Acoustic guitar fix

[rideit]

She had this total POS beater to sing Barney songs or whatever for the kids. I pick it up to play it, and it was...well, what I expected. Kinda didn't really stay too in tune, but not the worst I have played. Strings were like 5 years old, I just figured it was kinda junk.

She says "Like, OH my god! I can't, like...keep it in tune! Could it, like, be this big crack?"

I was too busy showing off my manly fretboard prowess to notice, and she pointed out THIS wee little hairline crack.

Can you see it? ;-}



So I offer to take the guitar home And... Fix It.


So, Here is my highly refined repair facility, with TOP SECRET bonding technology.






So, I'll give it a few days to cure.
(I'll try and get a pic of her thanking me, of course)

[rideit]

Hey, I gotta get her guitar Humming like a Dynamo before I ask wifey to snap pics of her 'thanking' me!

[jpbturbo]

Originally Posted by rideit

So, I'll give it a few days to cure. How long y'all figure before making her sing when I fondle her......
FRETS....you dirty pig dogs!

I repaired an old Yamaha FG75 that had a crack in the same position.

First I clamped the body face down on an ironing board with some spacers under the upper bout and then applied downward pressure on the back of the neck to open the crack.
next I spread some titebond on a 3x5 notecard and slide it into the crack so I could get glue all the way to the back.
Then I clamped the body to the ironing board with the strings facing up and placed some clamps up around the first fret to pull the neck back into position.

I left mine overnight and strung it up the next evening when I got home from work.
With mediums(13-56) it's held up just fine for the past year and a half.

[Mark Grant]

AWESOME!!! I hope it ALL works out well for you buddy!

[Ronkirn]

That reminde me of a Joke…

What did the Snail say when he got to ride on the back of a Turtle….?

Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!


That's not the joke it reminded me of, i can't tell that one..

r

[rideit]

Originally Posted by jpbturbo

next I spread some titebond on a 3x5 notecard and slide it into the crack so I could get glue all the way to the back.
Then I clamped the body to the ironing board with the strings facing up and placed some clamps up around the first fret to pull the neck back into position.

I left mine overnight and strung it up the next evening when I got home from work.
With mediums(13-56) it's held up just fine for the past year and a half.

Good to hear. I very gently heated the neck with a heat gun on low, and I happened to have a big brake bleeding syringe, so i injected the titebond into the crack with that.

I'll likely give it until tomorrow.

[Lucretia]

Originally Posted by Ronkirn

That reminde me of a Joke…

What did the Snail say when he got to ride on the back of a Turtle….?

Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

Believe me, snails are faster than you think!

Luke.

[rideit]

You sayin' he don't think so fast?

[thumbpick]

if this repair thread is done...what are we waitin for?........

[rideit]

Well, I glued it up Thursday, so I will deliver it on Monday. Hopefully she isn't camera shy!

[nosmo]

Originally Posted by rideit

You sayin' he don't think so fast?

[Bonneybear]

This forum, "GUITAR" forum, as far as I know has always avoided lewd and crude topics and threads. It was interesting to fix a guitar for someone who plays for kids. A noble gesture. Everything else was distasteful. If I where looking for porn or dirty jokes I wouldn't go to TDPRI. Please dont ruin it for those who subscribe to this forum. It means a lot to me/ us. Thanks you. Mike

[Crafty Fox]

I admit I've had a bit of a chuckle reading this thread, but I do agree with the respectful suggestion by Bonneybear (which does not infer a hatred of beauty, or women) that we are going off in the wrong direction here.
Let's get back to building/modding guitars.

[rideit]

Ok, back on track.
The only thing I need to address is that somehow the rubber piece that I used to cushion the vice on the fretboard 'bled/stained' into the wood. Keep in mind this is, at BEST, a $50 guitar. ButI take pride in my work, and want to fix it. I certainly don't want to aggressively sand it too much, any suggestions?
Pics tomorrow.












Of the fretboard, you repressed creepers!

[Jupiter]

Originally Posted by rideit

Ok, back on track.
The only thing I need to address is that somehow the rubber piece that I used to cushion the vice on the fretboard 'bled/stained' into the wood. Keep in mind this is, at BEST, a $50 guitar. ButI take pride in my work, and want to fix it. I certainly don't want to aggressively sand it too much, any suggestions?
Pics tomorrow.

Of the fretboard, you repressed creepers!

Wiping with naphtha? Probably the least aggressive way to start.

[kwerk]

Originally Posted by Jupiter

Wiping with naphtha? Probably the least aggressive way to start.

Yup, I'd try a bunch of things like naphtha, alcohol or acetone, all of which in moderation shouldn't damage the fretboard. Beats leaping in with sandpaper.

[Rich Rice]

Once you apply solvents such as acetone, alcohol, naptha, mineral spirits, vinegar- whatever.. Don't forget to let it dry and caress some sort of fretboard oil into the pores. The solvent will pull some of the natural oils from the surface. Don't want it to chafe when she plays it. ;)

[thumbpick]

solvent..if that didnt work i would just leave it

[Bonneybear]

Yes, maybe your right, maybe I went a little overboard. I'm sure no harm was intended. And I don't mean to come off "Holier than Thou". I love our forum here. And this can be a sensitive issue for many people, mostly men.I felt like it needed to be said. I'm glad we're back on track. Thank you. Mike

[rideit]

Thanks, BB. it is all just good 'innu-endo, and out the other' fun. Harmless, all things considered!

Anyhoo, here is the finished guitar.

This thing actually has slightly irritated me. It is seriously a CHEAP guitar, and now with the fix, it holds it's tune BETTER than the Seagull that my wife bought me as birthday present years ago!
It's not the sweetest thing ever, but it plays really well, and sounds good, considering it looks like it is the ever-rare 'woodius-Decalius' grain...
Here is the stain from the rubber/c-clamp, I couldn't get it out without heavy sanding, so it is 'relic-ed'!


This is the repaired heel (I still have to fully clean it up)


The action now is...reasonable. I am sure you can imagine what it was like with the crack.


And this is the headstock, never heard of these.


Needs a truss rod cover, obviously.

All in all, I am very surprised how well it turned out.