Warning Hercules Guitar Double Stand I Am Sick To My Stomach 77 Guild X500 Wrecked

If you are using or considering a Hercules GS422B DON'T RISK IT!!!!! My 1977 Guild X500 that I have had for over 20 years is now damaged to needing a neck re-set and the neck binding replaced. I am sick to my stomach. I got her out this morning and played through my songs for an upcoming gig. I placed it on the double stand. If you don't have another guitar on the double stand to balance with only one guitar it makes the stand very unstable and top heavy on the side that guitar is hanging on. I was reaching to get a strap on the side of the stand without a guitar barely touched the stand and CRASH KABAAM!!!! My heart sunk as I watched my beautiful X500 crash to the floor. I have a call in to my luthier to have a look the neck is separating from the body and a large chunk of binding on the neck has broken off. The guitar is unplayable at this point. I am just sick about it even repaired it would not ever be the same. The pic of the stand un folded is not mine. I immediately folded it up and have it ready for the garbage next Thursday. ANY SUGGESTIONS ON WHAT TO DO WITH THIS GUITAR? REPAIR WITH NECK SET, BINDING FRET WORK MAYBE IS AT LEAST A GRAND. SUGGESTIONS PART IT OUT SELL IT AS IS??YOUR THOUGHTS. PICKUPS ARE ORIGINAL 1977 AND TUNERS ARE ORIGINAL. WAS REWIRED WITH NEW POTS ORIGINAL WIRING HARNESS GONE.

The binding isn't much of a a repair, but the neck reset is ugly. Is it actually loose or is that a finish crack?

How did it land? I can’t imagine a scenario where the neck would work loose before the neck broke. That’s weird.

I'm sorry, I know that horror- but it can be fixed! good as new. keep it.

I feel your pain; ive been there. Hang in there, it can be repaired

GAD said:

How did it land? I can’t imagine a scenario where the neck would work loose before the neck broke. That’s weird.

Click to expand...

Maybe the glue had lost most of its grip already - and finishing was holding it all together - until this blow?

Then neck reset may not be all that expensive at all - since the worst job is already done. Cleaning old glue - putting new glue - voila.

GAD said:

How did it land? I can’t imagine a scenario where the neck would work loose before the neck broke. That’s weird.

Click to expand...

Thank you for this post got me thinking. It landed neck and body face down hit the effects pedal board in the middle then slid over to the looper. neck and body see pic recreated the wrecked position. I have calmed down and am over my shock. I freaked because it was unplayable all the strings were fretting out after the fall. I have got it back to being playable. I had a complete fret job done around 2001. The luthier at the time told me he thought the neck had been re set at some point in its history. Not sure if he knew what he was talking about or not.

Hopefully it's just a lacquer crack. Two hours of work, and it would be unnoticeable. I would be beside myself too!

Bummer, man. Best of luck with the repair.

Good luck and I, too, think you are in for good news when you get it to a trusted luthier.
Glad you are in a better state of mind.

Sorry to hear about this, as I went through a similar experience with my guitarist's vintage Les Paul at the first gig I ever played with the band. there was only one 11 pound LP on the stand and all it took was a gentle nudge from me as I was backing up and didn't see it, and over it went. I remember watching it fall like it was in slow motion, and waiting for the inevitable headstock break. Miraculously, the guitar was undamaged somehow, which really was remarkable given how easily Gibson headstocks break. I love Hercules stands, and own a bunch of them, but after that experience I would never recommend the two guitar model, as it is very unstable with only one guitar on it, especially one heavy guitar. Given that their single guitar stands are the most stable ones I've used, it makes me wonder if Hercules could do something to at least a little better.

Glad it doesn't seem as bad as you thought! Scary!

walrus

I highly recommend this stand.

I feel for you! Such a Beautiful guitar! I am sure you will get it all fixed up fine!!

twocorgis said:

Sorry to hear about this, as I went through a similar experience with my guitarist's vintage Les Paul at the first gig I ever played with the band. there was only one 11 pound LP on the stand and all it took was a gentle nudge from me as I was backing up and didn't see it, and over it went. I remember watching it fall like it was in slow motion, and waiting for the inevitable headstock break. Miraculously, the guitar was undamaged somehow, which really was remarkable given how easily Gibson headstocks break. I love Hercules stands, and own a bunch of them, but after that experience I would never recommend the two guitar model, as it is very unstable with only one guitar on it, especially one heavy guitar. Given that their single guitar stands are the most stable ones I've used, it makes me wonder if Hercules could do something to at least a little better.

Click to expand...

These are the two Hercules stands I have used for years and have been extremely satisfied with. They are the reason I bought the double stand thinking it would be more stable than the cheap $9.99 floor stands you see all the time.

I THINK I HAVE GOOD NEWS HERE I AM 99% SURE

I am a wanna be luthier and have built a few "RCB Twangmaster" Telecasters, you can google it if interested. I built 5 RCB Twagmasters . I can do set ups, some fret work, make a nut, fix bridge issues etc. something like a neck reset on a vintage high end guitar no way. I took some close up pics of my X500 last year because for a moment of temporary insanity I think caused by the pandemic for almost a year) I thought I might sell my wonderful long term X500. That idea lasted about as long as it took to take the pics for the sales listing. Anyway, I found the pics I took of the neck area. After zooming in on the neck pics taken February 1, 2021 they look identical to the pics. This made very happy.

I have been up since 2:45 this morning fooling with this guitar. Sort of set it got it to play but the D string would BUZZZZZZZZZZ!!! no matter what I did. Then I looked real close at the side where the binding came up past the third fret. Low and behold I saw the fretboard had slightly separated from the neck. I removed the nut and examined the headstock to see if there was any kind of break under the nut. Good news no breaks, so I set about to re-glue the fretboard. That is where I am now it is glued and clamped going to eave her clamped up until tomorrow morning. Then heading to the coast for four days and come home and hopefully set her up and have her playing like she was in the morning before the unstable Hercules GS422B two guitar stand tipped over. Pic of the neck joint taken in February 2021 Pic of me and the X500 2004 I was a young 56 years old then.

Good news indeed

As for guitar stands - I use two kinds at home :

For single guitar



And for more than one guitar



They both have the advantage, that the instrument is not hanging from the neck - all weight is supported from below.

Both have also shown to be quite practical in live performance situations.

Hi Nuuska

What brand are the instrument holders?

thanks

Tom

Hello

I prefer K&M - but most reputable companies make them. Metal is heavier and is more stable than plastic, which is nice if you have to travel and carry often.

I made my own multi-guitar stand about 35 years ago while living in MN - it still serves it's duty here at home.





I was playing around US at the time and needed a stand for three guitars - the ones you see here - F50R - F212CSB - F512 - with 6 wingnuts it came apart and was slipped into tubular pouch - assembly in about one minute.

almost every bad guitar accident i have ever seen was from a stand.
i just use my gigbag as a holder at shows,or lean the guitar strings first on a sofa at home.
i do not use stands,