Cracked brace repair - what are your thoughts

[Mbroady]

Need some opinions from the experts, please. I have a line on a guitar that i been gassing for but it has a cracked brace. See pic.......is this a major concern or is it just a matter of gluing the brace. Once glued would it have an adverse effect on the sounds and what would one expect to pay for a repair.

Thanks

[mirwa]

It appears from photo, that is your x brace that has split,it is the main support for your guitar top.

You do not have many choices for repair, to replace a broken x brace is back off.

So with that knowledge in your head now, clean the area up, provide plenty of titebond glue into the void,clean excess glue up, clamp it and allow to dry for 2 days cold weater one day warm weather, fingers crossed it comes up good.

You could apply a graft over the top of the x notch or some more fibreglass tape etc additonally if you wanted too.

Steve

[Mbroady]

Originally Posted by mirwa

It appears from photo, that is your x brace that has split,it is the main support for your guitar top.

You do not have many choices for repair, to replace a broken x brace is back off.

So with that knowledge in your head now, clean the area up, provide plenty of titebond glue into the void,clean excess glue up, clamp it and allow to dry for 2 days cold weater one day warm weather, fingers crossed it comes up good.

You could apply a graft over the top of the x notch or some more fibreglass tape etc additonally if you wanted too.

Steve

Thanks for the response. Taking the back off is extreme. It is an auction guitar and so far the price is such that it might be worth the risk for a glue repair.

[phavriluk]

In order to preserve geometric integrity, maybe one of those turnbuckle-type expanding screw jacks that S-M sells could be put to use? And I surely would use a wood cap across the break.

[RoyBoy]

The severity of that crack suggests to me possibility of impact injury. Titebond and a C clamp should take care of that split (work the glue into all parts of the crack with a thin pallet knife before clamping). You really need to get inside that guitar with an inspection mirror and a light ti look for other damage. I hope it's a good deal and good luck.

[charles Tauber]

Originally Posted by phavriluk

In order to preserve geometric integrity

I'm not sure what that means.

maybe one of those turnbuckle-type expanding screw jacks that S-M sells could be put to use?

I bought one of those on a whim. I like it, but it isn't necessary. The old school approach of gently wedging a stick or two in place and gentle clamping across the sticks on the outside, works just as well, without the expense. But those are only needed where clamps won't reach through the sound hole. In this case, the cracked brace should be pretty easy to clamp with standard clamps through the sound hole.

It is an easy repair for those with experience.

And I surely would use a wood cap across the break.

The photo shows a piece of cloth, or similar, glued over the juncture of the braces. Obviously, it didn't do much to prevent the split. It would need to be removed to access bare wood to glue a wood cap. A wood cap is a nice-to-have, but probably isn't essential.


In short, if it is an instrument you want, at a price you want, I wouldn't let a simple repair prevent you from purchasing it. That assumes nothing else is wrong with it.

[Mbroady]

Originally Posted by charles Tauber

In short, if it is an instrument you want, at a price you want, I wouldn't let a simple repair prevent you from purchasing it. That assumes nothing else is wrong with it.

thanks for the input. From your experience does a repair like this have any noticeable impact on the sound of the instrument?