On the guitar repair workbench, gibson l37, 1934, archtop rebuild and restoration april 19, 2014 0. These are both fairly easy fixes for even the most amateur repairman. Tips on repairing acoustic guitar cracks proaudioland. The spruce top has developed a long and wide crack that extends from the belly of the bridge all the way to the tailblock. This guitar came into the shop last week, with a severely bellied top and a lifting bridge. Now, the most common issue with frets is either rising or having them uneven. Pickup installation and electronic repair replacement. How to repair a crack in a solid top acoustic guitar our. One of the most common instances is actually not a crack at all, but a centerseam separation. Buying an acoustic with top crack smart bargain or roll. One of the most common problems with an acoustic guitar is string buzzing.
Fixing the crack in a vintage guitar top elderly instruments duration. Undoubtedly, as the top was pushed downward, the top cracked, and the glue joints on the brace ends broke loose. Damaged acoustic electric guitars products for sale ebay. Top warpage problem in seagull guitars myth or reality. These are heated, put in place on the top and on the bridge plate, then clamped. Canadian musician dave carroll released a trio of songs in 2009 about his own experience of having his guitar broken in united airlines care.
April 14, 2015 cracks and divots, guitar builds and repair, mandolin, string instrument building and repair 2 comments when i worked on the side crack on the gibson mandolin, at some point i noticed this crack in the top. The hide glue takes about 24 hours to dry completely once dried, the cracked top is stronger than ever before. Crack repair on top of 1919 gibson a4 mandolin crawls. Martin guitar performs warranty and nonwarranty repairs on martin instruments at the factory. Just to be certain, i probably should stop in there and see if he has seen any indication of this being a problem. Guitar repairs you shouldnt attempt yourself dummies. Our work consists of repairs of anything from broken headstocks and cracked guitar tops, through replacinginstalling electronics and custom. Sf guitarworks san francisco guitarworks and sonoma county guitarworksthe bay areas premier guitar service centers. This melts the glue holding the bridge to the top, allowing us to slide knives into the glue joint and lift the bridge. Some may be determined by skill level or perhaps by equipment limitations. There is a maker of fine guitars near here who also does lots of guitar repair.
I have a crazy theory that the cracks must make the top back and sides more compliant and therefore livelier and more responsive, possibly enhancing the tone, if not at least the volume. Make sure the grain in the filler wood matches the grain in the guitar as closely as possible. Welcome to silesia guitars, the guitar repair shop in shoreline that is dedicated to taking good care of your dear friend, the guitar. Since the invention of the acoustic guitar, we flattopback repair peeps havent had a crack repair method that was designed for and suited to our needs. The magnets hold everything together while you apply clamps. The method presented here is just one of many ways to replace a soundboard. Unusual acoustic guitar bridge repair haze guitars.
Repair cracks in tops and sides of an acoustic guitar. At some point, every instrument, including the guitar, requires some kind of repair. And most of the time, impact cracks go right back together with minimal effort photo 2. A humidifier was placed in the case with the guitar for four days. Contact your local guitar center store for pricing and more information about these repair and maintenance services. Repairing large, open cracks that can not be pushed back together requires splicing. Acoustic guitar cracked top repair by randy schartiger. While some cracks are relatively easy to repair its. In between tours john brought it to me for some much needed work.
The crack was still wide open and a straight edge laid over the soundboard just behind the bridge revealed a dip from the bridge wing to the side. Making the guitar playable with fret height correction. If the damage is extreme, we may suggest a neck or body replacement. Can i repair a crack in the top of my acoustic guitar myself. Feel free to contact us for help in having a crack or ding repaired. It can happen when the guitar is in a gig bag, or even inside a hardshell case. May 31, 2012 heres my 10 wtf moments in my guitar repairbuilding experience. I bother to give the model number of the guitar so you can look them up online. If you are interested in having repair work done at our factory, please contact customer service. They begun at the preamp cutout and because of the tension on that area of bent wood, they easily spread as the centre relaxed while the edges stayed in place, bound to the top and back. To do that, we first have to make sure that the wood. Structural repairs broken headstocks, cracked broken necks, loose bracing, top body cracks, truss rod repair replacement, fingerboard replacement, etc acoustic bridge repair cracked bridge, bridge separating from body, etc acoustic and electric neck resetting. Musicians guitar gets damaged in airlines care the star.
Thanks to the advent and availability of neodymium extra strong type of rare earth magnets, now we do. This crack was nice enough to split pretty cleanly and it is easy to fix. The longer you wait to fix the crack, the less likely it can be done invisibly. Sadly my beloved and first acoustic guitar took a mighty fall and has a crack at the bottom of the neck. Now, an acoustic guitar s top shouldnt be dead flat they are arched, typically with a 4. The most common problem of this type is the separation of the center seam due to stress. You can see a couple of nasty cracks along the shoulder. Knowing how to evaluate the seriousness of a crack will allow you to determine whether to call a repair person immediately or whether it might be ok to leave it alone for a. Repair system for cracked guitar tops a matched set of clear lexan cauls loaded with magnets. This almost always means the guitar got hold, the neck block shifted and the stress caused the crack. Often a fault line along the wood grain is to blame. Impact cracks are the result of a guitar taking a hit, and, like a lackofhumidity crack, they tend to appear along the grain line. With the hightech glues like gorilla glue on the market today, i am thinking about running a strip of glue on the inside of the top, down the length of the crack.
Structural repairs like fixing cracks, braces and headstocks or bridge replacement should ideally be performed by an authorized service center. Pat diburro top replacement 1 new england luthiers. I just didnt pay much attention at first, until i realized it was the center seam and it was a crack that needed attention. Depending on the severity and location of the crack, a repair is as simple as stabilizing the wood and applying glue to secure it. John also authored pg s guitar shop 101 column, hosted several pg diy videos, and is an authorized warranty technician trainer for taylor guitars.
Repairing cracks in acoustic guitars examples of cracks caused. Now, an acoustic guitars top shouldnt be dead flat they are arched, typically with a 4. Also, repair strap buttons that have come out and bridge holes that have been stripped by putting glue on a toothpick and applying it to the holes. Theres a scenario where the guitar has a lackofhumidity crack that separated in the winter but closed back up in the summer, and has the. Acoustic guitar cracked top repair by randy schartiger guitar repair. I wouldnt be afraid of a quality guitar with a fresh crack if i could evaluate it myself. This problem most often occurs when the frets on your guitar are wearing out. In some cases a complete refretting will not be needed. One of the most common instances is actually not a crack at all. Most of the worst and hardesttorepair cracks happen on a guitars top. Jan 05, 2012 taylor factory service centers and uv finishequipped service centers can repair cracks and, in many cases, make them disappear completely.
Guitar center repairs is your goto spot for expert stringed instrument repairs, upgrades and servicing. As there was already a third hole in the guitar top one more than would usually have been there i chose to go with a third bolt on this repair. Learn to fix your own instrument without having to go to a guitar repair school. This usually happens when the guitar is allowed to dry out, causing the two halves of the top to come unglued at the center seam. Below is a list of prices for the most common repairs and custom work. Our goal, to provide the guitarist with a single source combining both a high level of technological expertise and attentive personal service. Needs a neckset, reglue bridge, repair cracked top, and setup. It sounds good, but now i need to figure out how to fix the crack. Fix a cracked guitar top without hampering the tone. How to fix a crack in the top of an acoustic guitar.
Heres a crack that happens when the guitar gets a heavy hit on the end pin. Is it possible to speak to the repair person working on my guitar. Long beach guitar repair long beach coowner and luthier chris baird worked with korn for 14 years, and coowner and fellow luthier guillermo rios is a flamenco guitar specialist. The first step of performing a repair on your cracked guitar is to assess the extent of the damage. Top and back crack repair cleats tj thompson guitars. Top 10 best movies of 2020 top 10 best songs of 2020 countries with the most covid19 coronavirus cases best car insurance companies best fitness center chains and gym franchises best credit repair companies best alternatives to youtube best web hosting companies. I bought a very expensive acoustic custom shop guitar made by one of the top five guitar builders in the world. When the glue is dry, you can reinsert the strap buttons or rethread the bridge holes.
I took it home and fixed the crack, and now i have a nice mahogany guitar that i picked up for a song. Give us a call to discus repair options and please be prepared to email a picture to us in order to receive the most accurate estimate. Cracked soundboard repair tutorial acoustic and hollowbody. A bellied top can cause high action, bad intonation, and a weak sound. Most of the worst and hardestto repair cracks happen on a guitar s top. Guitar repair services l tulsa guitar repair tulsa guitar. Taylor factory service centers and uv finishequipped service centers can repair cracks and, in many cases, make them disappear completely. Stewmac sells perfect tools for it, but when i want to get them to europe i pay the price of the tools, shipping cost and vat in holland. Sometimes a crack is indicative of a more extensive problem around the bridge plate or the guitar top. The guitar repair guide get answers and advice here. Please note that the prices listed are labor charges only and do not include strings or parts.
In this case, the two halves that form the top part of the instrument become unglued, leaving an unattractive opening. Dec 10, 2019 acoustic guitar bridges can sometimes develop cracks. This video i put to use my new magnets and cleat the first crack in the bottom of the lower bout of the guitar top. This involves cutting a piece of matching wood as closely as possible to the crack itself and fitting the filler wood into the crack.
In this photo, i used the reflection of the lightbulb to help point it out. Your complete diy fretboard repair guide guitar player world. The traditional repair is to glue a cleat inside the top, behind the crack. Feb 20, 2020 to repair your guitars body, glue in any broken wings. How to repair cracks in your acoustic guitar if you own an acoustic guitar long enough, chances are good that youll have to deal with the repair of a crack in the wood. The interior caul holds a featherweight wooden cleat while the exterior caul pulls it into place over the crack. Repair prices as of april, 2019 our guitar repair department has an excellent reputation for its expertise and meticulous attention to detail. The guitar became dry due to exposure to low humidity. Then a triangular strip is sliced out of the top and replaced with a matching strip of wood. This usually happens when the guitar is allowed to dry out, causing the two halves of the top. With all top cracks, timing of the repair is critical. Heres my 10 wtf moments in my guitar repair building experience. Fix a cracked guitar top without hampering the tone thin, strong wood patches for gluing cracks shut.
Acoustic guitar top crack repair cleating cracks n sealing outter. This is a crack in the endblock, a pretty nasty crack. Glues used in guitar repair fret not guitar repair located. Since i couldnt clamp together, i needed to clamp with pressure, rather than squeeze. Aliphatic resin is amongst the most popular woodworkers glue used in instrument building and repair today. Its a really cool guitar, and even though its literally falling apart, john has managed to play the hell out of it for a long time. Here you see my way of repairing a typical top crack. Repair prices as of april, 2019 maple street guitars. This video shows many more discoveries of preventive maintenance not performed and. Dec 06, 2016 drilling the mounting holes and the string holes needs a bit of care as you dont want these to be misaligned of out of place. The brace under the end of the fingerboard was loose at the end, too, but it is just out of view at the upper right corner of the picture.
I was wondering if any of you guys knew how much it would cost to get this repaired. Cracked shifted top along neck block template, cleat, and cauls. Impact cracks, which occur when a guitar takes a hit, are not open. This makes me feel better about my idea of looking for a seagull. To repair these cracks the stress must be eliminated by removing the pickguard and reattaching or replacing it.
So if these are your guitar fret board repair problems and you have a steel ruler, a file, and a bit of time, you are set to take them one. Jun 28, 20 a bellied top can cause high action, bad intonation, and a weak sound. Crack repair cleats in spruce, indian rosewood, and mahogany for repairing acoustic guitars with the tj thompson top crack corrector. New listing takamine g series12 acousticelectric project guitar for parts or repair.
Get the best deals on damaged acoustic electric guitars when you shop the largest online selection at. Bridge lifting before removed and ready to prep reglued with hide glue, orignal pins are tired check out the original saddle profile. Repairing and creating custom guitars and amplifiers in san diego for over 20 years. Unlike hide glue, it is ready to use straight from the bottle.
The same guitar properly humidified and with the truss rod correctly adjusted. Although you can fix a wide variety of guitar problems yourself, some repairs always require a qualified repairperson to fix assuming that anyone can repair them at all. This open crack wont stay closed, even after the guitar s moisture content has acclimated. John levan has written five guitar repair books published by mel bay. Top and back crack repair cleats tj thompson guitars pro. Great warmmidrange tone from light construction with hide glue. Crack repair on a taylor acoustic guitar silesia guitars guitar. The good news is that the baby taylors ive seen dont have binding work, which makes it an easier repair job. Maybe the tiny unseen cracks in the older guitar s finish are part of the mysterious recipe. Woodworkers glue is water soluble, has longer working times than hide glue and is very strong. Cracks in the body of your solid top acoustic guitar are often cause by physical damage to the guitar or shrinkage due to a lack of humidity. And its importance was stressed because humidity control is the single most crucial step a guitar owner can take to protect instruments. Buying an acoustic with top crack smart bargain or roll of.
So the normal way of clamping the bridge for repair with c clamps was out of the question. In my last column humidityfriend and foe, march 2018, we defined the parameters of the safe humidity zone. This one is subtle, but theyre notorious for spreading along the grain. How to repair cracks in your acoustic guitar guitar alliance. Top cracks to avoid at all costs are the ones that are near the neck to body joint that crack to the soundhole. Authorized service center guitar technicians have undergone training with taylor guitars in our guitar repair methodology and learned the specific needs a taylor guitar may need for proper care. Stewmac sells perfect tools for it, but when i want to get them to europe i pay the price of. These tools are for repairing stubborn cracks, splits and punctures in acoustic guitars. May 18, 2017 here you see my way of repairing a typical top crack. Fender ct140se travel acousticelectric guitar natural broken hinge at top o. In an effort to avoid a repeat, and keep the new adhesive from pulling up wood fibers if removed again, this bare area of wood beneath the guitar is usually sealed with finish.
A small grouping of holes in the top and bottom bouts, at the front end of the body. Like most tasks in the trade of guitar repair there are many different techniques and methods to reach the same outcome. The original top was shot with an aging toner under the clear. Occasionally, its strings and bridge pins getting jammed in too tightly or pulling at the wrong places.
The top will be removed, the wood will be joined together, cleats small support blocks will be glued to the underside of the body spanning the crack, and the top will be glued back on. Located inside every guitar center store, our staff of experienced, certified technicians. They do, however, typically break the wood along the grain as well. Crack repair cleats in spruce, indian rosewood, and mahogany for repairing acoustic guitars with the tj. Guitars with multiple cracks will be done at a discounted rate per crack. Photo 2 it was clear that the soundboard was not coming back to a reasonable radius so the decision was made to replace the soundboard. We are located in shoreline, just 15 min north of downtown seattle. Crack repair guitar blog the official taylor guitars blog. Featherthin and flexible, these cleats are light and responsive like the soundboard itself.