Thank you mr. Crack fixer, your knowledge is mind opener....so much i don't know...i owned a 1965 flamenco jose ramirez guitar for 60 years and i have had nothing but good times off and on playing it but my precious guitar developed a big Crack on the side ,its been a month in shop being repaired...i am sad and worried my guitar won't sound or look the same...my attitude and feelings are sad because my guitar has been disfigured...i don't know what to expect when i pick my guitar from the shop.....???
If I could go back in time I would wish I was your silent apprentice. I would never annoy you by asking questions but I would observe everything you did and learn from a true master. I’ve had a successful 40 year career in information technology but I would give it up in a heartbeat to be a luthier with your skills.
Bob, I am also working in Information Technology, though not as long as you, and I completely agree with your statement and feel the same way. Very grateful to have these videos to enjoy anyways.
Thank you. I like the matter-of-fact way that you present your work; I feel like I am looking over your shoulder without getting in the way and learning something each episode. The suction cup glue technique and the razor blade scraper are useful skills I have learned that can be used in all forms of woodworking.
You continue to amaze me young man. You should be and I’m sure you are very proud of yourself for your knowledge of your trade! Thank you for your videos and I’m always so impressed!
Things that satisfy deeply: your articulate explanation, pacing, and work results. I hope this gem of a channel gains widespread recognition sooner than later.
I’m not one to comment often. I found you thanks to Lyle at Psionic Audio. I can’t express what a relief to find you. I’ve been tortured with a thirst to learn more about this craft/art and frustrated with long winded, many times inaccurate demonstrations. You are intelligent, well studied, and best of all efficient in your instruction with the occasional treat of your great humor. Thank you for being there.
I’m finding that watching the way you work on guitars has started to seep into the way I approach everyday tasks, musical and non-musical. At my age, it’s good to know that I’m still teachable. Thanks for the detailed lessons in craftsmanship.
Thanks Mr. Ted. Great to hear your perspective and your performance! I love that 12 string sound! Now I’m going to have to find a nice one to replace my seagull 12
As a Beginner builder to experience one: I just LOVE your brutal honesty around the sound and tone "mythos" Musicians and enthusiasts are some of the most complex creatures to deal with. Once I dealt with a Shure Strat style guitar that the guy asked if I stripped away all the shielding the guitar would sound more "vintage" Oh God.
Been my own guitar tech for 5-ish years now. Always want to learn more. Many repair jobs are cracks in acoustics. Need to learn that. Really enjoyed this vid thank you.
LATERAL PRESSURE ROD CLAMP FOR TOP/BACK CRACK REPAIR: your homemade clamp is exactly what this retired amateur would like to make to repair top and back cracks. Where did you get the threaded rod of that length? It appears you have covered part of the rod in the expanse over the guitar surface.Thoroughly enjoy and learn from your videos!!
Always excited to see a new video pop up from you, Ted. Another great job! Listening to you play, at the end of the video, makes me wonder why I’ve never invested in a good 12 string. Maybe that’s what I need next...
Repairing a damaged or broken instrument and making it playable is a little like starting with raw clay and making a beautiful sculpture, or raising children from babies into adults that can function in the world. In the case of a musical instrument, you have restored a thing that could, at least theoretically, be used once again to bring beauty into the world, in the hands of the right performer. Letting go of your wooden foster children is the right thing to do, for the world!
I have to agree 100%. Leaving the strings unclipped the way these are, is a really dangerous, not to mention can cause the headstock unnecessary scratches. Those strings can act as a long needle, and really injure someone. I'm sure any of us out there that have changed many a guitar string, knows the treachery of being speared by a string. My 6 yr old grandson always chuckles when he comes over should he see a spotty paper towel with blood dots on it. He will say something like, "Hey pappaw, been changing guitar strings again?"- Lol- He's a clever little guy.
Thanks for explaining the rationale for cleating. I've heard it suggested that, since you don't cleat the centre seam, why would you cleat a crack. I actually had a centre seam come adrift and cleated it. Now I know why!
I saw someone sent Jerry Rosa a suction cup with a blood pressure cuff bulb attached to it which let you put th suction cup down and pump pressure through it one way only. Looked like it would do this kind of job well not being able to suck the glue back out. Just sharing. Watch all your videos and his, your stuff is very professional both in skill and narration. I even watch re-runs with you, keep it up. I am not a musician by any stretch but am a child of the 50's that remembers when Chet released "The Poor People of Paris" and the Carter scratch was fresh.
I'm sure there's someone that goes around downvoting all these kinds of videos. They do it on RSW too. They never seem to have anything to say, they just downvote. I'd like to see their work, seeing as they seem to know so much more than the people we watch.
When I was a Larrivee dealer in the early 2000s, when they were setting up the new factory in Oxnard, they were using a UV cure finish. From spray booth to stackable in 15 minutes. Repair is not as easy as nitro, but the emissions are close to zero and production is streamlined hugely.
I'm doing it.... I made a very low-ball offer on a Martin B-1 because it has a crack in the soundboard. I have repaired some things on electric guitars and basses but never an acoustic. I think I can handle the minor repairs after watching, rewatching, and rewatching Ted (and the "how to's on Stew Mac), so I am going to give it a try! I will, of course, hold to the "do no harm" mentality. If in doubt, I will stop.
Good videos... your repair of the Martin bridge and associated pickup illustrate that even Martin doesn’t always get it right. I’ve had my 35 yr old D45 back twice for warranty repair although I’ve had to pay?! The lacquer finish under the tuning machine nuts started to flake... guess they don’t consider that warranty. In the past year I’ve noticed the ivoroid binding around the upper and lower waist is coming loose. Been tempted to reglue it myself but if it ever goes in for something serious they may reject it. My 45 yr old Lo Prinzi has never had similar issues. Would like to have you do the repair but not sure I can get across the border to Canada. Keep up the good work. Regards, Mac Morgan Delaware
Oh boy, would you ever hate the '59 Spanish unstrung acoustic I've got hanging up under the house. About 35 years ago, the body cracked, the bridge came off and the soundboard had some serious cracks as well - all from drying out while under tension over several NZ summers. My step-dad epoxy-glued the bridge back on and then used machine screws for extra clamping, but being a mechanical engineer with no musical knowledge, the intonation has always been out ever since. It can be in tune open strings but as soon as you go up five frets, then it starts going out of tune. I used lots of linseed oil on the soundboard and that helped with the cracks, but the body still has the major crack. I lived in the UK for 9 years, so removed the strings and left it in the case in the basement to prevent further damage while away. Now that I've seen your videos, I'm going to make up some clamps so I can at least glue the body together - there's not much I can do with the bridge without damaging the soundboard I think. Awesome videos.
I'm a car mechanic and i was asked a couple of times if i would be nervous to work on something like a Ferrari or something. No, why? It's just a car, although it's a beautiful piece of engineering wraped in an amazing exterior, at the end of the day it's just a car.
Are you worried at all about the cold animal glue? I have never used fish glue but I do have sad memories of glueing my 2nd guitar with cold scotch/ hide glue. I took it to Chicago to show it to Bozo Podunavic, the Yugoslavian guitar builder (1964; he had just opened his shop) and he warned me that the cold glue would come apart in August when the heat and humidity rose. Unfortunately he was 100% correct and I had the pleasure of watching my poor guitar unravel before my very eyes that August. I'm sure you know your glues but the thought did cross my mind. Excellent work as usual. Thank you!!!
VERY useful. My situation is pretty well from the sublime to the ridiculous. I have an old Eko Electra 12 string (probably 1968-ish) which has the start of a small 2" crack extending from the back of the saddle . . . so I'm assuming it starts somewhere underneath that. Nothing shows on the soundhole side. Not exactly a high-quality, high-value instrument, but, like all Eko 12's, it has a very distinctive sound and is well worth stabilising.
I particularly loved "gonna get paid' comment. I collected 4 patients in the last two years that are still awaiting payment. Yes, I have an 'express lien' clause in my service contract. 1 sold for what was owed. Apparently there's no profit allowed there either.
A luthier I once had the privilege of knowing liked to use a paraphrase of Newton's first law of physics when it came to the question of "Does it change the sound?" He would say "Everything changes everything". Rest peacefully Robin...
I am coming from an acoustics background and things like psycho-acoustics absolutely fascinates me, even in making music or playing an instrument like guitars like at 10:00 . To bad that for most people it's sort of a taboo subject.
in welding metal, folks use "fish plates" on crack repairs, basically a tapered plate to spread out the forces from a previously broken part, I wonder if the same idea with wood work i.e. a tapered cleat to lessen the impact to vibration... anyway just thinking out loud.
@@zapa1pnt "everything effects the sound" is what i heard... and we're talking about guitar players and musicians (of which I am one) and literally EVERYTHING is worth the time and experimentation
I totally get the repairman attitude. I love playing with electronics, figuring out the problem, etc. But at the end I’m happy to give it back in exchange for money. Otherwise the stuff would just pile up.
Can you steer me towards your fish glue of choice? thanks for all the info/inspiration. I've pulled all my half taken apart guitar projects out of the attic since I found this channel a few weeks ago
Talking about things that change the sound, what do you think about using a tone-rite on a acoustic guitar? I figure you’d probably know what one is. My wife got me one several years ago.
What are your thoughts on using silk or carbon fiber as an alternative to cleats? I have spoken with numerous violin repair people who use this method as well as myself.
Awesome. Urethane will NOT burn in like Lacquer does. Never will. When I just to paint cars, I would clear clear coat the whole panel (the damaged panel) with urethane to get it to look good.
There are (is?) quantum amount(s) of technical wisdom and information in your videos, far, far beyond merely looking at a broken or abused instrument and saying: "This ain't good". For instance, as a consideration for repairing open cracks on a guitar, your observation regarding the oxidation of open wood, and even the effect of aerosolized cooking oils floating about in a home environment. I have noticed its partially corroding effects on chromed tuners/tuner strips on classical guitars. Cleaning that 'stuff' is labor intensive, and I know that if it doesn't get done every year or so, it can accelerate oxidation of those shiny metal parts.
“The aqueous humour it contains might roll down my cheek and people would think I am crying.” We’re not worthy of this comedic gold.
I wonder how many heads that wisecrack went over?
Thank you mr. Crack fixer, your knowledge is mind opener....so much i don't know...i owned a 1965 flamenco jose ramirez guitar for 60 years and i have had nothing but good times off and on playing it but my precious guitar developed a big Crack on the side ,its been a month in shop being repaired...i am sad and worried my guitar won't sound or look the same...my attitude and feelings are sad because my guitar has been disfigured...i don't know what to expect when i pick my guitar from the shop.....???
My favorite guitar-repairing wordsmith.
He’s the AvE of guitars haha
@@platinumchopper "keep your pick in a vice"
Giuseppe Bernardi haha exactly
A wealth of useful information and a sense of humor worthy of a world tour. Where else can we get this?
Trump?
You made my day 🤣
Adam Savage! But.....I'll stick with Ted.
I don’t play guitar and I don’t repair them, but I’ve seen every one of your videos.
Lol, me too haha...
it's never too late
If I could go back in time I would wish I was your silent apprentice. I would never annoy you by asking questions but I would observe everything you did and learn from a true master. I’ve had a successful 40 year career in information technology but I would give it up in a heartbeat to be a luthier with your skills.
Bob, I am also working in Information Technology, though not as long as you, and I completely agree with your statement and feel the same way. Very grateful to have these videos to enjoy anyways.
Kind of creepy.
Canada. Famous musician. I'm going Neil Young. Thanks for all your videos.
I went with Neil Young as well, especially as he said 70's.
@WATER-MAN Love Alex Lifeson but unless you're into prog you've never heard of him.
The little tune at the end reveals all !
@@audiomurphy Sadly, I don't recognize it :(
Sibling of... Ned Young? Allen Lifeson? Jerry Lightfoot?
Thank you. I like the matter-of-fact way that you present your work; I feel like I am looking over your shoulder without getting in the way and learning something each episode.
The suction cup glue technique and the razor blade scraper are useful skills I have learned that can be used in all forms of woodworking.
I'm continually awed by your approach and the work you do.
I learn something from every one of your videos. The information you share is priceless!
You continue to amaze me young man. You should be and I’m sure you are very proud of yourself for your knowledge of your trade! Thank you for your videos and I’m always so impressed!
Love the sound of the instrument post-repair. What a lively, bright, and yet still woody sound.
Things that satisfy deeply: your articulate explanation, pacing, and work results. I hope this gem of a channel gains widespread recognition sooner than later.
I’m not one to comment often. I found you thanks to Lyle at Psionic Audio. I can’t express what a relief to find you. I’ve been tortured with a thirst to learn more about this craft/art and frustrated with long winded, many times inaccurate demonstrations.
You are intelligent, well studied, and best of all efficient in your instruction with the occasional treat of your great humor.
Thank you for being there.
I like the “business is business” attitude. That takes the emotion out of the equation and makes for a successful luthier.
I’m finding that watching the way you work on guitars has started to seep into the way I approach everyday tasks, musical and non-musical. At my age, it’s good to know that I’m still teachable. Thanks for the detailed lessons in craftsmanship.
Another great video, Please keep on posting as many as possible
Thank you!
Came for the guitar repair...but stayed for the commentary. You sir...are a character.
Thanks Mr. Ted. Great to hear your perspective and your performance! I love that 12 string sound! Now I’m going to have to find a nice one to replace my seagull 12
As a Beginner builder to experience one: I just LOVE your brutal honesty around the sound and tone "mythos"
Musicians and enthusiasts are some of the most complex creatures to deal with.
Once I dealt with a Shure Strat style guitar that the guy asked if I stripped away all the shielding the guitar would sound more "vintage"
Oh God.
Astrid’s been playing that one for a long time. Sounds great.
Thank you for another wonderful video, Jim.
(Just continuing the tradition of someone in the comments referring to you by the wrong first name)
Been my own guitar tech for 5-ish years now. Always want to learn more.
Many repair jobs are cracks in acoustics. Need to learn that. Really enjoyed this vid thank you.
I love this guy. He's got a great voice. Should be on the radio.
LATERAL PRESSURE ROD CLAMP FOR TOP/BACK CRACK REPAIR: your homemade clamp is exactly what this retired amateur would like to make to repair top and back cracks. Where did you get the threaded rod of that length? It appears you have covered part of the rod in the expanse over the guitar surface.Thoroughly enjoy and learn from your videos!!
What a sound . So tight and strong for a 12 string.
"and then I can get paid" yes, getting paid is a good thing.
Always excited to see a new video pop up from you, Ted. Another great job! Listening to you play, at the end of the video, makes me wonder why I’ve never invested in a good 12 string. Maybe that’s what I need next...
That homemade side clamp! Thank-you for that idea!
"Minimalist school of strings attachment" Love it !!!!!!!!!!
Wonderful job!! I also liked how you snuck "amalgamate" in there! Nice! lol
Great lesson, thank you sir! 🇨🇦👍🏻🙏
Oh "The passage of time" I feel a word salad coming on! LOL! Always great work, love these videos and appreciate each and every one!
That final minute, when the top cracks just disappeared ... wow
Thank you for the lesson!
Really some great repairs. Thank you. Collect paycheck.
Repairing a damaged or broken instrument and making it playable is a little like starting with raw clay and making a beautiful sculpture, or raising children from babies into adults that can function in the world. In the case of a musical instrument, you have restored a thing that could, at least theoretically, be used once again to bring beauty into the world, in the hands of the right performer. Letting go of your wooden foster children is the right thing to do, for the world!
Well said on many fronts!
Very nice work enjoy your videos used to have a larrivee 12-string great guitars
A delicate touch he says... I pucker at the thought of taking a blade to a top like that.
This guitar sounded great !!
I have to agree 100%. Leaving the strings unclipped the way these are, is a really dangerous, not to mention can cause the headstock unnecessary scratches. Those strings can act as a long needle, and really injure someone. I'm sure any of us out there that have changed many a guitar string, knows the treachery of being speared by a string. My 6 yr old grandson always chuckles when he comes over should he see a spotty paper towel with blood dots on it. He will say something like, "Hey pappaw, been changing guitar strings again?"- Lol- He's a clever little guy.
lots of wisdom in this one.
Great video!
Thanks for explaining the rationale for cleating. I've heard it suggested that, since you don't cleat the centre seam, why would you cleat a crack. I actually had a centre seam come adrift and cleated it. Now I know why!
I saw someone sent Jerry Rosa a suction cup with a blood pressure cuff bulb attached to it which let you put th suction cup down and pump pressure through it one way only. Looked like it would do this kind of job well not being able to suck the glue back out. Just sharing. Watch all your videos and his, your stuff is very professional both in skill and narration. I even watch re-runs with you, keep it up. I am not a musician by any stretch but am a child of the 50's that remembers when Chet released "The Poor People of Paris" and the Carter scratch was fresh.
Thank you so much for this video!
Great job! like it
I'm sure there's someone that goes around downvoting all these kinds of videos. They do it on RSW too. They never seem to have anything to say, they just downvote. I'd like to see their work, seeing as they seem to know so much more than the people we watch.
great video, thank you.
When I was a Larrivee dealer in the early 2000s, when they were setting up the new factory in Oxnard, they were using a UV cure finish. From spray booth to stackable in 15 minutes. Repair is not as easy as nitro, but the emissions are close to zero and production is streamlined hugely.
So interesting, as usual.
I'm doing it.... I made a very low-ball offer on a Martin B-1 because it has a crack in the soundboard. I have repaired some things on electric guitars and basses but never an acoustic. I think I can handle the minor repairs after watching, rewatching, and rewatching Ted (and the "how to's on Stew Mac), so I am going to give it a try! I will, of course, hold to the "do no harm" mentality. If in doubt, I will stop.
Three cheers! 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️thank you
Good videos... your repair of the Martin bridge and associated pickup illustrate that even Martin doesn’t always get it right. I’ve had my 35 yr old D45 back twice for warranty repair although I’ve had to pay?! The lacquer finish under the tuning machine nuts started to flake... guess they don’t consider that warranty. In the past year I’ve noticed the ivoroid binding around the upper and lower waist is coming loose. Been tempted to reglue it myself but if it ever goes in for something serious they may reject it. My 45 yr old Lo Prinzi has never had similar issues. Would like to have you do the repair but not sure I can get across the border to Canada.
Keep up the good work.
Regards, Mac Morgan
Delaware
Nice Job!
Thanks for posting this
Great stuff! This information will be useful for me and I don't even work with instruments :)
Excellent as always. I find it more troublesome to match matte finishes than gloss.
It's like working on cars for me. I've worked on some expensive and desirable cars, but they're all just interesting puzzles to me.
Excellent!
your made those cracks kinda disappear behind the bridge! experience is everything
Gosh I wish you d live next me. My guitars rather.
Thanks for sharing your unattainable know how !
06:30 😂😂😂. Thank you Ted for the sharing
Oh boy, would you ever hate the '59 Spanish unstrung acoustic I've got hanging up under the house.
About 35 years ago, the body cracked, the bridge came off and the soundboard had some serious cracks as well - all from drying out while under tension over several NZ summers. My step-dad epoxy-glued the bridge back on and then used machine screws for extra clamping, but being a mechanical engineer with no musical knowledge, the intonation has always been out ever since. It can be in tune open strings but as soon as you go up five frets, then it starts going out of tune. I used lots of linseed oil on the soundboard and that helped with the cracks, but the body still has the major crack.
I lived in the UK for 9 years, so removed the strings and left it in the case in the basement to prevent further damage while away. Now that I've seen your videos, I'm going to make up some clamps so I can at least glue the body together - there's not much I can do with the bridge without damaging the soundboard I think.
Awesome videos.
Terrific!
The philosopher luthier is on his game.
I'm a car mechanic and i was asked a couple of times if i would be nervous to work on something like a Ferrari or something. No, why? It's just a car, although it's a beautiful piece of engineering wraped in an amazing exterior, at the end of the day it's just a car.
Are you worried at all about the cold animal glue? I have never used fish glue but I do have sad memories of glueing my 2nd guitar with cold scotch/ hide glue. I took it to Chicago to show it to Bozo Podunavic, the Yugoslavian guitar builder (1964; he had just opened his shop) and he warned me that the cold glue would come apart in August when the heat and humidity rose. Unfortunately he was 100% correct and I had the pleasure of watching my poor guitar unravel before my very eyes that August. I'm sure you know your glues but the thought did cross my mind. Excellent work as usual. Thank you!!!
Quackalackin!
That's what my 12 looks like. I named it "Whiskers"
Jerry Rosa says Titebond is the best glue. So there!😂😂😂😂😂
Not for everything !
Beautimous!
VERY useful. My situation is pretty well from the sublime to the ridiculous. I have an old Eko Electra 12 string (probably 1968-ish) which has the start of a small 2" crack extending from the back of the saddle . . . so I'm assuming it starts somewhere underneath that. Nothing shows on the soundhole side.
Not exactly a high-quality, high-value instrument, but, like all Eko 12's, it has a very distinctive sound and is well worth stabilising.
i agree...but your tone of voice....well! :) great video!
Perfect. I have an Applause AA-14 and I hope I won't need your services... but just in case.
I particularly loved "gonna get paid' comment. I collected 4 patients in the last two years that are still awaiting payment. Yes, I have an 'express lien' clause in my service contract. 1 sold for what was owed. Apparently there's no profit allowed there either.
That's the same way I look at cars, and I don't even wrench anymore.
Yep!
A luthier I once had the privilege of knowing liked to use a paraphrase of Newton's first law of physics when it came to the question of "Does it change the sound?" He would say "Everything changes everything". Rest peacefully Robin...
I am coming from an acoustics background and things like psycho-acoustics absolutely fascinates me, even in making music or playing an instrument like guitars like at 10:00 . To bad that for most people it's sort of a taboo subject.
The aqueous humor may roll down my cheek and people might think I'm crying ...
which would enough to make anyone cry.
0:45
in welding metal, folks use "fish plates" on crack repairs, basically a tapered plate to spread out the forces from a previously broken part, I wonder if the same idea with wood work i.e. a tapered cleat to lessen the impact to vibration... anyway just thinking out loud.
As Ted mentioned, the impact is minimal. Not worth the contemplation, let alone experimentation.
@@zapa1pnt "everything effects the sound" is what i heard... and we're talking about guitar players and musicians (of which I am one) and literally EVERYTHING is worth the time and experimentation
Not to mention that you Already have good of your own at home or in back:)
I totally get the repairman attitude. I love playing with electronics, figuring out the problem, etc. But at the end I’m happy to give it back in exchange for money. Otherwise the stuff would just pile up.
Can you steer me towards your fish glue of choice? thanks for all the info/inspiration. I've pulled all my half taken apart guitar projects out of the attic since I found this channel a few weeks ago
Psychosomatic influence - This!
Talking about things that change the sound, what do you think about using a tone-rite on a acoustic guitar? I figure you’d probably know what one is. My wife got me one several years ago.
hey have you ever tried cleating cracks with carbon fiber tape? I've been curious for some time whether that would work well.
What are your thoughts on using silk or carbon fiber as an alternative to cleats? I have spoken with numerous violin repair people who use this method as well as myself.
Awesome. Urethane will NOT burn in like Lacquer does. Never will. When I just to paint cars, I would clear clear coat the whole panel (the damaged panel) with urethane to get it to look good.
I want to ask a hypothetical question... Is it possible to do a cut-out on a guitar that has none, like this one for example?
Very enjoying how you fix / repair Guitar.
At 4':09" of the clip, my curiosity about what type of glue you used to paint on the crack ?Thankyou
Why the downvotes ? This is the usual superb workmanship...jealous trolls?
Yes, and out of over 6800 views, only 880+ likes. Ridiculous.
There are (is?) quantum amount(s) of technical wisdom and information in your videos, far, far beyond merely looking at a broken or abused instrument and saying: "This ain't good".
For instance, as a consideration for repairing open cracks on a guitar, your observation regarding the oxidation of open wood, and even the effect of aerosolized cooking oils floating about in a home environment. I have noticed its partially corroding effects on chromed tuners/tuner strips on classical guitars. Cleaning that 'stuff' is labor intensive, and I know that if it doesn't get done every year or so, it can accelerate oxidation of those shiny metal parts.
You worked on Garnet Rogers’ guitar?! I thought he was a Gibson man.
What brand glue do you recommend
Astrid Young?
I have the same paranoia about unclipped strings. And they clang.
great job....where are you located?
Hi - Is Ronsonol still good for cleaning? I'm reading online that the formula has been changed and it's no longer Naptha?
What is the thing in the sound hole at the start?
Me again, how thick do you make your cleats?
Thanks!