#1
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Severe finish bubbling
Hi all, I recently acquired this Epiphone EL00. Sweet little guitar, but it has a doozy of a finish issue around the bridge.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/147703...posted-public/ https://www.flickr.com/photos/147703...posted-public/ https://www.flickr.com/photos/147703...posted-public/ https://www.flickr.com/photos/147703...posted-public/ Does anyone know what causes this, and how would you go about repairing it? Thanks
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Maton M225 Cole Clark Angel Cole Clark Little Lady Martin 000-15M Taylor GS Mini |
#2
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You haven't provided sufficient information about the situation. Why is the bridge off in one of the photos? Did you remove it? Is it a photo from someone else who did repair work, such as regluing the bridge?
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#3
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The bridge was hanging on by a thread when I received it so I removed it completely. Nobody has attempted any repairs on it
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Maton M225 Cole Clark Angel Cole Clark Little Lady Martin 000-15M Taylor GS Mini |
#4
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That does not look like finish has lifted from the photo, but more like someone has applied lots of superglue around the bridge to try and hold it down.
Really hard to assess with the photo, unusure exactly what that layer build up is. Steve
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Cole Clark Fat Lady Gretsch Electromatic Martin CEO7 Maton Messiah Taylor 814CE |
#5
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I was guessing epoxy, noting the bare wood area next to the bridge beneath the epoxy/finish.
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#6
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It's a bit hard to see in the pictures but it's definitely the finish above and below the bridge that has bubbled and lifted. I assume that no one has attempt to repair it because it's new (factory 2nd).
And also the 'glue' underneath the bridge (no evidence of any glue on the guitar top itself) is a coloured stain that matches the color of the rest of the top, the dark brown. It's as if they stained and finished the top, then attached the bridge afterwards, on top of the finish not bare wood. And when the bridge has come off, the stain and finish came with it. Could this be?
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Maton M225 Cole Clark Angel Cole Clark Little Lady Martin 000-15M Taylor GS Mini |
#7
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I was able to zoom in on one of the pictures, originally it looked like you have some form of build up happening.
I can see in the picture the finish has lifted and curled at the point of bridge contact, I suspect they sprayed the paint up to and onto the bridge, so when the bridge filled, it lifted the finish all the way around it. Not an easy repair, you need to clean / sand / stain / colour match and refinish the top, or accept it the way it is and simply glue the bridge back on. Steve
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Cole Clark Fat Lady Gretsch Electromatic Martin CEO7 Maton Messiah Taylor 814CE |
#8
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Quote:
The finish is raised on the soundhole side because the bridge scooted forward when it came loose. This usually happens when the guitar is overheated. It may be possible to stick the finish back down with thin super glue, but you probably want to heat the finish to make it pliable. Otherwise, it could crack when you press it back down. |
#9
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I see, that makes a lot of sense.
Since it's a relatively cheap guitar, I'll try the easy way first. Super helpful as usual everyone, much appreciated thank you
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Maton M225 Cole Clark Angel Cole Clark Little Lady Martin 000-15M Taylor GS Mini |
#10
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Sorry about that construction defect. Everytime I start thinking that Epi has its processes really dialed in, some abomination like this shows up. It's a very hard spot to restore cosmetically and functionally. I would probably use thin CA to try to reattach any peeling finish (yeesh!) and then carefully sand the area back to flat, to the degree possible, and polish it in, before reattaching the bridge. (Mask the bridge footprint to keep the bare wood clean.) CA blends and polishes in pretty well with most gloss finishes. Many of us enjoy repair challenges. This is a tough one. Good luck.
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#11
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In case anyone is interested: I ended up heating the lifted finish, squeezing some thin CA under there and clamping it down flat one little section at a time.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/147703...posted-public/ https://www.flickr.com/photos/147703...posted-public/ https://www.flickr.com/photos/147703...posted-public/ I'm pretty happy with the end result. Its not perfect, but it's sure an improvement and the finish is secure again. Now I have to address the bare section in the corner... not so easy
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Maton M225 Cole Clark Angel Cole Clark Little Lady Martin 000-15M Taylor GS Mini |
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Tags |
bubble, epiphone el-00, finish, poly-finish, repair |
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