Replacing top, feasible? And guide for it

[brianli408]

Recently, I saw a potential guitar on second hand market with a very low price. Yet, it has a torned top that is unrepairable. I would like to make use of this guitar for sharpening my craftmentship. Nonetheless, I am interested to fix the guitar, so here's my plan:
1.remove the neck
2.remove the top
2.go buy a top and copy the layout of the original one
3.glue everything back together
Wondering would it be work, I am a strong interest on this project.
I have no experience on making a top. However, my local luthier friend would gonna help me out.
All in all, is it really work?

[mirwa]

Definetly IMO not a new to the scene job for a person to tackle, but

Sent you a pm showing step by step.

Steve

[Rodger Knox]

I have to agree with Steve, there's a high level of difficulty with that repair. It is possible, there's a procedure shown in a recent GAL magazine showing how to route out the top and any purfling, but salvage the binding. I've got a guitar that has to be retopped, and I don't think I'm going to try it, and I've built over 20 guitars since 1999. On the other hand, in a newbie's first build thread here or on a luthiers forum he screwed up the top at final sanding before finish. He not only tried it, he executed it very nicely. There were a few thick spots in the glue line, but not really visually obvious.

[redir]

This is the method I have been doing for many years now, just did it twice last month but this kind of job doesn't come to often.

It's really not as hard as it looks imho and if you follow these steps then probably the hardest thing will be removing the neck.

http://www.grevenguitars.com/retopping-demo.html

[Rodger Knox]

Originally Posted by redir

This is the method I have been doing for many years now, just did it twice last month but this kind of job doesn't come to often.

It's really not as hard as it looks imho and if you follow these steps then probably the hardest thing will be removing the neck.

http://www.grevenguitars.com/retopping-demo.html

That's exactly the procedure to which I was referring.

[brianli408]

Thanks all, the information are very useful fir me.

[mirwa]

Originally Posted by brianli408

Thanks all, the information are very useful fir me.

The link I sent has 5 pages and 60 photos showing step by step on how I do it, plus links to sub groups like making rosettes again.

Its not hard, just methodical and not for the faint of heart

One of the steps

[printer2]

Originally Posted by mirwa

The link I sent has 5 pages and 60 photos showing step by step on how I do it, plus links to sub groups like making rosettes again.

Its not hard, just methodical and not for the faint of heart

One of the steps

Well that still looks fixable.

[mirwa]

Originally Posted by printer2

Well that still looks fixable.

Want a job, that is the attitude people need

Steve

[printer2]

Originally Posted by mirwa

Want a job, that is the attitude people need

Steve

I used to work for an aerospace parts manufacturer in their test lab and at times special requests would be made of us. The senior electronics tech would say, 'We can't do it we don't have the equipment or the time', but I would think about it and say to myself, we have these limitations so how would we get it done if we had to. And next thing you know is we are working on a cool project. Pulled a rabbit out of a hat a few times, we always managed to get the job done. It is fun to stretch yourselves sometimes.

Oh and thanks for the job offer but that would mean moving and I have too much junk to get rid of especially since it took so long to acquire it all.

[brianli408]

Back to the topic, now I have trouble on building a building a brace clamping system. I have never made that, any guide in building it?

[mirwa]

Originally Posted by brianli408

Back to the topic, now I have trouble on building a building a brace clamping system. I have never made that, any guide in building it?

What do you mean by brace clamping system?

1 - A deck to hold braces against a top whilst drying
2 - A system of clamping two joined pieces of wood together for top manufacture
3 - A clamping fixture for creating a shaped brace.

Steve

[brianli408]

Originally Posted by mirwa

What do you mean by brace clamping system?

1 - A deck to hold braces against a top whilst drying
2 - A system of clamping two joined pieces of wood together for top manufacture
3 - A clamping fixture for creating a shaped brace.

Steve

Yes the first one

[mirwa]

Go bar deck is really not required, find a nice work table with a lower and upper shelf, put heavy items on the upper shelf and then use that upper shelf to lever against from the underside.

Press arms can be simple wood dowelling from local hardware store or fibreglass rods from a camping store or all manners of things.

Goal is to do it as cheap as you can unless you intend to do more guitars, then if that is so, splash the cash and set yourself up.

Steve

[brianli408]

Originally Posted by mirwa

Go bar deck is really not required, find a nice work table with a lower and upper shelf, put heavy items on the upper shelf and then use that upper shelf to lever against from the underside.

Press arms can be simple wood dowelling from local hardware store or fibreglass rods from a camping store or all manners of things.

Goal is to do it as cheap as you can unless you intend to do more guitars, then if that is so, splash the cash and set yourself up.

Steve

Nice, I get a coffee table with two shelfs at home and going to use it for this. I will check out the rods in the stores, thanks for tip to cut down the cost.