• Home
  • Bio
  • Contact
  • Testimonials
  • Photo Journal
    • Forrester Kustoms "The Brave" - 2012
    • '63 Fender Stratocaster Headstock Restoration
    • Rickenbacker 4001 Bass Resto Mod
    • Pavel Bass Headstock Repair
    • Martin 12-string Headstock Repair
    • 1962 Fender Bass VI Restoration
    • Red Hamer 'Vector' Flying Vee
    • Telecaster Thinline
    • Gibson Les Paul Goldtop Refinish
    • 1956 Fender Stratocaster Refret
    • 59 Les Paul R.I. Headstock Repair1
    • Les Paul Classic Inlay Swap
    • Custom Mahogany Archtop Armrest
    • 1967 Rickenbacker 4001S Restoration
    • Collings Acoustic Headstock Repair
    • Gibson LG0 Acoustic Bridge Replacement
    • Dean Camo Vee
    • '62 Reissue Fender Strat Relic Job
    • Custom Tele
  • Products & Services
  • Guestbook

Mike Forrester • Luthier

  • Home
  • Bio
  • Contact
  • Testimonials
  • Photo Journal
    • Forrester Kustoms "The Brave" - 2012
    • '63 Fender Stratocaster Headstock Restoration
    • Rickenbacker 4001 Bass Resto Mod
    • Pavel Bass Headstock Repair
    • Martin 12-string Headstock Repair
    • 1962 Fender Bass VI Restoration
    • Red Hamer 'Vector' Flying Vee
    • Telecaster Thinline
    • Gibson Les Paul Goldtop Refinish
    • 1956 Fender Stratocaster Refret
    • 59 Les Paul R.I. Headstock Repair1
    • Les Paul Classic Inlay Swap
    • Custom Mahogany Archtop Armrest
    • 1967 Rickenbacker 4001S Restoration
    • Collings Acoustic Headstock Repair
    • Gibson LG0 Acoustic Bridge Replacement
    • Dean Camo Vee
    • '62 Reissue Fender Strat Relic Job
    • Custom Tele
  • Products & Services
  • Guestbook
Yup, another broken headstock.  This time it's a $5,000 Pavel bass from Mississippi.

Yup, another broken headstock. This time it's a $5,000 Pavel bass from Mississippi.

This high-end Pavel was victim to a shipping incident.

This high-end Pavel was victim to a shipping incident.

This is a rather clean break at the base/volute section of the headstock.

This is a rather clean break at the base/volute section of the headstock.

Glued, clamped, and left to cure for 24 hours.

Glued, clamped, and left to cure for 24 hours.

The nasty cavity left in the headstock veneer will have to be filled and touched up.

The nasty cavity left in the headstock veneer will have to be filled and touched up.

After some artistic cosmetic repair, you can no longer see the cavity in the headstock veneer.

After some artistic cosmetic repair, you can no longer see the cavity in the headstock veneer.

Finish is sprayed and the veneer repair is complete!

Finish is sprayed and the veneer repair is complete!

Can you pick out the touch-up?

Can you pick out the touch-up?

The finish is sanded off in preparation of the reinforcement stringer installation.

The finish is sanded off in preparation of the reinforcement stringer installation.

Reinforcement stringers are cut from hard rock maple.

Reinforcement stringers are cut from hard rock maple.

Deep cavities are routed to accept the maple stringers.

Deep cavities are routed to accept the maple stringers.

The maple stringers will bridge the repair and spread the torsional stress throughout a longer span of the neck-to-headstock transition.

The maple stringers will bridge the repair and spread the torsional stress throughout a longer span of the neck-to-headstock transition.

Here, the stringers have been rough-shaped and epoxied into place.

Here, the stringers have been rough-shaped and epoxied into place.

After the epoxy has cured for 24 hours, final shaping is completed.

After the epoxy has cured for 24 hours, final shaping is completed.

The repair is oversprayed with a custom mixed shader, and the faux graining technique is applied.

The repair is oversprayed with a custom mixed shader, and the faux graining technique is applied.

The serial number is restamped and topcoats are sprayed.

The serial number is restamped and topcoats are sprayed.

The gold text is retouched, and the final topcoats are applied.  This custom bass is now sturdier than ever, and ready for service once again!

The gold text is retouched, and the final topcoats are applied. This custom bass is now sturdier than ever, and ready for service once again!

Share photo gallery
  • Log out