Bizman62 Posted August 23, 2019 Report Share Posted August 23, 2019 A customer asked if I still build guitars as a hobby and when I said yes, they asked if I liked to see what I could do to their long overlooked acoustic. It appeared immediately that the bridge was for a big part torn off and the top was a bit cracked on the treble side of the bridge. Well, I promised to see if I could fix that and put a set of strings on her as she had none. So I took her home and sat her leaning on an chair crowded with my building gear bag. As I went to hang my coat a loud crash was heard. She didn't like the armchair. On her road down she met a piece of lumber who violated her. Unfortunately the wound is in a place my arms can't reach... Any advise would be highly appreciated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ADFinlayson Posted August 23, 2019 Report Share Posted August 23, 2019 Ah shit dude, I feel for you. If you can't reach to push it back up from the underside, could you grab it from the top with tweezers? I guess you would need a long reach clamp to glue it back in place. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bizman62 Posted August 24, 2019 Author Report Share Posted August 24, 2019 10 hours ago, ADFinlayson said: could you grab it from the top with tweezers? No, there's no actual hole. The only option I can think of is to put glue where the wood is broken and push that piece level from underneath. I'm planning a T-shape tool which I could slide in and turn it as a supportive beam. However, I'm afraid that it could cause either the back to break or the sides to rip off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Workingman Posted April 11, 2020 Report Share Posted April 11, 2020 To repair that properly I think you wold have to take the top off. I have helped repair a puncture wound like that on an upright bass. Keep the area protected to keep it clean until you can repair it. Hot hide glue is your fried here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bizman62 Posted April 12, 2020 Author Report Share Posted April 12, 2020 Thanks to the reply. I managed to pull the splint outside with an improvised hook and pressed it level with some glue. I then tried to match the colour with amber stain which pronounced the seam. Clear nail varnish on top, sanded more or less level (read "less"). The main issue was the bridge being loose. I managed to take it off with a heated spatula without too much wood. However, it appeared that a) the top was laminated and b) the top laminate had been cut off under the bridge. No wonder it didn't hold as there was no support length vise! The longitudinal layer visible under the shards is only 1 mm thick and very soft. I've been thinking about building a new top just for practise. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ADFinlayson Posted April 12, 2020 Report Share Posted April 12, 2020 I guess at least 2 layers must have come away then because the top layer is going the other way, then there is that layer that's half come away. I wonder what the rationale for laminating the top is, it's clearly no stronger. I wonder what the acoustic properties of ply are compared to a solid soundboard. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bizman62 Posted April 12, 2020 Author Report Share Posted April 12, 2020 That's the strange part: Only one layer was damaged and that's the one seen on top. The spruce veneer was cut away under the bridge. No wonder it had broken loose! The two layers under the spruce are of some very soft wood, almost like fabric. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bizman62 Posted October 9, 2022 Author Report Share Posted October 9, 2022 Continued under Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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