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Joined:
August 2004
Posts: 604
Location: Tampa, FL | I have found myself with an a 1981 Legend (A bracing, very interesting boomy tone) that has a cracked top. I also have a 70's Balladeer with finish cracks. So here's my question. Is there a compelling reason to fix either. For these guys, cosmetics are pretty much out of the question, so if I don't do anything for these guitars am I risking that they will deteriorate further. Neither the top crack or the finish cracks seem to be recent. |
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Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 15664
Location: SoCal | Finish cracks are purely cosmetic. Wood cracks, if stable, aren't a problem. If you can feel the top move when you press on them, then you'll need to get the guitar looked at by an expert. |
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Joined:
August 2004
Posts: 604
Location: Tampa, FL | If I press on the for real crack I don't feel any movement at all until the splintering sound starts :eek: just kidding. I think it's pretty stable. For $100 I think I'll consider this a test case.
Thanks Paul, you're making an 80's legend believer out of me. |
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Joined:
May 2003
Posts: 4389
Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | At $100, even after paying for repairs, if needed, you're getting a bargain. In NYC you couldn't touch that for less than $450.00. |
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Joined:
September 2003
Posts: 782
Location: Waurika OK | I am not a "its gotta look perfect" guy, so a finish crack or even a wood crack is not a big deal for me. Although I won't spend much money in buying a guitar with a problem.
I have had two with wood splits in the top, an 1866 and a 1613. Had the splits stablized just to keep them from going any further. I would suggest you think about doing that.
Of course the guy who does my repair work is very reasonable $100 on the 1866 because he had to take the bridge off and $30 for the classical. |
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Joined:
December 2003
Posts: 1071
Location: Carle Place, NY | I have an '81 1619 CL with a through the wood crack that goes from the bottom of the bridge to the bottom of the guitar, along the grain. I filled the crack in with super glue. The guitar also has several very minor finish cracks. This is my personal favorite guitar. It sounds great, plays great and appears to be very stable.
I don't think that a professional fix is really worth it, particularly if you can live the the cosmetic issues. |
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Cracked tops (not crack pots)