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Joined:
November 2006
Posts: 217
Location: Snåsa, Norway | My 1619-4 has a crack in the top about 10 cm long close to the fretboard on the first string side. It's completely closed, and I see that there's a brace across the top above the soundhole. The guitar seems to be stable after a long rest (10 months) in the case with loose strings and a humidifier. Is it necessary to glue this crack, and has anyone experience with this kind of repair? Can I do it myself (luthiers aren't hanging on the trees around here)? I fell immediately in love with the sound of this guitar when I got it on my lap in 1988, and really want to keep it going for a long time still! |
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August 2006
Posts: 2804
Location: ranson,wva | cYa aka superglue...does wonders..jason |
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Joined:
May 2003
Posts: 4389
Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | So ... it was the crack giving the dull sound after all! |
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Joined:
November 2006
Posts: 217
Location: Snåsa, Norway | Originally posted by an4340:
So ... it was the crack giving the dull sound after all! I'm not really sure about that, the sound seems to have improved after a little playing. Maybe my ears was to critical in the first place, or maybe the top needed some playing. My concern is really about if the top will be structurally stable with the crack not repaired. |
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March 2005
Posts: 12759
Location: Boise, Idaho | It should be fine. I have similar cracks on both sides of my 1624. The prior owner said they had been there since the 70s. I've seen a few other similar cracks and my 87 Collector's has a nasty one at an angle under the base of the neck. My theory is that the necks get hit or stressed and the force cracks the finish where the neck meets the body. If it is just in the finish, it shouldn't effect the structure.
You may have to dilute the superglue to get it into the crack and then use the thinner to wipe off the top. |
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Joined:
May 2003
Posts: 4389
Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | There are different ways to glue it. If its a very hairline crack, use stew mac thin glue. Put a piece of tape on either side of the crack, on the top and then put in the glue. Don't overfill the crack. The thin stuff will be drawn into the crack by capilarry action. dry. Then buff with meguires' x.
If the crack is a little more wobbly, but still touching, make some hide glue (gelatin and water) put tape on the inside to pull the crack together, put on the glue, wipe it off, put on the masking tape to hold it together.
A bigger crack with no touching you need a pro with tools. |
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Joined:
May 2003
Posts: 4389
Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | I just re-read your thing, is the crack in the finish, or in the top. If it's just in the finish it won't affect your sound, and you can stabilize with a little stew mac thin super glue. |
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Joined:
August 2006
Posts: 2804
Location: ranson,wva | i repaied several bad cracks in a balladeer with cYa,veneer on the underside of the soundboard, and a lot time with various grit paper,finish with a good coat or meguires goldclass..worked for me..jason |
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Joined:
November 2006
Posts: 217
Location: Snåsa, Norway | I was going to glue up the crack in my guitar last night, but when I used a mirror and a torchlight and examined the top from the inside, there was no crack in the top, it's only in the finish. |
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Joined:
February 2002
Posts: 1817
Location: Minden, Nebraska | These finish cracks are common on Ovations, and tend to be quite stable over time. |
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Crack in top
