# What Does a Crack Headstock do to the Value of a Guitar?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-a-crack-headstock-do-to-the-value-of-a-guitar/484738>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [February 6, 2009, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-a-crack-headstock-do-to-the-value-of-a-guitar/484738 "2009-02-06T19:05:27Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Nobody\_Special](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/bbce88/32.png) [@Nobody\_Special](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nobody_Special)\
**Post date:** [February 6, 2009, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-a-crack-headstock-do-to-the-value-of-a-guitar/484738/1 "2009-02-06T19:05:27Z")

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I just cracked the headstock on my Gibson VooDoo SG. (If you can recommend a good place in Manhattan, please see [this thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=505357).) What with this do the resale value of the guitar? I didn’t buy it as an investment, but I took pride in keeping it in excellent condition.

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**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\
**Post date:** [February 6, 2009, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-a-crack-headstock-do-to-the-value-of-a-guitar/484738/2 "2009-02-06T19:21:14Z")

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It depends on a zillion things. I am not familiar with that model, but in general a problem like that would significantly hurt the value of a vintage collector’s piece, but a properly repaired crack that doesn’t affect intonation or playability would not have as big an impact on a practical workhorse guitar. This is really something that is determined case by case.

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**Author:** ![Toxylon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f05b48/32.png) [@Toxylon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Toxylon)\
**Post date:** [February 7, 2009, 10:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-a-crack-headstock-do-to-the-value-of-a-guitar/484738/3 "2009-02-07T10:34:48Z")

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At any rate, it will be a huge hit compared to a mint specimen.

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**Author:** ![Carson\_O\_Genic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/cdc98d/32.png) [@Carson\_O\_Genic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carson_O_Genic)\
**Post date:** [February 7, 2009, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-a-crack-headstock-do-to-the-value-of-a-guitar/484738/4 "2009-02-07T13:28:06Z")

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“It depends on a zillion things.”  
Amen. Keep in mind that a repair can be made invisible with no real detriment to the guitar- depending on your budget, even a peek inside the truss rod cover could fool all but the most scrutinous, usually luthiers.