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  #1  
Old 03-30-2019, 10:45 AM
GoneTroppo GoneTroppo is offline
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Default Lifting Top Repair Advice

Hey there folks,

I have an old Yamaha jumbo that took a pretty bad knock on the bass side of the lower bout. Impact must have been on the corner where the top meets the side because a 5cm piece of kerfing was found loose in the guitar and some of the kerfing next to the missing piece is lifting as well.

The result is that the top is lifting away from the side over about 10cm near the point of impact.

My question is what is the best method of repair for something like this. It seems like it will be awkward to glue the kerfing to both the top and side simultaneously, and I'm really not keen on taking off the top or the back completely to get in there...

Finally, it looks like the fretboard is also lifting from the neck. What would be the recommended fix here?

Thanks in advance!













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Last edited by GoneTroppo; 03-30-2019 at 11:15 AM. Reason: Added pictures
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  #2  
Old 03-30-2019, 12:17 PM
JonWint JonWint is offline
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I'm not an experienced luthier. However, I do possess some common sense.

I would do a dry-run clamping/strapping trial. Convince yourself that all gaps can be closed up in one operation before you go to the next step. If you are not successful in closing all gaps: Stop, do not proceed.

Apply glue to all wood surfaces (inside and outside) to be reconnected: attached kerfed-lining to top; top crack surfaces; etc. Use fish glue or liquid hide glue or Titebond Orig. (assuming you don't use HHG).

Apply clamps/straps/binding. Place detached lining into position. Hold with tape or gravity.

Let wood glue set. Leave clamps in place. Use thin CA glue to adhere binding to binding, binding to wood. Do sections if required and reposition clamps/strapping if necessary.

After glue is cured, repair finish if desired.

Fret board fix? Glue.
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  #3  
Old 03-30-2019, 08:10 PM
mirwa mirwa is offline
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Easy repair, get a coffee machine with steamer attachment and steam all the crud out of the join, the wood getting wet is beneficial in this instance.

Let the guitar dry for a day, plenty of titebond and a big elastic band, wrap the band around the body to pull the side in, apply some flat clamps like irwins around the perimeter to flatten the area in question.

Get a small offcut of kerfing and use superglue gel in this instance, the gel allows you to use hand pressure for 1 mi ute and achieve sufficent bong

Scrape the top flat in the area with a razor blade and then lacquer as required.

I have one to two of these every week, really not a hard one, just a process orientated repair


Fretboard, steam it as well, push some titebond in with your finger and apply a couple of clamps over night

Steve
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Old 03-31-2019, 03:39 AM
Aden Aden is offline
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Those old Yammies are great guitars, worth fixing up for sure! Good luck!
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Old 03-31-2019, 04:11 AM
Aden Aden is offline
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Double post - deleted...

Last edited by Aden; 03-31-2019 at 04:21 AM. Reason: Double post - deleted
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  #6  
Old 03-31-2019, 04:18 AM
GoneTroppo GoneTroppo is offline
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Thanks for the replies so far folks!

Quote:
Originally Posted by mirwa View Post
Easy repair, get a coffee machine with steamer attachment and steam all the crud out of the join, the wood getting wet is beneficial in this instance.
Do you use the steamer attachment from the outside on the join as opposed to from inside the box?

Does this process not melt the glue that is close to the join?

What do you use to clean out the gunk and old glue?

I'm going to have to work up the confidence to do the neccessary but it seems doable if I work nice and slow...
__________________

1966 Epiphone FT79N Texan
1970 Yamaha FG-180
1976 Guild D55
1986 Martin D16m
1996 Guild JF30-12
2009 Guild D40 Bluegrass Jubilee
2020 Epiphone FT79 Texan
and a couple others...
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  #7  
Old 03-31-2019, 06:01 AM
mirwa mirwa is offline
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Yes steamer attachment steaming from outside, it will wash and remove the dirt, wipe clean, glue away
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