I love and learn from your videos. I tuned and repaired pianos in the past. The piano parts suppliers sell a tool that is a wedge scraper to open cracks and spruce wedges to glue in. Pianos sound boards have the same problems. However sence they don't show hot glue and busness cards are often used. Thanks again for your videos.
Thank you very much. I have a Martin Backpacker with an even longer crack than this one and wasn't sure about how to go about bracing it up. Plus I had not thought of the water to help the glue seep into the crack. The Backpacker is a relatively inexpensive guitar so, I didn't want to spend a whole lot of money to repair it. Thanks to you video I can do this myself and not have to spend a lot of money getting someone else to repair it. :)
Thank you so much, a guitar I've wanted and couldn't afford has gone on sale ex-display with a crack in it for 1/2 price. Having seen your video I'm going to have a go at fixing it up for myself. I've only ever had to change machine heads on broken guitars I've picked-up so far.
Like the 10 min videos. I wonder if laying a strip of tape over the bead of glue would allow you to "press" the glue into a thin crack like this? Just an idea I might try if have the same issue come across my bench. Take care!
Have you ever tried a small rubber cup, like a small plumbers friend kind of thing. Poke a hole in it and pressurize it with compressed air over a freshly glued crack and use air pressure to force more glue into a crack? Just a thought.
Thanks for the great advice. I have a Epiphone acoustic guitar master built about 13 years old. Cracked playing at the Camp fire one very cold night. Front was hot. Back was cold. The back has about a 8” crack. Can I use this method? 🎸
Rosa String Works ever here of bridge doctor and Thompson belly reducer? My Harmony is in good shape but it is warped where bridge is causing action to be high but only frets further down neck. How do you usually repair belly near bridge? Think the Thomson belly reducer tool works good? I a, debating on if I should buy Thomson belly reducer and fix it or just leave it. It is pretty playble until you go way way down on neck.
I do think they will reduce the belly. However I'm not so sure about what the effect is on the sound. I've only seen one instrument that had one in it. It was new from the factory with one installed. I thought the sound on it was very muted. But I had no idea what it would have sounded like without it. Thanks for watching.
Rosa String Works I have a cheap Harmony when I got it top was separating had electrical tape on it. I removed the tape carefully put some glue in area where it was separating clamped it and it fixed it. I put Martin extra light strings on it can't believe how good it actually sound's for a cheap guitar. Rosa String Works ever play a cheap guitar and been impressed that it sounds good for a cheap one?
Yeah actually that happens quite often. In fact those Austin guitars that I have sold on my website in the past. They're not presently listed there, are incredible guitars for only three hundred bucks including a case and including shipping. It's amazing. Thanks for watching.
Great stuff ! I had a thought .... I was wondering if you warmed up the glue by putting the bottle in a bowel of hot tap water , if that might help getting it to flow into cracks ...... Just a thought ...... Cheers
Rosa String Works I saw a You-Tube video where guy had a old guitar with very high action warped neck. The guy sawed the heel area of neck with a razor saw sawing part of neck of where dove tail is. Then he glued it back on with a clamp. Action got lower. How would sawing the neck like that and gluing it and clamping it get the action lower?
Rosa String Works Ever do a neck reset on a guitar with dowels? I have a guitar with dowels neck joint is very very loose coming of badly action is very high it has a none adjustable rod if I take neck off and clean joint and re-glue neck back on tight at right angle will that fix it? Because there are dowels no dove tail do I have to clamp or heat neck to fix neck or will just re gluing it at right angle fix it?
Rosa String Works I just bought a Harmony guitar going to be working on it in future when I am done repairing my Silvertone guitar. The Harmony is purple someone got black marker on parts of it. What can I do to get black marker off the guitar?
I have no idea. But when I was a young teenager, I decided that I didn't like the green gourd look of my little Silvertone electric guitar, so I painted it red. That's my first memory of any kind of modification. Thanks for taking a look.
John Puccia cleats are absolutely necessary when there is stress in the joint. In other words if you have to force it together or force it to line up then I always cleat it. If it lines up perfectly and it's a good clean joint then I don't necessarily clean it.
I got the same problem with an old trutone guitar someone gave me . Same split .same spot . However someone gluednan Oak 2x4 under the split ... AND ITS STILL SUNK IN !! ... I am going to have a heck of a time getting that "cleat" off without a horrible tear out.. I made a tool out of a aluminum block to heat up that thick piece of wood .. hopefully he didn't use epoxy on it .. Or it will be a permanent wall hanger.. We'll see
I believe it was boiled linseed oil. My charge was to only repair the crack to make it structurally strong. The oil just made it look better. If I were trying to fix the finish, I would have used any one of several other methods.
do all cracks need the brace? I have a crack in my backpacker but it is still level with the rest of the body, unlike this one you repaired here. plus the body is so small it doesnt seem like a structural issue at the moment.
+Rosa String Works Thanks man. I'm thinking after watching the videos I can't fail. The crack isn't that bad on my little Martin backpacker guitar..... The trick with the dowel rod and the angle along with the base is greatly appreciated.
i dropped my guitar and theres a small crack/splint on the body of the guitar. Its just nice on the outline of the body and the crack is 2cm. would it affect the sound and should i be concerned? It looks like a surface crack to me
Its probably ok. Keep an eye on it, if it starts to change, get it repaired right away. Some cracks don't cause any real problems, others can weaken the structure or cause noise, e.g. buzz or rattle. Just watch it as long as you don't hear any problem or see any change, its probably not too critical.
Instead of white glue (I think you were using Titebond but can't be entirely sure) I've had real good luck fixing cracks with medium visco CA (cyanoacrylate) glue. It'll wick into a crack just nice. Get your dowel in place first, apply the CA to the crack using a razor blade edge to guide the glue flow (the thinnest bead does the trick) and it's cured and ready for finishing touch up in minutes.
I do that sometimes but I generally don't do it wher it's going to show because if you make a mistake, it's a big one. That glue can really do a number on the finish.
Hi ...um I just bought a guitar before one month ago and i found crack on top before few days .. i dont know how it happened ? could it happen by itself? is its possible to happen by itself if the wood guilty is bad and should i fix that crack because i dont think it effect on its sound .Plz i need your answer
Thanks for commenting. It is difficult to answer without seeing it. If the crack is "structural" then it needs to be fixed. If it is cosmetic, then it only needs to be fixed if it is affecting the sound by vibrating.
Thanks for commenting. It is difficult to answer without seeing it. If the crack is "structural" then it needs to be fixed. If it is cosmetic, then it only needs to be fixed if it is affecting the sound by vibrating.
hey....pls help me... the middle supporting wood stick inside the guitar has cracked... pls tell me how should I fix it... Ur reply would b hlpful...thanks
Rosa String Works Id have saved the brace for last to allow me to flex that top around and make sure the top crack had glue in it. If the crack had opened up more, I would put in a splint patch on top. I am not a big fan of cleats under the top and using a violin type crack clamp to pull then closed. That just makes the top crack in another location, later on. I have a ladder braced 12 I am doing a brace repair on. I will put small chunks of carbon pulltruded fiber sheet on the brace so it won't split again. One large piece of carbon fiber will make the top too stiff and the guitar will sound really bright and glassy. A lot of bluegrass players like that sound, but, this is a 12 string.
Seth B Thanks for commenting. The two parts were in "stress" together. Lifting the brace lifted the top crack back into position. It was not difficult to coat all surfaces with glue and brace into position. It would have been more difficult to do it in two separate operations because of the tension between the two parts. Just like anything, there's always more than one way to skin a cat. Obviously, I chose the option that worked for me.
Nothing personal, but I wouldn't let you touch my guitar with a 10-foot pole. You "Nervous-Nellied" so much that there has to be at least a dozen new dings in that poor guitar. I cringed with every "bang."
Rosa String Works My apologies, then. I have a very good computer sound setup and it sounded like World War III kicking off here. I appreciate your tutorial. I recently put a dandy crack in the top of my Fender acoustic and will be taking it to my guitar man at Timeless Music here in Cleveland. I was just curious how it is done. Thanks for the video.
I love and learn from your videos. I tuned and repaired pianos in the past. The piano parts suppliers sell a tool that is a wedge scraper to open cracks and spruce wedges to glue in. Pianos sound boards have the same problems. However sence they don't show hot glue and busness cards are often used. Thanks again for your videos.
Jerry you've got the smartest hands I've ever seen. Thanks for saving me once again! Found the fix for a nasty crack watching you. Again. Thank you.
108ashtangi thank you.
108ashtangi
Thank you very much. I have a Martin Backpacker with an even longer crack than this one and wasn't sure about how to go about bracing it up. Plus I had not thought of the water to help the glue seep into the crack.
The Backpacker is a relatively inexpensive guitar so, I didn't want to spend a whole lot of money to repair it. Thanks to you video I can do this myself and not have to spend a lot of money getting someone else to repair it. :)
Myles thanks for the comment. Good luck with the guitar.
Thank you so much, a guitar I've wanted and couldn't afford has gone on sale ex-display with a crack in it for 1/2 price. Having seen your video I'm going to have a go at fixing it up for myself. I've only ever had to change machine heads on broken guitars I've picked-up so far.
Lenny great. good luck to you. Thanks for watching.
A K6100 Country dreadnought. Offered between 1957-65.
good video man.thanks again jerry .
Thanks for commenting Stephen.
Thank you so much for this post.
You are welcome. Thanks for commenting.
Great video thank you for this !
You are very welcome. Thanks for watching.
Like the 10 min videos. I wonder if laying a strip of tape over the bead of glue would allow you to "press" the glue into a thin crack like this? Just an idea I might try if have the same issue come across my bench. Take care!
Good instruktions. Thank you!
Thanks for the comment.
I've found a tapered ream about 15 degrees with a "t" handle duplicates the angle of the bridge pin and opens up tight pin holes nicely.
I have one also now I don't think I did at the time of that video.
Have you ever tried a small rubber cup, like a small plumbers friend kind of thing. Poke a hole in it and pressurize it with compressed air over a freshly glued crack and use air pressure to force more glue into a crack? Just a thought.
You might try the suction cup trick to force the glue in the crack.
Thanks for watching and commenting Jim. I have used that on occasions. This one wasn't all that tough.
What kind of glue are you using? Thanks for video
very amusing!
What kind of glue do you use?
😄✌Very nice!!!
Thanks for the great advice. I have a Epiphone acoustic guitar master built about 13 years old. Cracked playing at the Camp fire one very cold night. Front was hot. Back was cold.
The back has about a 8” crack. Can I use this method? 🎸
It will probably work with that method. Of course you could always send it to me. LOL that is if you're willing to wait two or three months. LOL
Rosa String Works ever here of bridge doctor and Thompson belly reducer? My Harmony is in good shape but it is warped where bridge is causing action to be high but only frets further down neck. How do you usually repair belly near bridge? Think the Thomson belly reducer tool works good? I a, debating on if I should buy Thomson belly reducer and fix it or just leave it. It is pretty playble until you go way way down on neck.
I do think they will reduce the belly. However I'm not so sure about what the effect is on the sound. I've only seen one instrument that had one in it. It was new from the factory with one installed. I thought the sound on it was very muted. But I had no idea what it would have sounded like without it. Thanks for watching.
Rosa String Works I have a cheap Harmony when I got it top was separating had electrical tape on it. I removed the tape carefully put some glue in area where it was separating clamped it and it fixed it. I put Martin extra light strings on it can't believe how good it actually sound's for a cheap guitar.
Rosa String Works ever play a cheap guitar and been impressed that it sounds good for a cheap one?
Yeah actually that happens quite often. In fact those Austin guitars that I have sold on my website in the past. They're not presently listed there, are incredible guitars for only three hundred bucks including a case and including shipping. It's amazing. Thanks for watching.
I usually put some glue in a straw pinch the end and gently blow it in the crack by mouth.
Great stuff ! I had a thought .... I was wondering if you warmed up the glue by putting the bottle in a bowel of hot tap water , if that might help getting it to flow into cracks ...... Just a thought ...... Cheers
+jon caradies definitely not a bad idea. Thanks for watching.
very insightful video,I'm thinking of doing this myself but I'm just wondering what glue did you use?
Titebond or any quality wood glue will work. The secret is good glue coverage and good clamping and allow plenty of cure time. Good luck.
"Clarence White" those small sound holes, free of charge, for the benefit of customer and luthier repairperson.
Rosa String Works I saw a You-Tube video where guy had a old guitar with very high action warped neck. The guy sawed the heel area of neck with a razor saw sawing part of neck of where dove tail is. Then he glued it back on with a clamp. Action got lower. How would sawing the neck like that and gluing it and clamping it get the action lower?
Brian smith sounds a bit odd to me. I'd have to see that to understand it. Thanks for watching.
Rosa String Works Ever do a neck reset on a guitar with dowels? I have a guitar with dowels neck joint is very very loose coming of badly action is very high it has a none adjustable rod if I take neck off and clean joint and re-glue neck back on tight at right angle will that fix it? Because there are dowels no dove tail do I have to clamp or heat neck to fix neck or will just re gluing it at right angle fix it?
+Brian Smith yes the one I did was a dobro. The dowels were very short. I made them considerably longer and added a third dowel. Good luck.
Rosa String Works I just bought a Harmony guitar going to be working on it in future when I am done repairing my Silvertone guitar. The Harmony is purple someone got black marker on parts of it. What can I do to get black marker off the guitar?
Brian smith Ronnco lighter fluid. Easy on the finish (usually) but should remove the marker with some elbow grease. Good luck.
Rosa String Works what was the 1st guitar you ever repaired?
I have no idea. But when I was a young teenager, I decided that I didn't like the green gourd look of my little Silvertone electric guitar, so I painted it red. That's my first memory of any kind of modification. Thanks for taking a look.
I like your video
+paul c thank you very much.
I noticed you didn't put a cleat underneath. Are those always necessary?
John Puccia cleats are absolutely necessary when there is stress in the joint. In other words if you have to force it together or force it to line up then I always cleat it. If it lines up perfectly and it's a good clean joint then I don't necessarily clean it.
I got the same problem with an old trutone guitar someone gave me . Same split .same spot . However someone gluednan Oak 2x4 under the split ... AND ITS STILL SUNK IN !! ...
I am going to have a heck of a time getting that "cleat" off without a horrible tear out.. I made a tool out of a aluminum block to heat up that thick piece of wood .. hopefully he didn't use epoxy on it .. Or it will be a permanent wall hanger.. We'll see
Does this method only work on natural looking woods and finishes, or could it work on a cherry finish as well?
Yes, it should work on any kind of wood. The possible exception might be some very oily exotic wood.
Rosa String Works is there really such a thing called a hippie neck reset it is also called strap button neck reset?
Brian smith sorry, news to me. Thankxvfor watching.
Just wondering what oil u used to finish for covering the crack to make it look good?
I believe it was boiled linseed oil. My charge was to only repair the crack to make it structurally strong. The oil just made it look better. If I were trying to fix the finish, I would have used any one of several other methods.
no wonder a lot of those old k's have tore up bridge plates!!
do all cracks need the brace? I have a crack in my backpacker but it is still level with the rest of the body, unlike this one you repaired here. plus the body is so small it doesnt seem like a structural issue at the moment.
+FluffityAntelope I currently have the exact same issue. I'm here trying to figure out how to fix it. LOL
+Dominick Black good luck with it. The post in this case was for the top brace inside that was busted.
+Rosa String Works Thanks man. I'm thinking after watching the videos I can't fail. The crack isn't that bad on my little Martin backpacker guitar..... The trick with the dowel rod and the angle along with the base is greatly appreciated.
Rosa String Works can't heat get a warp out of a guitar neck?
Yes it is possible. But often the bend and or bow will come back.
i dropped my guitar and theres a small crack/splint on the body of the guitar. Its just nice on the outline of the body and the crack is 2cm. would it affect the sound and should i be concerned?
It looks like a surface crack to me
Its probably ok. Keep an eye on it, if it starts to change, get it repaired right away. Some cracks don't cause any real problems, others can weaken the structure or cause noise, e.g. buzz or rattle. Just watch it as long as you don't hear any problem or see any change, its probably not too critical.
alright. thanks alot!
Instead of white glue (I think you were using Titebond but can't be entirely sure) I've had real good luck fixing cracks with medium visco CA (cyanoacrylate) glue. It'll wick into a crack just nice. Get your dowel in place first, apply the CA to the crack using a razor blade edge to guide the glue flow (the thinnest bead does the trick) and it's cured and ready for finishing touch up in minutes.
I do that sometimes but I generally don't do it wher it's going to show because if you make a mistake, it's a big one. That glue can really do a number on the finish.
ImpossibleNunavutUnlikelyIqaluit how do I navigate your site
Hi ...um I just bought a guitar before one month ago and i found crack on top before few days .. i dont know how it happened ? could it happen by itself? is its possible to happen by itself if the wood guilty is bad and should i fix that crack because i dont think it effect on its sound .Plz i need your answer
Thanks for commenting. It is difficult to answer without seeing it. If the crack is "structural" then it needs to be fixed. If it is cosmetic, then it only needs to be fixed if it is affecting the sound by vibrating.
Thanks for commenting. It is difficult to answer without seeing it. If the crack is "structural" then it needs to be fixed. If it is cosmetic, then it only needs to be fixed if it is affecting the sound by vibrating.
Thank you ... what kind of glue is that ?.
TY
Daniel Scott Schiffer Titebond. I think that was actually Titebond III. I don't use that anymore. I only use Titebond original.
hey....pls help me...
the middle supporting wood stick inside the guitar has cracked...
pls tell me how should I fix it...
Ur reply would b hlpful...thanks
The top or the back?
+Rosa String Works probably better email me a picture. rosastringworks@gmail.com
On the back side (inside)
+Mahi Samvedi Can you send me a photo of the crack? rosastringworks@gmail.com
Ya sure sir......
Will send you after some time......
U can hide the surface cracks by SUPER GLUE tinique. IT would be better if u did it on that guitar:)
Thanks for commenting. I do use super glue on small knicks, it doesn't hide large cracks very well.
I was gonna do a dirty joke with one of the first things he said, while writing it he game me 20 more examples so I just gave up.
seems the tool you are missing is the hand of a small 10-yr old
Jerry, this is boiled linseed oil!
I would have - a. rolled up my shirt sleeve - b. glued the brace before gluing the top.
Thanks for commenting.
Rosa String Works
Id have saved the brace for last to allow me to flex that top around and make sure the top crack had glue in it. If the crack had opened up more, I would put in a splint patch on top. I am not a big fan of cleats under the top and using a violin type crack clamp to pull then closed. That just makes the top crack in another location, later on. I have a ladder braced 12 I am doing a brace repair on. I will put small chunks of carbon pulltruded fiber sheet on the brace so it won't split again. One large piece of carbon fiber will make the top too stiff and the guitar will sound really bright and glassy. A lot of bluegrass players like that sound, but, this is a 12 string.
Seth B Thanks for commenting. The two parts were in "stress" together. Lifting the brace lifted the top crack back into position. It was not difficult to coat all surfaces with glue and brace into position. It would have been more difficult to do it in two separate operations because of the tension between the two parts. Just like anything, there's always more than one way to skin a cat. Obviously, I chose the option that worked for me.
Got it.
I take pictures with my smart phone.....
Nothing personal, but I wouldn't let you touch my guitar with a 10-foot pole. You "Nervous-Nellied" so much that there has to be at least a dozen new dings in that poor guitar. I cringed with every "bang."
Sorry you feel that way. There were no dings. The camera is very sensitive and picks up all sounds.
Rosa String Works My apologies, then. I have a very good computer sound setup and it sounded like World War III kicking off here. I appreciate your tutorial. I recently put a dandy crack in the top of my Fender acoustic and will be taking it to my guitar man at Timeless Music here in Cleveland. I was just curious how it is done. Thanks for the video.