Help! What would you do?

[germangallardo]

My pride and joy is my JP7 in Desert Gold, unfortunately last night it suffered a terrible accident and ended up hitting the floor. I contacted CS to see what my options were. AJ answered really fast (thanks again!) telling me that the only solution EB can offer at the moment is replacing the body. I'm not really sure that's what I want to do since this guitar is very special to me, it's my first Music Man and my fave. Getting another body to me would be like getting a whole different guitar. I'm still thinking about it, it's a really painful situation.

I'm no wood expert, but if I take it somewhere local, I'm not very confident of the repair work they could do or if they could match the finish altogether. The guitar so far has not showed any damage in terms of electronics, it still plays and sounds great. So, I'm just looking for some opinions from you guys...

Germán.

 

[Danserrano]

ouch, thats tough German. Honestly speaking that would kill me BUT being that the guitar means so much to u i think it would keep it. When i first started playing i had a small chip once and took it right back and swapped guitars lol. Now i can honestly say if it were a keepsake guitar with sentimental value i'd stay with her. Besides it's what on the inside not out right? hehe.... If she's a player, and u love the thing tell her to apologize and make up =D

Hope that helped if anything to make u laugh for a sec......

 

[Gio_Force_One]

Honestly I say if it works great and sounds great just deal with it. People pay good money to get guitars already abused.
A guitar looks better with battle scars anyway and now you have a story to go with it.

 

[Roubster]

Yea it happens, but that is pretty insane damage. Sorry to see that happen to you man.

 

[lukather101]

I'm gutted for you man but i would probably try and live with it..

 

[Dr.Strangenote]

What I'd do is keep it without a doubt. Just think, now you don't have to worry anymore about the first scratch. Just JAM away!! Sorry though to hear the news..

 

[luv]

if money were no concern, i'd get a new body. my personal opinion is that the neck is what would feel "familiar" to you, not the body. same neck on a different body and i would think that you wouldn't be able to tell a major difference.

 

[beej]

Ah nuts dude ... that's really crappy. Many of us have been there before.

I'd personally live with it. At least it's on the back, where you won't notice when you're playing. Soon it won't bother you quite as much. Down the line, if you're still gutted, you can think about replacing it (or find a someone else to refinish it), but hey, you're liable to put more nicks in it as it gets older anyway. Live with it for a while before deciding anything.

Wear the scars with pride, I say.

 

[fbecir]

Did the sound change with the crash ???

If no, keep your guitar, play it and enjoy it.

Beej is right : Wear the scars with pride

 

[germangallardo]

Thanks guys, yeah if it was a nick or dent I could probably have an easier time. However, when I was studying I worked hard to buy this guitar and in 5 years it never had a scratch. It's kind of a hard thing to take this as your first "nick". It's down to the wood, so maybe I'll just take her so I can get a clear coat on that and make it even at least...

I really don't want to replace the body.

 

[Warg Master]

I would say if it still works, live with it and enjoy. Now it's a beater and has mondo character

 

[Spudmurphy]

shoot man I feel for ya! Did it fall off the strap?

Ok so opinions are sought.

Option 1 - new body - it will sound different I'm sure.
Option 2 if it's a player and a keeper - get the damaged area rubbed back and all signs of "crazing" stabilised. Now what you are gonna hear you won't like - no way can you get an invisible repaiir done - not unless you can get the same paint. You could get a paint chip analysed and see if you could get a match. - Paint that localised area black - you will hardly see it. Then maybe if it really drives you crazy go back to considering option 1.

 

[dibart77]

It looks from the pics that the damage is confined to the "side" and back of the guitar, but not the top/face? If so, I agree (mostly) with Spud -- I'd use an orbital sander with fairly fine paper and sand where it's down to wood and where it's cracked/crazing (which I think will keep travelling over time if you don't stop it). Then feather it in at the edges of the injury. Then get a close match (doesn't need to be perfect 'cause not face) and repaint that section.

Worst case if it doesn't work out then get a new body.

Having said all that, I don't really know what the heck I'm talking about so don't go by my advice. But that's probably what I would do... Perhaps EBMM can give you the House of Kolor code so you can get exact match?

​

 

[germangallardo]

I want to thank everybody for their input.

@dibart77: Yes, the damage is completely on the side/back. Nothing on the top, when I open my case or play you can't tell it has a scratch on it. I honestly didn't consider that the crack/crazing would keep traveling but seems pretty obvious. What I wasn't able to photograph very well is that on the backplate of the pots there's a part of the finish that it's "peeling off".. The surface is quite uneven. The jury is still out on what to do.

The guitar plays perfectly, I just did extensive testing and sounds incredible as always.

 

[dibart77]

Well, good luck man. That's a sweet guitar so I hope it works out for you. But I would figure out how to stop that cracking before it travels to the front of the guitar and then it's much worse.

​

 

[ScoobySteve]

I'm sorry man. I feel for you. But if its any consolation, I think it looks sexy. I'd have a luthier sand down abrasive edges and let it alone. Scars add character.

 

[TSHOW]

So sorry.....hang in there...you will figure it out........Good luck!!

 

[ZeeW]

Did the sound change with the crash ???

If no, keep your guitar, play it and enjoy it.

Beej is right : Wear the scars with pride

+1 on the above. Wear the scars with pride.

I too have been found guilty of replacing guitars for the smallest chip or scratch, but now I just live with it. I have a number of small chips on a JPXI (that is my fav guitar) and I got them coz I was careless, but it was at a gig that I will remember for a long time for good reason

 

[Spudmurphy]

the only problem with the cracking/crazing is that moisture can/will get underneath and make it worse.

I did some touching in on my MD dream and used black - my damage is in a similar place to yours. I know it sounds wierd to paint it black but as the area is in shadow it would look ok, The best bet would be a colour match - but I'm doubtful that it would result in an invisible repair.

So, did it fall off the strap?

 

[Tim O'Sullivan]

I normally say live with and love battle scars, but this one is a bit different. As many other people have said, I would repair it only to stop the cracks running and moisture getting underneath the paint.