Can you help me out?

[jklotz]

This is my 1999 Lowden O25c, cedar top. I got it used a few years ago. Most of the damage (see pic) was already there when I go it, but I've just noticed I'm adding to it. It's getting worse. I'm trying to analyze my technique to see when my acrylic nails hit the soundboard, but beyond that, any way to protect it and keep it from getting worse?

[Wade Hampton]

The damage on your guitar is worse than what I inflicted on my 000-42, but what my guitar repairman did on that instrument is paint some Superglue on the “excavated” areas - he used a more liquid form of the Superglue, one that was more viscous than the standard stuff.

Doing that won’t replace the wood that’s been removed from the edge of the soundhole, obviously, but it’ll prevent further damage. My repairman did that repair on my guitar more than twenty years ago now, but it’s still holding up just fine.

Hope this helps.


Wade Hampton Miller

[bufflehead]

Oh the heartbreak of a cedar top!

My inclination would be to let it go, hoping that the damage will stay on the inside of the rosette. One sees a lot of guitars with similar damage, and you'll spend a lot more repairing it than you'll ever regain in improved resale value.

I could be wrong, of course, and a superglue fix such as Wade suggests would go a long way toward containing the damage.

[jklotz]

Originally Posted by Wade Hampton

The damage on your guitar is worse than what I inflicted on my 000-42, but what my guitar repairman did on that instrument is paint some Superglue on the “excavated” areas - he used a more liquid form of the Superglue, one that was more viscous than the standard stuff.

Doing that won’t replace the wood that’s been removed from the edge of the soundhole, obviously, but it’ll prevent further damage. My repairman did that repair on my guitar more than twenty years ago now, but it’s still holding up just fine.

Hope this helps.


Wade Hampton Miller

Thanks Wade, I'll have my tech take a look at it. Sounds like that may be a sound way to go. I think part of the problem is the guitar is old and may be getting close to needing a neck reset, as the strings are pretty close to the top now.

[jklotz]

Originally Posted by bufflehead

Oh the heartbreak of a cedar top!

My inclination would be to let it go, hoping that the damage will stay on the inside of the rosette. One sees a lot of guitars with similar damage, and you'll spend a lot more repairing it than you'll ever regain in improved resale value.

I could be wrong, of course, and a superglue fix such as Wade suggests would go a long way toward containing the damage.

It should stay inside of the rosette. The clear pickguard covers the rest.

[hermithollow]

Actually that would not be too difficult of a repair, and would be fairy inconspicuous if the right piece of cedar is used and a little touch up is done on the edge of the soundhole. After it is repaired you should add a larger clear pickguard or tortoise or whatever suits your fancy. With a larger opaque pickguard that covers the damaged area the repair cosmetics would be less critical (you could even use bondo) but being a nicer guitar it deserves a decent repair.
I would use a pickguard that goes right up to the edge of the soundhole. It might not be aesthetically perfect, but it would certainly look better than a ragged edged soundhole.

[phavriluk]

My opinion is that sealing with something to limit the damage and installing a clear pickguard that extended to the soundhole would be the least invasive response to the problem, no more splinters and a stable top.

Failing that, maybe getting the rosette extended/replaced all the way to the soundhole would eliminate the damage.

[Rudy4]

When I purchased my 025C many years ago I cut aclear guard for it that extended almost to the soundhole edge just to prevent this type of damage. In this case it's a matter of doing the repair and then adding a clear guard to prevent future damage.

[Dwight]

I agree with Wade, A little superglue should do the trick.

[personatech]

Originally Posted by Wade Hampton

...paint some Superglue on the “excavated” areas - he used a more liquid form of the Superglue, one that was more viscous than the standard stuff...

Wade, for clarification (since "viscous" to me means "thicker" when it comes to liquids), should he use a more liquid form or the gel?

[redir]

DON'T use thin CA glue on that. The first thing to do would be to seal it with shellac and try and match the color. Then it would be filled with Glue-Boost or any quality medium CA, leveled out and buffed. If you put thin CA on that without it being sealed it will run down the grain lines possibly even under the finish and leave a terrible stain.

IMHO this is not a DIY job unless you don't really care what it looks like.

[jklotz]

Originally Posted by redir

DON'T use thin CA glue on that. The first thing to do would be to seal it with shellac and try and match the color. Then it would be filled with Glue-Boost or any quality medium CA, leveled out and buffed. If you put thin CA on that without it being sealed it will run down the grain lines possibly even under the finish and leave a terrible stain.

IMHO this is not a DIY job unless you don't really care what it looks like.

I had planned on taking it to somebody good. I really like the guitar, never even considered a DIY thing. I was hoping for some suggestions to keep it from getting worse until I can do that though. Can I cover that area with painters tape for a few weeks or will that screw it up more?

[redir]

Originally Posted by jklotz

I had planned on taking it to somebody good. I really like the guitar, never even considered a DIY thing. I was hoping for some suggestions to keep it from getting worse until I can do that though. Can I cover that area with painters tape for a few weeks or will that screw it up more?

I don't think a few weeks will make a difference. I also don't think a bit of tape would hurt either. Try pulling on the rosette a bit. If it's loose then tape might not be a good idea as when you remove it, it will pull it out.

You could always work on your picking technique

j/k

[Quickstep192]

I wouldn't use tape. It could end up pulling up more wood fibers when you remove it and it will sometimes leave reside behind if it on too long.

I'd cut a static cling pickguard to fit. It won't cling to the raw wood, but it should cling to everything around it. It might turn out to be your permanent solution as well.


https://www.stringsbymail.com/guitar...rotection-361/

[jklotz]

Originally Posted by Quickstep192

I wouldn't use tape. It could end up pulling up more wood fibers when you remove it and it will sometimes leave reside behind if it on too long.

I'd cut a static cling pickguard to fit. It won't cling to the raw wood, but it should cling to everything around it. It might turn out to be your permanent solution as well.


https://www.stringsbymail.com/guitar...rotection-361/

Seems like a good solution. One reviewer said it won't stick to matte finishes though. My Lowden is a semi matte finish. They are not expensive, maybe I'll order one to try it. Thanks.