Signs of repair? Takamine Santa Fe photos

[Nemydom]

EAC38C is the model number, pinless, steel strings. Just purchased it second hand, and unable to get a clarification from the ex owner
I've got concerns as there are some traces of glue around the bridge.
I took some photos from the inside, does it look like there is no repair/alteration etc.? What was the purpose of using the glue (or whatever it is, pl see last four photos) Could someone with enough experience confirm, please?

[jonfields45]

I'm sure the pros will reply shortly. It looks good to me. A bit of glue squeeze out and a little tearing of wood near drill holes and routed channels.

The bridge might be glued to the finish. Given the bolted bridge design, the glue is not the primary element holding the bridge in place. The squeeze out on the bridge glue joint is not cosmetic perfection but still pretty minor.

Or, the bridge is glued to a routed opening in the finish, the bridge bottom edges are slightly recessed to be not glued but rather extend over the finish, and someone thought that was a problem a put a little glue in between the bridge's hanging edges and the finish.

No repairs that I see.

[Skarsaune]

Not a pro here.

Inside work is a bit sloppy/unfinished. I haven't looked inside many Takamines to know if this is up to their usual standard.

A little glue squeeze out on the top. Again, not top standard work.

I don't see anything that points to a repair though.

How does it play? What's the concern? With those two big bolts holding the bridge down, it's definitely not going anywhere.

[redir]

The inside does not look like it's been repaired to me. The bridge may very well have been reglued. It's a bit sloppy to leave glue lines like that around the bridge but if it was done right then it may well be actually better now then it was coming out of the factory.

Try to see if you can slip a piece of paper under the bridge all around it's perimeter.

[Olburns]

I was the head of the workshop for the Canadian distributor of Takamine and have seen/worked on literally thousands of them.
The Santa Fe is a Japanese model and the glue outside the bridge wings on the edge is a little suspect although in very rare cases I would see it but only on the entry Japanese stuff which the Santa Fe is not.
The interior is fine. The bridge is not bolted on rather the bolts secure the palathetic pickup base in place. You could always contact your local Takamine distributor to inquire if work's been executed on the instrument.

Doc

[Nemydom]

Originally Posted by redir

Try to see if you can slip a piece of paper under the bridge all around it's perimeter.

No, I can't. It looks like new/untouched from all other sides. Just the top part has the glue (or similar), as per photos.

I wiped this area with dаmp cloth and managed to remove the top part of the substance. The first two bridge photos are before wiping. The last two are after.

[Nemydom]

Originally Posted by Olburns

You could always contact your local Takamine distributor to inquire if work's been executed on the instrument.

Doc

I tried to do that. Unfortunately, those people only care about the money they earn. What they told me only demonstrated they are not competent. I actually talked to two different "specialists" - they know nothing.
I could go to a pro guitar tech, but it can take a long time to arrange and I will have to pay for a consult... Also, their answer may be a bit unclear - I had a similar situation before, that's why I know. I am in New Zealand - everything is not quite like in Europe or US, unfortunately.
That's why I am trying to get the community opinion first.
The seller re-confirmed again: there was no repair done to the bridge! When I'm asking about the glue - they are refusing to comment

[jonfields45]

Another possibility if the crud by the bridge is only on the bass side. Maybe the original owner uses skin lotion on his hands and some crud built up in that location.

Regardless, that guitar looks EXCELLENT to me. Just play and enjoy it!

[redir]

Originally Posted by Olburns

I was the head of the workshop for the Canadian distributor of Takamine and have seen/worked on literally thousands of them.
The Santa Fe is a Japanese model and the glue outside the bridge wings on the edge is a little suspect although in very rare cases I would see it but only on the entry Japanese stuff which the Santa Fe is not.
The interior is fine. The bridge is not bolted on rather the bolts secure the palathetic pickup base in place. You could always contact your local Takamine distributor to inquire if work's been executed on the instrument.

Doc

Did they glue the bridge to the finish or to bare wood?

Originally Posted by Nemydom

No, I can't. It looks like new/untouched from all other sides. Just the top part has the glue (or similar), as per photos.

I wiped this area with dаmp cloth and managed to remove the top part of the substance. The first two bridge photos are before wiping. The last two are after.

That's good then. I would not worry about it. It does look like Titebond squeeze out though. Does it have a yellow-ish color to it? You might be able to use a product called De-Glu Goo which you can get at Stewmac. It removes water base glue squeeze out that has dried up.

[Olburns]

Originally Posted by redir

Did they glue the bridge to the finish or to bare wood?

Mostly bare wood. There is a tiny, ~1mm lip of finish. The photos below are a before/during and after of a Japanese Tak bridge reglue. The bridge pulled off on this one taking pieces of the finish with it. It's very difficult to hide touch-up when working on cedar but this one turned out pretty good, all things considered.

Doc

[John Arnold]

I see nothing out of the ordinary on the inside. The bridge may have been reglued.

[RonMay]

Originally Posted by Skarsaune

Not a pro here.

Inside work is a bit sloppy/unfinished. I haven't looked inside many Takamines to know if this is up to their usual standard.

A little glue squeeze out on the top. Again, not top standard work.

I don't see anything that points to a repair though.

How does it play? What's the concern? With those two big bolts holding the bridge down, it's definitely not going anywhere.

This is what happens when a pinless bridge or any bridge for that matter is glued to the finish or even partly to the finish on the edges. The pull of the strings pulls on the back edge first and that's what usually the place it gives way.




As you can see the the edges of the bridge were glued to the finish all around the outside edge. The only thing that kept the whole bridge from coming off was the machine screws that were in the ends.

It might actually have had a better outcome if it wasn't bolted on ?

Ron

[redir]

Originally Posted by Olburns

Mostly bare wood. There is a tiny, ~1mm lip of finish. The photos below are a before/during and after of a Japanese Tak bridge reglue. The bridge pulled off on this one taking pieces of the finish with it. It's very difficult to hide touch-up when working on cedar but this one turned out pretty good, all things considered.

Doc

Yeah so if they don't make a rabbet along the edge of the bridge then the bridge is essentially floating over the top wood.

Nice job on that repair.