Advice on damaged guitar

dutopia · 31-05-2012 08:13PM #1

I have a lovely Washburn WD10SCE guitar which has been damaged. A gust of wind through my bedroom window was enough to catch the guitar and have it come crashing off its stand and crack the neck.

I was looking around at some websites that offers repairs but have been quoted up to €200 to have it repaired! That's almost the cost of the guitar brand new. Do you have any suggestions on how to repair it myself or can you recommend anyone who may be able to do the job for less?

I have included a picture of the damage.

Thanks!

Gaspode · 31-05-2012 08:37PM

There's a fair bit of work in fixing that so €200 seems about right. I had a similar break in a guitar a year or 2 ago, and got it fixed at archtop.ie , did a great job and saved the guitar.

I guess it depends on how much you value the guitar, mine had great sentimental value more than actual monetary value so I was happy to shell out the few bob to get it back.

martinedwards · 31-05-2012 09:56PM

you sure it's not a gibson?

they're notorious for this!!

I've fixed several breaks like this, some of them much worse, with the head completely off.

to me, and I stress ME, thats a 15 minute fix. there are no missing pieces, so just get some regular white wood glue from your local DIY store, work it well into the break then clamp it well.

you'll need some cauls (sacrificial pieces of soft wood between the clamp jaws and the wood of the neck) to protect the neck from the clamp and take up any slack.

wipe off any squeeze out with a damp cloth.

leave it 24 hours to dry.

a wee buff with fine sandpaper and you're good to go.

if it was a Lowden or something worth SERIOUS money I'd take it to a pro and spend the 200 Euro.... but for a guitar that isn't financially worth that anyway? bearing in mind that you can get a new one for £200 inc post on ebay tonight?

no chance!

balducci · 31-05-2012 09:59PM

Hi dutopia, bad luck there. I did a similar repair for a friend of mine on a 12 string acoustic about 2 years ago with polymite - which claims to be stronger than the wood itself. The guitar is still going strong although there is a visible crack on the back of the neck. This wood glue plus a clamp will fix it, the crack shouldn't effect your playing as it is to far up the headstock but you might want to check that yourself.

A good luthier will use wood glue and dowels and will then have to put a finish on the crack like in this video from John himself

http://www.archtop.ie/repairs/aria.html

The work he puts in here is easily worth €200 and your guitar will be handed back to you better than ever but if you don't have the money, polymite and a clamp will do the job and the crack shouldn't effect your playing

slavetothegrind · 31-05-2012 10:00PM

have to say martin great to have you on here!

now i'm putting my explorer in it's case....:eek:

balducci · 31-05-2012 10:00PM

got there just before me Martin

Demeyes · 31-05-2012 11:06PM

As was already said that looks like a fairly doable fix if you are anyway good with your hands. Some clue and some clamping and you'll have a good strong bond. The hardest part would be cleaning up the join after without it looking too bad. Personally I'd sand the finish off and tru oil the whole neck so it's consistent and it's pretty easy to do yourself.

Malice · 01-06-2012 07:12AM

martinedwards summed up what I was going to write. The key is that the guitar is barely worth the repair price. I'd say definitely repair it yourself.

martinedwards · 01-06-2012 08:27AM

Malice wrote: »

martinedwards summed up what I was going to write.

Yay!!! maybe I DO know what I'm talking about!!

The key is that the guitar is barely worth the repair price.

Financially.

many of us have real attachment to instruments and cant imagine being without them.

I have a mid 80s encore coaster that cost me about £40 in 89. I've spent maybe £400 in mods on it over the years and I love it to bits!!!!

I'd say definitely repair it yourself

Me too!!

Malice · 01-06-2012 09:44AM

martinedwards wrote: »

Yay!!! maybe I DO know what I'm talking about!!

Or we could both be wrong

.

martinedwards wrote:

Financially.

That's a very good point actually. I've got a Squier Precision bass that I haven't played in years but I can't bring myself to get rid of it as it's got sentimental value due to it being my first half-way decent guitar. If it got damaged in an accident I'd definitely get it repaired even if the cost would be as much as a new guitar of the same type.

Doc_Savage · 01-06-2012 10:25AM

if you can get lumberjack glue then that'll make it incredibly strong.... i've only seen it for sale in trade timberyards.. but it is brilliant stuff!

everything else said before me is spot on! just thought i'd recommend that glue!

martinedwards · 01-06-2012 12:35PM

depends on which of the lumberjack glues you're talking about.....

it's a brand name that covers a whole family of adhesives.

PVA (regular white glue) is what most guitar manufacturers use. (OK, some still use animal glue, but it's specialist and very smelly!

dutopia · 02-06-2012 10:42PM

Sorry for the late reply. Brilliant suggestions, thanks to all who replied. I wasn't sure if any wood glue would be up for he task but I'll try your suggestion of using it and fixing it for 24 hours with a clamp. It just isn't worth a few hundred Euros so if the fix doesn't work I'll buy a new guitar.

Thanks again - great ideas.

dutopia · 19-06-2012 12:59PM

Just to report back in case anyone is interested.

I used the wood glue method and it worked perfectly.

The guitar head is very solid. I restrung it and it sounds good!

martinedwards · 19-06-2012 01:59PM

yay!!

Malice · 19-06-2012 09:07PM

Glad it worked out!

Advice on damaged guitar

Comments