Guild x-500 What could cause this damage ?

[RandomUser123]

Hi everyone, first time posting here!
I dont want to give the backstory about my situation so i can get your unbiased opinions on the matter, but will tell you later.
The guitar is a Guild X-500 from 1988.
My question is, what may cause a damage like this ? Headstock damage ? During shipping ? Dropping ? Is it possible that the guitar was dropped ,the headstock hit something and got damaged in such a way ? Or can something like this happen during shipping ? There is no other sign of damage besides this.

 

[chazmo]

I think your fretboard is separating from the neck. I think perhaps too much adjustment of the truss rod might cause this kind of damage.

I doubt this is shipping damage.

Just my guess. I'm not that experienced in this.

 

[GGJaguar]

Welcome to LTG! I've seen that kind of damage occur during shipping. I call it headstock whiplash. If there isn't enough packing material around the headstock to keep it from moving, a drop of the shipping box will jerk that headstock causing the whiplash. It's more prevalent with headstocks fitted with heavy tuners like Grover Rotomatics. But, as Chazmo noted, it could be the fingerboard is beginning to separate from the neck. That could be caused by an overtightened truss rod.

Tell us more about your X-500 and post some more pix. We love photos!

 

[Guildedagain]

My question is, what may cause a damage like this

It's wiplash from shipping, too much movement/abrupt stopping, not enough string tension, how sad.


Do not detune guitars excessively for shipping. The big guitars companies ship at full tension.


Talk to your shipper before shipping, don't leave it up to chance.

And here's the net to tell you how to do it wrong, and right, look below.

 

[Nuuska]

A cost-effective preventative method for shipping just popped my mind:

Put an old or unused - or even brand new - capo tight on 1st fret

Seems they are available for under 2€

 

[jp]

A cost-effective preventative method for shipping just popped my mind:

Put an old or unused - or even brand new - capo tight on 1st fret

Seems they are available for under 2€

Lol! I've got a few of those lying around. Good idea.