Help - cracked guitar

[OneWorld]

I have a treasured hand made Spanish guitar, it is 55 years old and today I discovered a crack in the body. Every guitar player pal of mine that visits the house make a beeline for the guitar, saying what a beautiful tone it has, the action is perfect, I don't need labour the point of how special a treasured instrument is.

Looking at the front of the guitar, the crack starts from the edge, about 2 inches from the neck and us about 3 inches long, it is a very fine crack.

I suppose a skilled luthier could glue a piece of wood beneath the crack that might stop the crack getting bigger. I do realise that adding a piece of wood will be detrimental to the tone, but I don't want to lose the guitar, it is like a best friend.

Could anyone suggest an luthier/instrument repairer in the Manchester or Sheffield area?

[zenguitar]

I don't know anyone in the Manchester area to recommend.

But this is definitely a job that is worth doing, and worth doing soon.

There are a couple of repair options depending on the extent of the crack. It may be possible to close it and glue it together and support the repair with small wooden cleats inside the body.

If the crack is larger it may require adding a piece of spruce/cedar to match the front. And then using cleats again to support the repair.

Doing nothing increases the chances of the crack expanding further. A repair will not impair the sound of the guitar, but it will restore the integrity of the front. And the reason I suggest that it is best done soon is to give the repairer the best opportunity to do a good job. The longer you wait, there is more time for it to get worse, or for dirt to get in the crack which might make a repair more complicated than it need be.

It might be worth contacting a good acoustic guitar maker, like Fylde, to see if they can recommend a trusted repairer with acoustic guitar experience.

Good luck getting it fixed.

Andy

[Murray B]

Hi,

I've sent you a PM with the contact link to a fella I'd recommend. His workshop would be a Bir of a drive down the M6 though.

Murray

[OneWorld]

I don't know anyone in the Manchester area to recommend.

But this is definitely a job that is worth doing, and worth doing soon.

There are a couple of repair options depending on the extent of the crack. It may be possible to close it and glue it together and support the repair with small wooden cleats inside the body.

If the crack is larger it may require adding a piece of spruce/cedar to match the front. And then using cleats again to support the repair.

Doing nothing increases the chances of the crack expanding further. A repair will not impair the sound of the guitar, but it will restore the integrity of the front. And the reason I suggest that it is best done soon is to give the repairer the best opportunity to do a good job. The longer you wait, there is more time for it to get worse, or for dirt to get in the crack which might make a repair more complicated than it need be.

It might be worth contacting a good acoustic guitar maker, like Fylde, to see if they can recommend a trusted repairer with acoustic guitar experience.

Good luck getting it fixed.

Andy

Thanks a lot for that. Yes I do intend getting it fixed sooner rather than later. The crack is extremely narrow, hardly noticeable, I only noticed it by accident, so it seems the crack, at this stage doesn’t need to be closed together and cleats, as you suggest will do the job. Thanks.

[OneWorld]

Hi,

I've sent you a PM with the contact link to a fella I'd recommend. His workshop would be a Bir of a drive down the M6 though.

Murray

Thanks, have replied.

[Sam Spoons]

Another option is Brian Eastwood Guitars in Bacup, it's a modest drive from South Manchester but Brian and his son Michael do very good work at very reasonable prices. They are also a couple of very nice guys... Disclaimer, Brian and I have been friends since the mid '70s and I own a few guitars he built so I'm not entirely unbiased.

[OneWorld]

Another option is Brian Eastwood Guitars in Bacup, it's a modest drive from South Manchester but Brian and his son Michael do very good work at very reasonable prices. They are also a couple of very nice guys... Disclaimer, Brian and I have been friends since the mid '70s and I own a few guitars he built so I'm not entirely unbiased.

Thanks Sam, yes Bacup is relatively close, in fact from where I am to Bacup is quite a nice drive, I am sure my guitar will enjoy the nice scenerey along the way!

[Sam Spoons]

They are good guys but often busy so call ahead. The should know me by my forum/facebook name but use my real name, Chas Coghill, to be sure.

[OneWorld]

They are good guys but often busy so call ahead. The should know me by my forum/facebook name but use my real name, Chas Coghill, to be sure.

Thanks, much appreciated