Neck repair on new Epiphone Riviera

[jdogric12]

Hi there PW and fans of PW.

I snagged this on ebay last night for what I think was a decent price. How hard would a repair be on this? Could I just dump some good glue down the crack?

or,

Is it a lost cause / parts guitar?

Thanks, J

http://www.ebay.com/itm/160636392313

[sloop_john_b]

That looks like a really clean break - I think you'll be fine.

[jdogric12]

Easy then? The cosmetics of the back of the neck don't bother me, just structural soundness.

[Clint]

Easy then?

In this case, I think Easy would be defined by how comfortable you are with this kind of repair.

[jingle_jangle]

Undo the strings, remove the nut, and carefully complete the break. You need to have two distinct pieces. You may need to remove the truss rod.

Test-fit the pieces back together--dry--to determine what needs to be done to fit them, how many clamps, etc.

My #1 choice for this is Weldwood Plastic Resin Glue. This is a urea-formaldehyde glue that comes in a powdered form and is mixed with cool water to activate it. You mix it, apply to both sides of the break, push together and clamp/tape, and wipe off the excess with a damp rag. You've got plenty of working time to get the assembly just right. Once it sets (overnight), it's hard. permanent, and will neither shift nor react with atmospheric moisture as Titebond or hide glues are prone to do.

Happy Birthday!

[Danotron]

mmmmmmmmmmm p-90's and a Bigsby. I kinda like these! I wish they made them with 2 pickups

Good luck with the repair!

[JakeK]

I wish they made them with 2 pickups

It's called a Casino, Dan-O. Good luck with the project, Jdog. I'm sure it'll be an awesome guitar when it's done.

[sloop_john_b]

I wish they made them with 2 pickups

It's called a Casino, Dan-O. Good luck with the project, Jdog. I'm sure it'll be an awesome guitar when it's done.

No it isn't, Jake-O! A Casino is fully hollow. The sound and feel is quite different.

[JakeK]

I always knew the Rivieras were simply stripped down Sheratons, at least the 60s models, cos of the mini-'buckers. Guess the P-90s distracted me. When I was out in SoCal, I saw a 68 Riviera...twice at the same place within less than a year! I didn't play it, but I did snag a pic of it that I don't have on me right now.

And the Sheraton was originally based on a ES-355, the Riviera a 335 and a Casino a 330. Please tell me I at least got that right, John-O (doesn't quite work with you)

[johnallg]

Jason, post back with a writeup of your doing this and the results. Interesting.

[jdogric12]

Thanks everyone! The mess is supposed to arrive today. Yikes... sounds complicated.

[Clint]

...and carefully complete the break.

As soon as I read that, I broke into a sweat.

[jdawe]

jingle_jangle wrote:
...and carefully complete the break.


As soon as I read that, I broke into a sweat.

Me too, but I'd rather try it for the first time on a Chinese Epiphone than on something else. Worst-case scenario, j-dog is still left with a Bigsby and a bunch of other parts.

[blueflamerick]

I seen a lot of these Rivieras with snapped necks. Maybe I'll have to snag one too.

[jingle_jangle]

Don't you mean that you'll have to "snap" one soon?