MIMF

I suppose this happens to many once word gets around that you are setting up to make instruments. A friend sent me this photo asking if I would be interested in fixing it. I've never done a repair like that and I'm inclined to decline the request. I certainly have the glue, clamps, and theoretical knowledge to do it, but I lack the experience. What do you experienced repair folks think? Should I?
Thanks,

-Eric

It's a long break so it should glue up easily and will be quite strong when done.

Barry Daniels wrote: ↑Thu Apr 22, 2021 2:43 pm It's a long break so it should glue up easily and will be quite strong when done.

Thanks, that makes me think I might want to take it on. What glue would you use?

-Eric

Since you are new to this repair stuff I would recommend you use Titebond Original Wood Glue, but that is assuming that you can get the crack to close up completely.

Barry Daniels wrote: ↑Thu Apr 22, 2021 8:00 pm Since you are new to this repair stuff I would recommend you use Titebond Original Wood Glue, but that is assuming that you can get the crack to close up completely.

Thanks, Barry. I'll recommend he take it to a repair place first if he can find one. I'll look at it if he needs me to.

-Eric

Eric Knapp wrote: ↑Fri Apr 23, 2021 1:47 pm

Barry Daniels wrote: ↑Thu Apr 22, 2021 8:00 pm Since you are new to this repair stuff I would recommend you use Titebond Original Wood Glue, but that is assuming that you can get the crack to close up completely.

Thanks, Barry. I'll recommend he take it to a repair place first if he can find one. I'll look at it if he needs me to.

-Eric

Hi Eric,
Not all repair places are created equal. Years ago my father took his guitar to a " music store luthier repair person" with a cracked peghead and it returned with a bolt quite visibly screwing it together. A simple glue up would have been a much better repair. Often an interested amateur can do better than a lackluster "professional".
Personally, I would use hot hide glue for that repair as it can seep into small cracks better than Titebond, but Titebond is more forgiving with a longer open time and somewhat easier to use. As Barry said it is a long break (almost like a scarf joint) and gluing it up without any other reinforcement should make a strong repair.

Like Clay, my experience with music store "repairmen" is very sketchy and I would not recommend someone go that route blindly.

Thanks, Clay and Barry. I will pass this on to my friend. I don't have much desire to start a repair practice so I'll be very cautious about taking them on. Maybe I'll do some for a few friends only.

-Eric

Speaking as a "music store repairman," I've also had my fair share of cleaning up a job after an 'interested amateur' in his garage with a router and some epoxy.
There are plenty of good repairmen inside music stores and working out of their own shops. They also both have plenty of hacks. Do your research, get referrals, test the guy out. People have brought me small, easy jobs at first and then when they saw I was capable they bring me their more precious instruments and difficult jobs. You build a reputation and earn trust by consistently doing a good job.

I know this is late but that does look like a fairly simple repair with HHg. as long as it was trauma that caused it. it looks a little suspect of a flaw in the neck wood.