Should I attempt a minor repair (I've never done any before)

[QuasarInTheMist]

I recently noticed that the edge of my guitar where the face connects to the side is starting to separate. The crack is about 4 inches long and is just wide enough to fit a quarter. Where it is cracked the face is lifting slightly, also about as much as a quarter's thickness.

Can I did this with some glue and applying the right pressure, or should I get a professional to repair it?

Also, does anyone know what causes this sort of thing and how I may prevent it in the future? A few months ago I got a wall mount and I've been keeping it hanging there. Could it be that it gets drier in the winter and having it in the open is bad for it?

Thanks for your help!

[ChrisN]

Unless you're already a handy woodworking guy, I'd leave that one to a pro, and I do a fair amount of my own stuff. You could screw it up, make the sound worse, etc.

[mirwa]

Is it a Martin with Laminate top?

Steve

[HHP]

A gunsmith I used to go to had his rates posted above the counter.

"$25.00 an hour plus parts

$50.00 an hour plus parts if you tried to fix it first"

[LouieAtienza]

I'd say depending on the value of the instrument. A pre war 000-45? Maybe not. A GC $129 Mitchell? Why not? Anything in between depends on your skills...

[QuasarInTheMist]

It's an Ibanez acoustic-electric that cost me about $500 at the time. I've had it for about 12 years now and had it worked on only once to fix a warning neck and fix some frets. I'll see if I can post a few pictures of the crack.

[QuasarInTheMist]

https://imgur.com/a/hckHa

Some photos of it here if anyone cares to weigh in. Any guesses as to how much I might have to pay for a pro to do it?

[HHP]

Originally Posted by QuasarInTheMist

https://imgur.com/a/hckHa

Some photos of it here if anyone cares to weigh in. Any guesses as to how much I might have to pay for a pro to do it?

Looks like a job that could get very sloppy very fast. Are you sure there is no internal damage?

[runamuck]

After looking at the photos I'd say take it to a pro. I think possibly there's more going on there than meets the eye.

[charles Tauber]

Do you use an in-guitar humidifier?

[John Arnold]

Looks like the guitar has been overhumidified. This is not a difficult repair if the crack can be closed. The easiest way to close it is with masking tape. Do a dry run (no glue), using long strips (approx. 10") of quality masking tape. Attach the tape on the side first, then pull on the loose end while pressing the crack closed. Stick it down. Use several pieces of tape, overlapping them if necessary. If you can close the crack completely by this method, then repeat with glue. Use Titebond Original (not Titebond II or III), smearing it on the whole open crack. Be generous. It doesn't matter if it is messy because it can be cleaned up. The main thing is to make sure that glue penetrates the affected area completely. Wipe up the excess and start taping. Any squeeze out can be cleaned up later. Let it dry thoroughly (overnight is best), then remove the tape. Dried glue can be cleaned off with warm water and a rag or a paper towel.

[mirwa]

I find it best, to at least try and clean some of the old glue out before putting new glue in, be that with sandpaper on a spatula or even with steam and try to clean it up.

Steve

[fazool]

The wood look sdistorted and I also thought it looked over humidified.

Get the humidity corrected first, before trying to close the gap.

The wood needs to return to proper shape before fixing.

[phavriluk]

The only person who knows what's best to do is the professional the guitar is brought to for repair. A skilled and experienced person won't make the job bigger than it has to be.

[Big Band Guitar]

Looks to me like it dried out too much.