Crack in freatboard

[scotty]

I bought a new Charvel a few months ago from an online dealer. I was cleaning the freatboard tonight and felt a bump. The crack is from the 15th fret thru the 22nd. This is my 2nd new Charvel the 1st I had to send back. I am not a happy camper. Who should I talk to about this and what should I do? Sorry about the pic but you can see the crack.

[Grandturk]

That's beat. If it didn't affect playability, I probably wouldn't mind. But You have to think down the road - will refretting be a problem due to this?

[rjohnstone]

Warranty... send it back.

[dg]

Unfortunately, ebony fretboards are very prone to getting cracks like that. You may be able to send it back, but the new one will also be very prone to cracking sooner or later. On an older guitar, it would be easy to recommend the super glue & ebony dust fix, but this one is still so new.

[Ian Anderson]

No big deal at all!
Ebony cracks, so does rosewood once in a while. It is a very simple fix and will be as good as new.

Take some thin super glue. Use a small bottle with about 1/2 left. Squirt in a little Loctite 380 "Black Max" for color. About 20%. Put the top on and shake it up. Use a pipette to wick the glue into the crack. Careful, try to keep it off the frets as much as possible but it's inevitable it will wick under them a bit. Zip it off or let it dry then blade it down with a razor blade. You can get it out from under the frets with a sharp chisel shaped eoldering iron. Good as new and you will never see it again.

Take these instructions to your tech if needed.

[Ian Anderson]

No big deal at all!
Ebony cracks, so does rosewood once in a while. It is a very simple fix and will be as good as new.

Take some thin super glue. Use a small bottle with about 1/2 left. Squirt in a little Loctite 380 "Black Max" for color. About 20%. Put the top on and shake it up. Use a pipette to wick the glue into the crack. Careful, try to keep it off the frets as much as possible but it's inevitable it will wick under them a bit. Zip it off or let it dry then blade it down with a razor blade. You can get it out from under the frets with a sharp chisel shaped eoldering iron. Good as new and you will never see it again.

Take these instructions to your tech if needed.

Refretting will be no problem just pull them out with an iron like you are supposed to anyway.

[shreddermon]

Yeah, unfortunately, ebony is prone to cracking just like that. I had a Jackson board that did that. (Pre-FMIC.) A little ebony dust mixed with crazy glue will take care of that, and you won't even be able to notice it. Then scrape it smooth with a razor blade. A pretty simple fix, but take it to a tech, if you're not adventurous enough to try it yourself.

[daemon barbeque]

COntact the shop ,get a new one ,and if it cracks too send it bakc again.I would just repair it after the warranty time.But when you have the warranty ,why should you repair a "new" product!

[StukaJU87]

COntact the shop ,get a new one ,and if it cracks too send it bakc again.I would just repair it after the warranty time.But when you have the warranty ,why should you repair a "new" product!

If you don't mind being without the guitar for say, oh let me guess here, uhhhh....2-6 months, send it back.

If you are impatient like me, fix it your self.

[jackson1]

scotty, here's one of my USA ebony Jackson's... with a crack, to make you feel better

It's been like this for years and it doesn't change. It looks worse in this picture due to the flash. I haven't gotten around to filling the crack yet. I will.

[owlhead]

Another reason I'll stay with an all maple neck.

[scotty]

I have 30 guitars. I have bought a lot import Charvels on Ebay. I have guitars that I have owned since the 80's. Maybe I have been lucky that all my guitars are still in great shape. I guess I am just upset that the two (and only) USA Charvels I have bought had flaws and I have another that will be here Friday. The new one is going to get a very close inspection when it arrives.
I re-strung the guitar last night and the crack is right under a string so maybe that is why I never saw it.

[sully]

as posted above, ebony cracks are crazy easy to fix. while not what you'd want on a new guitar, it's nothing that i'd be hacked off about. i'd just fix the bitch and get back to playin.

[83SanDimas]

Will the warranty cover this?

[MEX3]

I thought that Ebony only cracked like that after time and if it wasn't oiled enough? It's not a very big deal but IMO it shouldn't happen on a brand new $1500 guitar.