Repairable ???

Daniel Grenier · #1 03-22-2023, 11:42 AM

Needless to say, I'm beyond unhappy about this. An SM57 mic fell on my OM with AAAA Adirondack Spruce top and made a couple dents right on the edge. Is that at all repairable, somehow? Thanks for the tips.

runamuck · #2 03-22-2023, 11:54 AM

You could drop fill it with cyano and make it flush but the white finish fracture will almost certainly still be visible and so will the outline of the cyano. Short of refinishing the top which I think is absolutely not recommended I don't know of a way to make that disappear - except to play it so much that you forget it.

Big Band Guitar · #3 03-22-2023, 01:25 PM

Play it and forget it.

keith.rogers · #4 03-22-2023, 01:26 PM

If it’s lacquer I’d probably use thin, clear lacquer to drop fill. It will take a longer than CA but I’d expect the end result would be less visible.

Howard Klepper · #5 03-22-2023, 02:03 PM

Don't use CA glue.

I would first try to melt the crazed lacquer to get rid of the whiteness with droplets of butyl cellosolve lacquer retarder. Then drop fill with nitro lacquer. This takes time and patience if it it to stay level after leveling and polishing. But it can be made very hard to see and not noticeable from a few feet away. Fortunately the lacquer is not yellowed, which makes it easier to match.

rmp · #6 03-23-2023, 07:24 AM

repairable - yes

DIY? No.

Daniel Grenier · #7 03-23-2023, 10:26 AM

Thanks for the useful replies, folks. No, I would never attempt this myself (I am not handy that way.... at all). And, yes, I play the heck out of this guitar and will continue regardless. It's just a real bummer it got dented like that and I hope to get it fixed (just like I would get my new car fixed if it got dented). I'll discuss with my Luthier next time I'm in. Cheers!

CowhornShoehorn · #8 03-23-2023, 10:36 AM

I would just live with it. The first ding is the deepest, baby I know...

But if you just can't get over it and decide to get it repaired, do it right.

rmp · #9 03-23-2023, 10:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daniel Grenier

Thanks for the useful replies, folks. No, I would never attempt this myself (I am not handy that way.... at all). And, yes, I play the heck out of this guitar and will continue regardless. It's just a real bummer it got dented like that and I hope to get it fixed (just like I would get my new car fixed if it got dented). I'll discuss with my Luthier next time I'm in. Cheers!

This is what an SM58 did to my Taylor a few years ago

Sent it to taylor and they took care of it

Rogerblair · #10 03-23-2023, 11:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Howard Klepper

Don't use CA glue.

I would first try to melt the crazed lacquer to get rid of the whiteness with droplets of butyl cellosolve lacquer retarder. Then drop fill with nitro lacquer. This takes time and patience if it it to stay level after leveling and polishing. But it can be made very hard to see and not noticeable from a few feet away. Fortunately the lacquer is not yellowed, which makes it easier to match.

This precisely.

Rb

Fathand · #11 03-23-2023, 11:21 AM

Is it a Martin brand OM or why are we all assuming the finish is nitro? Do we know what the finish is since the OP has not told us.

Daniel Grenier · #12 03-23-2023, 12:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fathand

Is it a Martin brand OM or why are we all assuming the finish is nitro? Do we know what the finish is since the OP has not told us.

OP here. Not, not a Martin. It's a Boucher OM Hybrid with Poly Urethane finish (between 6 and 8th of an inch thick).

Fathand · #13 03-23-2023, 01:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daniel Grenier

OP here. Not, not a Martin. It's a Boucher OM Hybrid with Poly Urethane finish (between 6 and 8th of an inch thick).

You could touch it up by drop filling some of the same finish on the damaged part. Better yet, contact Boucher and find out what is compatible with the finish.

Daniel Grenier · #14 03-23-2023, 02:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fathand

Y... Better yet, contact Boucher and find out what is compatible with the finish.

I've done that and I'm awaiting a reply. I'd be ok dropping it off at their shop for a fix, actually. We'll see what happens...

Howard Klepper · #15 03-23-2023, 03:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daniel Grenier

OP here. Not, not a Martin. It's a Boucher OM Hybrid with Poly Urethane finish (between 6 and 8th of an inch thick).

Oooooh. Then I take back what I said. I do not claim expertise in repairing any of the poly finishes.