Repairing guitar top crack

Repairing rib cracks parallel to rib grain triangle strings. We recommend repairing promptly, to prevent the crack from. Let the glue cure for at least several hours the longer the better. Side view of the spruce top crack above the left fhole the crack viewed from another angle. Crack repair cleats in spruce, indian rosewood, and mahogany for repairing acoustic guitars with the tj. Acoustic guitar top crack repair cleating cracks n sealing outter. The first step of performing a repair on your cracked guitar is to assess the extent of the damage. Super glue plays an important role in many types of guitar repair. However, the rib caved in significantly around the crack, which is why i applied some pressure during the glueing process with these gobars. If not done correctly glue can run onto the top of the guitar, damaging the finish. Mar 01, 20 on the bassside lowerbout, there are some little chunks of spruce, finish and binding missing, the top is separating from the lining inside the guitar, there are loose pieces of finish surrounding the ding and there is a 2. For about three seconds you see this beautiful mint guitar, and then a crack races across the top as the warm air in your house stresses the cold finish on the guitar. We take a look at tips on repairing acoustic guitar cracks. This will also dramatically eliminate the crack from spreading up or down or in any direction.

When your peghead smacks the drummers ride cymbal and a piece of finish pops off, heres what to do. As you look closer at the top damage, youll notice that the top not only cracked, but is now overhanging the binding by a fraction of an inch. On the guitar repair workbench, gibson l37, 1934, archtop rebuild and restoration. Most of the worst and hardesttorepair cracks happen on a guitars top.

Tips on repairing acoustic guitar cracks proaudioland. Close the crack our crack clamp uses a guitar tuner on a smooth polyethylene base. Jan 24, 2017 the thing is the grain of the patch wood runs longitudinally with the guitar side. 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. 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. Glues used in guitar repair fret not guitar repair located.

First i placed the stick on top of the guitar with the magnet and cleat directly over the crack. I had it standing on a stand in the carpeted living room at the time, and that sucker was so top heavy, it went right over onto the carpet. Obviously, the dry winter air is what caused the spruce top to crack so the luthier. Most of the worst and hardestto repair cracks happen on a guitar s top. Im repairing a friends f5 which has a slight crack in the top behind the bridge. This video shows many more discoveries of preventive maintenance not performed and. Fingerboard crack repairs during the dryer winter months with forced heating in temperate regions like here in usa, canada, norway and other parts of europe, i see the predictable increase of cracks in acoustic, bass and electric guitars that have not been maintained at the proper 4060% humidity range, with latefebruary, early march being. This guitar had been dropped more or less on its end, crunching the spruce at the margin as well as cracking it.

Stretch a large elastic band over the guitar to hold the plastic top over the soundhole. Depending on the severity and location of the crack, a repair is as simple as stabilizing the wood and applying glue to secure it. Can i repair a crack in the top of my acoustic guitar myself. I was thinking about covering the crack with some black tint stewmac super glue, and then sanding and buffing. One of the most common instances is actually not a crack at all, but a centerseam separation. Stewmac sells perfect tools for it, but when i want to get them to europe i pay the price of. Crack repair guitar blog the official taylor guitars blog. Cracks in the wood are usually repairable, depending on the degree of severity. All of this would have allowed for the use of a newer bridge, better action adjustment, and any other desired modifications in the future. If this happens pull the inside convex form up towards the top side of the rib. Taylor top crack and finish repair finger lakes guitar repair. I dont remember where i saw it but i would like to revisit it and get more details.

All you need is some super glue, a toothpick, and several grits of sandpaper i used a little red mahogany stain too. Top and back crack repair cleats tj thompson guitars. Solid top acoustics are more sensitive than laminate top guitars, and will require more care. Cracking can also occur on the top next to the fretboard extension above the soundhole. Instead of attempting to glue closed a crack that will only reopen it is more desirable to fill the crack with a thin piece of wood or splint. Woodworkers glue is water soluble, has longer working times than hide glue and is very strong. The tension that caused the crack was from the humidity tanking. Repairing hairline crack in poly finish telecaster. Unlike hide glue, it is ready to use straight from the bottle. Aug 06, 2014 this left a hole about 1 12 x 2 at the bottom of the guitar where i could insert a stick of mahogany cutoff i had laying around with a magnet and the cleat on it. After the bridge is glued the whole top of the bridge will need to be sanded to have a consistent finish.

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. This video shows many more discoveries of preventive maintenance not performed and what can and does happen, plus gluing the cracked top. As shown in the photos above, we have an example of a crack that runs about 2 inches above the left fhole of a viola. On the guitar repair workbench, gibson l37, 1934, archtop rebuild and restoration april 19. Acoustic guitar cracked top repair by randy schartiger. Heres how to pull a crack together and glue it neatly and permanently.

Repairing a crack on the top plate of a guitarviolincello etc. I have long had the urge to work on and fix my own guitars, and installing a saddle on my own has only increased that. Monitor the guitar and wet the cloth or sponge every couple of days. Titebond original wood glue is quite common unlike hide glue, it is ready to use straight from the bottle. Fixing a cracked bridge yamaha vintage fg acoustic guitars. Jan 05, 2012 we recommend repairing promptly, to prevent the crack from. Here you see my way of repairing a typical top crack. Its not beyond the realms of possibility that it could open again, running along the grain of the patch piece. It sounds good, but now i need to figure out how to fix the crack. We make every effort to install cleats straight and on the crack, but even if we succeed, we are only reinforcing one small section of the crack at a time. 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. Info on repairing a cracked top myself acoustic guitars.

The thing is the grain of the patch wood runs longitudinally with the guitar side. Acoustic guitars are largely made of wood and react to their environment. Jun 30, 2017 the full monty would have included a refret and planing of the fingerboard, a neck pocket rebuild, and taking off the top and repairing or replacing the braces and cracks from the inside out. May 31, 2012 a crack in the top of an acoustic that is not addressed right away. Repairing hole in rib comments off on repairing hole in rib. One of the most common instances is actually not a crack at all. Top and back crack repair cleats tj thompson guitars pro. A crack in the top of an acoustic that is not addressed right away. Acoustic guitar cracked top repair by randy schartiger guitar repair. In this case, the two halves that form the top part of the instrument become unglued, leaving an unattractive opening.

The most common problem of this type is the separation of the center seam due to stress. If there is an actual deep crack through the wood making up the guitar surface, you should not attempt amateur repairs. Then i marked the stick at the location where it hit the guitar body. Top crack repair question the unofficial martin guitar forum. Another defining factor of lackofhumidity cracks is separation in the guitars top as much as 10 to 15 thousandths of an inch. Push that dust into the crack until its level with the surface. Im also assuming it would cost a fair to have it repaired, hence the absolute bargain i scored it for.

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. May 22, 2016 acoustic guitar cracked top repair by randy schartiger. Depending on the crack, finish repair may not be advisable or necessary. Maybe the tiny unseen cracks in the older guitars finish are part of the mysterious recipe. How to repair a crack in a solid top acoustic guitar our. As each short section of cleat dries in place, we often see shrinkage in the reflection in top where each cleat is located. Buying an acoustic with top crack smart bargain or roll of. 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. If a crack is several inches long, then several cleats may be necessary to reinforce the damaged area and add to the stability of the crack. This video shows many more discoveries of preventive maintenance not performed and what can and does happen, plus gluing the cracked top and. The best prevention for clearcoat cracks in my opinion is to keep you guitar in a stable environment about 70 degrees and 40% humidity. You want to touch just the smallest drop at a time right in the crack and youll see it wick into the dust. Repairing hairline crack in poly finish telecaster guitar forum. Here is a picture of a classic centerseam crack, right down the glue joint.

Here is a tutorial on the complete repair of a les paul example. A good crack repair should hold, as long as the humidity doesnt get out of hand again, especially in a newer guitar that shouldnt have much of any tension in the wood across the top. This almost always means the guitar got hold, the neck block shifted and the stress caused the crack. Leave the cloth or sponge and plastic tops in place until the bow entirely disappears from the guitar. What is the best approach for repairing poly finishes.

Your guitar looks pristine for being 20 years old compared to my dinged up 1970 gibson j45. 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. These prices apply to guitars in otherwise good working order. Mar 18, 2019 a good crack repair should hold, as long as the humidity doesnt get out of hand again, especially in a newer guitar that shouldnt have much of any tension in the wood across the top. These tools are for repairing stubborn cracks, splits and punctures in acoustic guitars.

How to fix a crack in the top of an acoustic guitar. If you have a picture of your guitar s condition, upload it to our estimator platform and well be able to get you an even more accurate repair. Also, the cracks are pretty close to the kerfed lining that secures the top and back to the sides of the guitar. Although there are many methods of repairing open cracks the method we here at finger lakes guitar repair prefer is to inlay a splint into the open crack. 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. Cracked soundboard repair tutorial acoustic and hollowbody. This left a hole about 1 12 x 2 at the bottom of the guitar where i could insert a stick of mahogany cutoff i had laying around with a magnet and the cleat on it. The real challenge to repairing most tight cracks is primarily with the finish. Check out the price list then describe your repair for us and well get you a live estimate. Subscribe now for emails with guitar giveaways and prizes, cool deals. It is good reason to get a small discount on the purchase price due to the minor cosmetic issue. A finish crack makes zero difference in tone or structural integrity of an ovation. Dec 09, 2014 and for the record, i also believe a guitar can be dropped, or fall off a stand for instance, even onto the carpet, and crack the finish.

Repair cracks in tops and sides of an acoustic guitar. And for the record, i also believe a guitar can be dropped, or fall off a stand for instance, even onto the carpet, and crack the finish. Fix a cracked guitar top without hampering the tone. I saw a real nice method using a guitar tuner attached to a jig. 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. A few drops will be all it takes to fill the crack and solidfy the dust.

In the best case, youre just dealing with a crack along the grain. Restoring an old kay archtop with guitars and caffeine. 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. I squeezed some out onto the lid of a cottage cheese carton, and used the bent tip of a dropfill toothpick for my brush. A cracked guitar side is a difficult fix, especially when the sides of the split are uneven. Repairing top cracks on the vintage gibson tg1 crawls. How to repair cracks in your acoustic guitar guitar alliance. Glueing a crack in the body the crack closed nicely, and only minimal clamping pressure was necessary using tape on the body outside. Repairing cracks in acoustic guitars examples of cracks caused. Stripping and refinishing the entire panel to render an invisible repair on a small crack would be overkill to say the least. 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. Buying an acoustic with top crack smart bargain or roll. 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. Dirt and grime are allowed into the crack and oxidizes the surfaces so that what could have been fixed with a diamond patch on the inside has now become a fix that includes taking away the rotten wood and inserting a splint.

Sep 30, 2017 i am hoping to conceal the crack, or at least smooth it out. Top cracks to avoid at all costs are the ones that are near the neck to body joint that crack to the soundhole. Now you can upload photos with your repair estimate request. Sometimes a crack is indicative of a more extensive problem around the bridge plate or the guitar top. Acoustic guitar cracked top repair by randy schartiger guitar. I do repairs for clients and guitar shops all over the united states. Violin top crack repair fixing a short crack on a violin top. You run a string through the crack and attach a small piece of wood to the free end through the fhole. Click on the link for more information on crack repairs. Never just fill a crack with glue and assume it will be ok. While some cracks are relatively easy to repair its. 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.

Now take the ca glue and apply it either with the really small pipette or with the cotton swab. Repairing guitars becomes easier as you become more skilled at diagnosing the problem and replacing parts properly. Feel free to contact us for help in having a crack or ding repaired. Aliphatic resin is amongst the most popular woodworkers glue used in instrument building and repair today. The photos show the tools ive invented, and what the cleat looks like from behind on a 1930 gibson guitar.