Crushed in transit, and a poor repair.
- Thread starter Hackmaster
- Start date
OP
Thanks guys. Not much of a back story really.
And I never could sit through Citizen Kane, so all Rosebud means to me is the name of Jerry's guitar.
I don't have all the gory details, but the Martin belongs to a Nigerian missionary with a heavy accent, named Joshua.
Seriously. I've known him for years. Local musician and a good human.
He never had a lot of money, and is addicted to GAS, so he always buys junk.
Calls me up every so often excited to show me his newest treasure, which usually involves me making said treasure playable.
His guitars are usually mangled offcast pawnshop specials that nobody else would touch. This poor Martin was no exception.
But it looks like it was a brand new guitar, aside from the crushed back, that's the sad part. Still has the plastic on the pickguard.
So back to the Martin. I'm not sure if he bought it new and it was damaged in route to the store, or if he bought it damaged.
He's never clear on details. He just kept saying $600.
And then it came here. That's all I know.
I won't name the offending big box store, but don't take anything to Sam Ash in Bradenton Fl. and expect a quality repair....
Popping the back off was a breeze, as it was loose from the sides where the damage was never fixed. Peeled off the back binding and
just worked a sharp thin pallet knife around the edge, starting at the loose spots. Like opening a big ol' canned ham.
Then I started dissolving the glue form the botched repair. Little bit at a time, water, eyedropper and heat gun, until the sections started to flex and could be pulled apart.
I couldn't get the pieces to fit together as well as I'd like though. Some wood was missing. That's why I used the cleats.
Didn't get back to it today, went and hung with Pops instead.
Tomorrows another day.
And I never could sit through Citizen Kane, so all Rosebud means to me is the name of Jerry's guitar.
I don't have all the gory details, but the Martin belongs to a Nigerian missionary with a heavy accent, named Joshua.
Seriously. I've known him for years. Local musician and a good human.
He never had a lot of money, and is addicted to GAS, so he always buys junk.
Calls me up every so often excited to show me his newest treasure, which usually involves me making said treasure playable.
His guitars are usually mangled offcast pawnshop specials that nobody else would touch. This poor Martin was no exception.
But it looks like it was a brand new guitar, aside from the crushed back, that's the sad part. Still has the plastic on the pickguard.
So back to the Martin. I'm not sure if he bought it new and it was damaged in route to the store, or if he bought it damaged.
He's never clear on details. He just kept saying $600.
And then it came here. That's all I know.
I won't name the offending big box store, but don't take anything to Sam Ash in Bradenton Fl. and expect a quality repair....
Popping the back off was a breeze, as it was loose from the sides where the damage was never fixed. Peeled off the back binding and
just worked a sharp thin pallet knife around the edge, starting at the loose spots. Like opening a big ol' canned ham.
Then I started dissolving the glue form the botched repair. Little bit at a time, water, eyedropper and heat gun, until the sections started to flex and could be pulled apart.
I couldn't get the pieces to fit together as well as I'd like though. Some wood was missing. That's why I used the cleats.
Didn't get back to it today, went and hung with Pops instead.
Tomorrows another day.
OP
Ha, I've sure got you buffaloed...the Master plying his craft
Session 5
Ambassador of Strings & Wings
chilipeppermaniac
Ambassador of Decibels
Ha, I've sure got you buffaloed...
Dont poop a SHitter
How did Adrian not get the poop emojis?
Also, I was gonna say, we are soon to be on the lookout for Buffalo Chips.
Bocc69
Ambassador of Metal Health
That rite there is what it's all about. I hope it brought joy.
(I took the liberty to make a few assumptions)
OP
Well, finally got around to getting the back, back on this thing, but not without a fight.
It's been an interesting challenge.
Dozens of dry runs, just trying to get it to fit back like a guitar again.
Two of four back braces had cracked. One was broken through.
Even though I glued and clamped them, where the two were unattached at the back, something changed. Causing the back to curl, which revealed a couple more cracks near the lower centerline. It was also keeping the back from sitting square on the body.
Ended up having to remove the existing back braces and make and install new ones with the back clamped down, to allow the back to fit flat around the edges again.
Also glued the new found cracks and added a couple more cleats to reinforce things.
Bingo. It worked.
Can't tell the difference? Good. That was the plan. Braces look the same but now allow the back to sit right.
Also thinned the cleats a bit with a drum sander before I reattached the back.
A couple more dry runs checking the fit around the edges, using clamps and spreader rods to tweak things as close as possible...
and finally...
It's glued back on.
It's all downhill now. Cleaned up the binding ledge
Not sure if I'll reuse the original binding or just start from scratch with a fresh piece.
The binding got broken where the edge of the back got crushed and never properly repaired.
This pic was before I ripped it apart.
It was snagging on clothing and was just rude. Actually had a piece of Scotch tape holding it down.
Acetone will melt that break back together. But I think a fresh piece will make for an easier and neater job of it.
Wouldn't you know, all the new white binding I have is close but not close enough. About .010 too thin.
I'll get a smidgen oversize and scrape it to a nice flush fit.
Then, refinish the back.
At the rate I'm going, that should be around the 4th of July...
It's been an interesting challenge.
Dozens of dry runs, just trying to get it to fit back like a guitar again.
Two of four back braces had cracked. One was broken through.
Even though I glued and clamped them, where the two were unattached at the back, something changed. Causing the back to curl, which revealed a couple more cracks near the lower centerline. It was also keeping the back from sitting square on the body.
Ended up having to remove the existing back braces and make and install new ones with the back clamped down, to allow the back to fit flat around the edges again.
Also glued the new found cracks and added a couple more cleats to reinforce things.
Bingo. It worked.
Can't tell the difference? Good. That was the plan. Braces look the same but now allow the back to sit right.
Also thinned the cleats a bit with a drum sander before I reattached the back.
A couple more dry runs checking the fit around the edges, using clamps and spreader rods to tweak things as close as possible...
and finally...
It's glued back on.
It's all downhill now. Cleaned up the binding ledge
Not sure if I'll reuse the original binding or just start from scratch with a fresh piece.
The binding got broken where the edge of the back got crushed and never properly repaired.
This pic was before I ripped it apart.
It was snagging on clothing and was just rude. Actually had a piece of Scotch tape holding it down.
Acetone will melt that break back together. But I think a fresh piece will make for an easier and neater job of it.
Wouldn't you know, all the new white binding I have is close but not close enough. About .010 too thin.
I'll get a smidgen oversize and scrape it to a nice flush fit.
Then, refinish the back.
At the rate I'm going, that should be around the 4th of July...
chilipeppermaniac
Ambassador of Decibels
Awesome, Hack
OP
Thanks, it's gettin' there...
CoyotesGator
Ambassador of Reptilian Rum Bar Affairs
Very nice!
OP
Thanks
Hahahaha, thanks man but you know the truth. Master BullWell done....... and this is why he IS THE MASTER
er...:dood:I took pity on this poor guitar like it was a battered homeless puppy.
It's still in the nurturing stages, but soon, I return it to the main kennel.
steveb63
Ambassador of the Capacitor
Dont poop a SHitter
OP
Wow, What a difference wiping on a coat of stain makes.
Before
During
After
Hard to even see the areas that were all busted up now.
I'm pleasantly surprised as to the outcome. So much so I celebrated by drinking all my wifes beer.
Mine was already gone.
Then it was her turn to be surprised, but not as pleasantly...
Before
During
After
Hard to even see the areas that were all busted up now.
I'm pleasantly surprised as to the outcome. So much so I celebrated by drinking all my wifes beer.
Mine was already gone.
Then it was her turn to be surprised, but not as pleasantly...
Amp Mad Scientist
Ambassador of Heresy
Is that one of those Martin guitars that's made out of compressed paper?Well, finally got around to getting the back, back on this thing, but not without a fight.
It's been an interesting challenge.
Dozens of dry runs, just trying to get it to fit back like a guitar again.
Two of four back braces had cracked. One was broken through.
Even though I glued and clamped them, where the two were unattached at the back, something changed. Causing the back to curl, which revealed a couple more cracks near the lower centerline. It was also keeping the back from sitting square on the body.
Ended up having to remove the existing back braces and make and install new ones with the back clamped down, to allow the back to fit flat around the edges again.
Also glued the new found cracks and added a couple more cleats to reinforce things.
Bingo. It worked.
View attachment 63553View attachment 63554
Can't tell the difference? Good. That was the plan. Braces look the same but now allow the back to sit right.
Also thinned the cleats a bit with a drum sander before I reattached the back.
A couple more dry runs checking the fit around the edges, using clamps and spreader rods to tweak things as close as possible...
and finally...
It's glued back on.
View attachment 63571
It's all downhill now. Cleaned up the binding ledge
View attachment 63557
View attachment 63560
Not sure if I'll reuse the original binding or just start from scratch with a fresh piece.
View attachment 63562
The binding got broken where the edge of the back got crushed and never properly repaired.
This pic was before I ripped it apart.
View attachment 63566
It was snagging on clothing and was just rude. Actually had a piece of Scotch tape holding it down.
View attachment 63563
Acetone will melt that break back together. But I think a fresh piece will make for an easier and neater job of it.
Wouldn't you know, all the new white binding I have is close but not close enough. About .010 too thin.
View attachment 63564
I'll get a smidgen oversize and scrape it to a nice flush fit.
Then, refinish the back.
At the rate I'm going, that should be around the 4th of July...
Or is it real wood?
I had one of those compressed paper Martins, and the damn thing just fell apart.
eSGEe
Ferengi Ambassador of Trade
OP
It's all solid wood, That's why it imploded with such enthusiasm after being stomped by a herd of elephants and one lone drunken giraffe.
Plywood may have survived the impact.
But I do know of the paper Martins you speak of. HPL they call it. High Pressure Laminate as they advertise.
You may know it by Heavy Paper Layers...
No thanks.