This instructable will show you how to repair a broken guitar neck and, depending on how severe the damage, how to do some minor cosmetic repair. One of the most common instances is actually not a crack at all, but a centerseam separation. Simple crack repair intown guitar repair project file. The cleats woodgrain runs across the crack, not parallel to it, creating a strong repair thats also very small. Since the invention of the acoustic guitar, we flattop back repair peeps havent had a crack repair method that was designed for and suited to our needs. If youve been reading my stuff for a while, youve probably spotted a few different examples of neck breaks. To repair these cracks the stress must be eliminated by removing the pickguard and reattaching or replacing it. Jan 24, 2017 the thing is the grain of the patch wood runs longitudinally with the guitar side. The exterior damage is obvious but its pretty certain that crack extends into the neck tenon too the tenons the bit that gets glued into the neck pocket in the body. Titebond original wood glue is quite common unlike hide glue, it is ready to use straight from the bottle.
Finally, cleaned and reshaped the braces, and then used a couple of scissor jacks to glue the braces back in place. Please note that the prices listed are labor charges only and do not include strings or parts. This video shows many more discoveries of preventive maintenance not performed and what can and does. Feb 20, 2020 to repair your guitars body, glue in any broken wings. Will i be notified once you receive my guitar for repairs. Contact your local guitar center store for pricing and more information about these repair and maintenance services. Its not beyond the realms of possibility that it could open again, running along the grain of the patch piece. Repairing large, open cracks that can not be pushed back together requires splicing. Conversly, an open crack exhibits a gap when properly humidified. The lengthy crack on this guitar tops lower bout is due to low humidity, but dont fretthese types of cracks can be repaired. The texas guitar workshop is the ultimate one stop shop in the dfw metroplex for any and all string instrument repairs. A closed crack is one that will leave no gap when the instrument is properly humidified. In an effort to offer customers other more affordable options, many builders also make guitars featuring laminate back and sides. Here you see my way of repairing a typical top crack.
Unlike hide glue, it is ready to use straight from the bottle. Nasty acoustic guitar side cracks haze guitars repair. If you have a picture of your guitars condition, upload it to our estimator platform and well be able to get you an even more accurate repair. Hence, my thought to open the crack a little and insert glue with a syringe. I have a 70s gibson es 325 in the shop that came in with a neck solidly pulled out of setgap at the back of the neck heel. We recommend repairing promptly, to prevent the crack from spreading. This koa maui ukulele has a pretty significant top crack, and cracked back brace. As a cleveland area luthier, its rare i get to perform with instruments that i restore or repair. John also authored pg s guitar shop 101 column, hosted several pg diy videos, and is an authorized warranty technician trainer for taylor guitars.
Yes, we will email you a repair quote including warranty repairs, recommended nonwarranty repairs, and an estimated timeframe to complete this work. Instrument repairs, maintenance and modifications guitar center. Check out the price list then describe your repair for us and well get you a live estimate. The crack clamp uses a thin wire to pull the cleat into place. Located inside every guitar center store, our staff of experienced, certified technicians. 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. Top and back crack repair cleats tj thompson guitars. This video shows many more discoveries of preventive maintenance not performed and what can and does happen, plus gluing the cracked top and. Avoid cracks by insuring your instrument is properly humidified and well protected. Robert obrien of obrien guitars demonstrates how to fill and stabilize hairline cracks in the back and sides of a guitar using hot stuff original ca glue and pipettes. A piece of tape on this wire will keep it from slipping into the guitar. Repair prices as of april, 2019 maple street guitars.
Aliphatic resin is amongst the most popular woodworkers glue used in instrument building and repair today. Crack or split repair and prevention bailey guitars. Back crack repair kit tj thompson guitars pro luthier. We are equipped to handle all of your acoustic and electric guitar adjustment and repair needs. This whole job is out of kilter due to the crack being previously fixed and remaining solid. Glues used in guitar repair fret not guitar repair located. Its important to note that a ding or a finish chipout wont affect the guitar s sound, playability or humidification and repair is generally not something required for the performance of your guitar. Jan 05, 2012 taylor factory service centers and uv finishequipped service centers can repair cracks and, in many cases, make them disappear completely. The real answer is to carefully reinforce the back side of the crack depending on how long the. Now johns guitar is totally solid no errant squeaks nor rattles anywhere. That back crack would be difficult for you to repair because of the inner center wood strip. How to repair cracks on the sides or back of a guitar with hot stuff.
Take it to a luthier with experience in this type of crack and finish repair. Most cracks we see here at finger lakes guitar repair are related to improper climate control or impacts with foreign objects. Make sure the grain in the filler wood matches the grain in the guitar as closely as possible. 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. Back crack repair the unofficial martin guitar forum. When the output jack on my archtop failed, ray flanagan loaned me his 1923 gibson l01. Acoustic guitar cracked top repair by randy schartiger.
Gluing cleats onto a badly cracked back of blueridge. Repairing a cracked fingerboard strange guitarworks. They are usually caused by lack of humidity especially sudden humidity drops. Description notes on usage kit includes 3 of the most commonly used sizes. John levan has written five guitar repair books published by mel bay. My friend asked me to take a look at her guitar and i noticed it had a broken truss rod and needed a neck reset, i didnt have time to fix that so i. We offer quality repair, setup, and customizing services for guitars and all other types of fretted instruments. The real answer is to carefully reinforce the back side of the crack depending on how long the crack is, and where it is with what is commonly known as a cleat of similar wood. It cost me a pretty penny, but in comparison, fixing this crack probably isnt that bad. Jun 06, 2010 a bonehead knocked the side of my guitar into the wooden arm of a chair, leaving a 5 crack on the top side.
Below is a list of prices for the most common repairs and custom work. 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. Meeting all of you has been a real pleasure, and im honored and humbled that youve trusted your guitars to my care. This guitar has already experienced some intense repairwork with a very talented, honest, and incredible luthier. Sealing the cracked back in blueridge br160 acoustic guitar. These prices apply to guitars in otherwise good working order. If you are interested in having repair work done at our factory, please contact customer service. It was frozen solid like this and may have been for years, as the guitar had been in a closet for a long time. At our shop, we use it in dozens of ways, but unless you understand its properties and know how to handle it safely, you can wind up in trouble in a matter of seconds. Crack repair guitar blog the official taylor guitars blog. Taylor factory service centers and uv finishequipped service centers can repair cracks and, in many cases, make them disappear completely. How to repair cracks in your acoustic guitar guitar alliance.
Stewmac crack repair tool instructions repair cracks in tops and sides of an acoustic guitar. Hot stuff thin is ideal for repairing hairline cracks, and this technique can be applied to general woodworking as well as to lutherie. 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. Its a good thing to fix a crack on your guitar, but dont let your tone suffer in. It can take up to a few weeks due to volume to receive your quote. People oftentimes call about a crack in the face of their acoustic guitar, or the side or the back and need to know how this will affect the sound. The local guitar shop wants to break the neck and glue back on, what does not enthuse me at all. Cut a piece of wire long enough to run in through the pierced hole and back out through the guitars soundhole. I would buy a guitar with a top or back, or side crack, but i like problem children and enjoy fixing em up. Using solid wood for the top is still preferred by most builders because the top plays a major role in translating the initial energy of vibrating guitar strings into rich acoustic sound.
Luthiers mercantile is a onestop shop for the instrument. Also, the cracks are pretty close to the kerfed lining that secures the top and back to the sides of the guitar. Depending on the severity and location of the crack, a repair is as simple as stabilizing the wood and applying glue to secure it. His foray into guitar repair started when he and his dad swapped the pickups in an old hagstrom, and ever since hes had the bug. A bonehead knocked the side of my guitar into the wooden arm of a chair, leaving a 5 crack on the top side.
Most of the worst and hardesttorepair cracks happen on a guitars top. Guitar center repairs is your goto spot for expert stringed instrument repairs, upgrades and servicing. Repair prices as of april, 2019 our guitar repair department has an excellent reputation for its expertise and meticulous attention to detail. Our hardenedsteel cleat cutter creates thin round cleats of wood to be glued across a crack on the inside of a guitar. Offering a state of the art, temperature and humidity controlled environment, as well as a full staff of highly skilled and experienced luthiers, gibson is fully equipped to perform any and all. As an added precaution, i made a few maple cleats to go across the crack with the grain running perpendicular to the crack.
How to repair cracks on the sides or back of a guitar with. The neck shows heavy finish checkingcracking around the neck joint, and long. Repairing cracks in acoustic guitars examples of cracks caused. Buying an acoustic with top crack smart bargain or roll of the dice. Jan 06, 20 it can happen down the other end too, though. Now, typically a magician isnt supposed to divulge their secrets, but in my ongoing effort to demystify and by proxy, legitimize guitar tech work, im going to tell anyway. Jun 16, 2014 as an added precaution, i made a few maple cleats to go across the crack with the grain running perpendicular to the crack. This involves cutting a piece of matching wood as closely as possible to the crack itself and fitting the filler wood into the crack. Martin guitar performs warranty and nonwarranty repairs on martin instruments at the factory. Side crack repair on epiphone acoustic guitar crawls backward. The cleats glue onto the crack on the inside of the guitar to stabilize the crack. Before i get to the meat of this blog post, id like to take this opportunity to thank everybody who has patronized my brand new guitar repair shop over the past few months. Nov 24, 2016 the ultimate guitar crack repair tool and its for free.
May 22, 2016 acoustic guitar cracked top repair by randy schartiger. Heres how to pull a crack together and glue it neatly and permanently. When the glue is dry, you can reinsert the strap buttons or rethread the bridge holes. Close the crack our crack clamp uses a guitar tuner on a smooth polyethylene base. Now you can upload photos with your repair estimate request.
In episode 7, robbie explains how to properly repair a crack in a guitar back. Is it possible to speak to the repair person working on my guitar. Cracks in the wood are usually repairable, depending on the degree of severity. Learn how to repair cracks on the sides and back of a guitar with hot stuff original ca glue. I wasnt sure this one could be a guitar again, it is and its fabulous. I had done some major crack repair restoration to bring it back to life. Most of these have been up at the headstock end as thats the more likely place for a break.
Guitar specialist guitar repair and restoration services. Its important to note that a ding or a finish chipout wont affect the guitars sound, playability or humidification and repair is generally not something required for the performance of your guitar. Wood is an organic material that swells and shrinks as it takes on or gives off water from the air. The crack is uneven one side is a little deeper than the other. How to repair a crack in a solid top acoustic guitar our. May 05, 2012 side crack repair on epiphone acoustic guitar may 31, 2012 cracks and divots, guitar builds and repair, string instrument building and repair no comments while the glue on the bridge is drying, im going to fix another structural problem on the epiphone acoustic guitar. You would have to spend more on the proper clamps and other tools you would need, and it would still probably show. Because the top and back are curved this allows some breathing space for the thin plates to expand and contract slightly as they take on and lose moisture, but there is a limit. I can reach it from inside if i remove the strings. 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 little while.
The crack is in the the center of the side and it is located between the sound hole and bridge. The thing is the grain of the patch wood runs longitudinally with the guitar side. This neck needs to come out to be properly repaired. My guitar is being sent back to the factory for repairs. With nearly thirty years experience in string instrument repair, our highly touted staff will get your beloved instrument back into tip top shape. Back crack repair kit tj thompson guitars pro luthier tools. Repairing a seriously broken acoustic guitarcracked back, neck. I do repairs for clients and guitar shops all over the united states. A cracked guitar side is a difficult fix, especially when the sides of the split are uneven. The guitar in question for this example is an epiphone les paul studio. 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. Frankly, i dont believe that a crack repair can be as good as new from a tonal standpoint. Side crack repair on epiphone acoustic guitar crawls.
My 71 guild developed a short crack from the pickguard in march. Super glue plays an important role in many types of guitar repair. Taylor bolton neck repair by james hingston at gryphon stringed instruments. I wouldnt be afraid of a quality guitar with a fresh crack if i could evaluate it myself. Our full setup includes full diagnostics and inspection of the entire instrument, full inspection of all electronics, personalized recommendations for upgrades and improvements, full redress and polish of frets with 7 courses of fine sandpapers and micromesh with a complete high gloss buff on our arbor buffer, cleaning and oiling of fret board, tightening hardware, replacing any needed small.
Rapid changes or extremes in the environment can harm your guitar. If the damage is extreme, we may suggest a neck or body replacement. Intown guitar repair is the website of jeff rice, luthier. 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. 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. Side crack repair on epiphone acoustic guitar may 31, 2012 cracks and divots, guitar builds and repair, string instrument building and repair no comments while the glue on the bridge is drying, im going to fix another structural problem on the. What this will do is to actually join the cracked area, making it stronger than before, and squeezing glue up thru the cracked area. Feel free to contact us for help in having a crack or ding repaired.
If theres a nice big bunch of keys in the players pocket, the inward bend of the side is often enough to produce a serious crack. By contrast, the straight section of a dreadnoughts side lays right on the players thigh, and is very easily bent inward by the downward pressure of simply playing the guitar normally. Thanks to the advent and availability of neodymium extra strong type of rare earth magnets, now we do. Buying an acoustic with top crack smart bargain or roll of. Repairing a cracked guitar back luthier tips du jour episode 7. 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. Here is a tutorial on the complete repair of a les paul example. Took to a local guy who knows his stuff got it back a week latter after and with the repair plus a setup the guitar was better than before with no change in tone, maybe even better after the fret dressing lower the action and neck tweek. May 17, 2011 thanks for taking the time to offer some help and advice with a structural repair on an electric neck joint. Repairing guitars becomes easier as you become more skilled at diagnosing the problem and replacing parts properly. This les paul took a tumble and broke in a nasty way. Cracks can occur on the top, sides or back of your guitar. Luthier and instructor, robert obrien, shows how to fix hairline cracks in a brazilian rosewood guitar back and then repair the finish.