either a maple scoop, or putty and give it some lighter color than what is there.
Its should be noted that the degree of difficulty on maple like this is 8/10 and you have already produced a solid repair that looks “professionally attended to” in the words of Frank Ford.
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Was gonna say that doesn’t look bad. The dark edges draw the most attention.
I’ve been trying to “bid high” and set expectations low with little finish repairs and it’s been beneficial for my health as I beat myself up less, get paid and the client ends up being stoked about the results and sometimes I surprise myself or I just don’t get into it! Crisis averted. Perfect 🤩
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Thanks, all. That area might get worse before it gets better since the frets have to be hammered out sideways on old Fenders like this. The damage is right up into the fret slot, albeit small. Any thoughts on using a burn-in sticks with a hot knife? Durable enough?
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I’ve never had any luck with the burn in knife. That being said the last time I used one was in the 90s and the sticks were far from fresh and the balm was pretty funky too. All that being said, I still dont know anyone who professes magical outcomes with the stuff.
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I remember the burn in knife from the Red Wing school. Back when I was even stupider than I am now! I didn’t get good results and didn’t feel comfortable with it so I’ve not used it since. It seemed like a lot to invest in for what it does given the other options you have. I’d go the epoxy putty / painty route or a scoop of matching wood b4 that
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