Finish Crack - 2011 Taylor 814ce
 

Can a finish crack on the top of a 2010 (thread heading year is incorrect) Taylor 814ce be repaired without refinishing the guitar? The crack runs straight down the center of the top from the bridge to the end plate. This is a guitar I am considering purchasing and have not seen in person. The pictures of the inside of the top do not display any indication of a crack.

Taylor uses UV cured polyester finish which requires specialized equipment to work with.

I have used CA to repair TINY finish cracks issues, including cracks on Taylor finishes but I wouldn't use it on such a big sounding crack.

That crack you described is the classic dehydration crack and the most common crack. There was possibly a shrinking of the wood which split and cracked the finish, then swelled back, making the crack appear closed.

fazool,
Your explanation makes perfect sense. Based on that if I buy the guitar I’ll have to take it into consideration and live with the finish crack if I buy it.

Are you sure its a surface finish crack and not top separation

Steve

Mirwa said what I meant:D

Bwahaha, nope you had it right. As always, I am in my own world, not reading fully other peoples responses. :D, whoops...

Steve

Yes it can be repaired. If it cracked due to dehydration, it can be cleated from inside and should be stable forever as long as it is properly hydrated. If it does not go through then likely keeping the hydration stable and it won't reopen or worsen.

Just for grins I contacted Taylor and they quoted $200-$300 for the finish repair which I would gladly pay. The only problem would be the additional $200+ in shipping both ways.

In 34 years of full-time guitar repair, I have not seen the first body crack on a solid wood guitar that did not go all the way through. The wood is simply too thin and fragile. Cracks are more visible on the outside, due to the shiny finish and better lighting.

They are the leaders of UV finishing, I would give it serious thought, their after sales repair department is second to no one.

Steve

Where are you located? I do UV finish work with the same materials as Taylor.

If you buy it, use an eye dropper and apply some iso-propyl alcohol to the "crack", if its a through crack, you will see wetness appearing on the inside of the guitar, if nothing appears, its simply a finish crack and not structural in any way.

Steve