Whats the best way to fix this guitar

[mjob]

Hi all new to the forum, 1st post. I bought this guitar for $10 from the local scrapper here in my apartment community. (someone must have put it in the trash bin)(I guess it was probably stored in 1 of the un-airconditioned garages in 100 plus heat here in Texas)

Anyway, as you can see from the pictures that the neck has partially come apart from the body. When I took the strings off the gap closed up a bit. Other than that it's in great shape. I know it's not a high quality guitar, but new for $189 on Amazon, I figure it may be worth fixing. I'm not a luthier at all, but I plunk around on my guitars regularly. I've been a handyman for more than a 1/4 century so I'm pretty handy and have tools/clamps etc.

So, what's the best way and what glue should I use to make this playable again? Should I attempt to take the neck all the way off and start over, or squeeze some glue in and clamp it down.
Thanks,
Matt

https://imgur.com/TmobPCE
https://imgur.com/aYAs4Tt
https://imgur.com/KUl1bR7
https://imgur.com/jmzXdUH
https://imgur.com/U9dr7j2
https://imgur.com/gU0rmDR

[mirwa]

squeeze some titebond glue into all the gaps and some clamps, fingers crossed all is good

Steve

[runamuck]

My experience with Titebond, or any aliphetic resin glue. is that it's good for bare wood but not in joints under stress that have been glued before - unless the glue is first entirely removed.

Because this is an inexpensive guitar and because you are not a luthier and not advised for you to remove the neck to clean the joints, I'd recommend epoxy under light clamping pressure. Do a dry run first, making sure that when the clamps are applied the neck is exactly where you want it to be. Don't use the 5 minute type as it becomes quite soft as it ages and oxidizes.

And BTW - it would be rare for me recommend epoxy for a neck joint because it would be next to impossible to take it apart and so there's a real risk here. But considering all the variables, I think it's your best bet.

[_zedagive]

Not sure but made the mistake of hitting "Next Post" when viewing the first photo link.

[Edgar Poe]

Originally Posted by runamuck

My experience with Titebond, or any aliphetic resin glue. is that it's good for bare wood but not in joints under stress that have been glued before - unless the glue is first entirely removed.

Because this is an inexpensive guitar and because you are not a luthier and not advised for you to remove the neck to clean the joints, I'd recommend epoxy under light clamping pressure. Do a dry run first, making sure that when the clamps are applied the neck is exactly where you want it to be. Don't use the 5 minute type as it becomes quite soft as it ages and oxidizes.

And BTW - it would be rare for me recommend epoxy for a neck joint because it would be next to impossible to take it apart and so there's a real risk here. But considering all the variables, I think it's your best bet.

I tend to agree with the above.
First though I might ask a luthier how much to reglue the joint. It may not be too much. Explain it's just a beginner guitar, and just to hold it in proper place.

Ed

[Talldad]

Call me grumpy but for a $10 guitar, I would drill a 1/4" hole, plug it with a dowel, stick glue everywhere, finish it off nicely and enjoy the pleasure of bargain.

There are many more elegant solutions but all of them involve paying a skilled professional far in excess of the value of the guitar.

[M Hayden]

Drill a hole into the heel and use a wood screw to hold it in place, with a little glue?