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Private member DiscussionAcoustic Repair

1950 Martin D28 with localized scary thinning.

Hey all. I've got the above-mentioned guitar on my bench. It had a neck reset and what appears to be a new bridge pad put in 14 years ago. It's a crack-free guitar except for a couple of little hairlines running from the back of the bridge to the upper tone bar. I thought that was a bit weird. Inside, everything looks okay until I turn off the inspection light, at which point I can see the rosy glow of daylight through the top - this…

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Private member
In classical woodworking theory, yes - crossgrain glue-ups are a real no-no, but we get away with it in guitarmaking all the time. We're the rebellious bad boys of woodcraft! In this case I went w…
Private member DiscussionAcoustic Repair

Suggestions for my crack problem?

Hello everybody, I have a 2001 Guild 12-string in my shop that I suspect got a little too hot in a car. The extent of the damage is what you see here, the two cracks in the top and some warped binding where it meets the neck. I don't see any loose or damaged bracing. After looking into it a little, I found Frank Ford's approach: http://www.frets.com/FretsPages/Luthier/Technique/Guitar/Structural/Cracks/D45FBTopCrack/d45fbtopcrack.html b…

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Ian Davlin
Are you talking about for the underside, like a cleat etc ?
Private member DiscussionNeck Reset Database

Gibson LG-1 1957 fingerboard extension glue will not loosen

Today I have spent the better part of five hours attempting to get the fingerboard extension free on this guitar. I am using the method I have used for dozens of neck resets: 100 watt halogen bulb with heat shields. After a couple hours I thought I was making some progress under one corner, only to discover after some movement that my palette knife was going through the top. I then abandoned that area and have been applying heat and…

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Ian Davlin
There's a lot going on here. So I'll make a list The lightbulb I use is the 250 watt infrared bulb. Not sure how it compares to the halogen. If it is hide glue, I like to add spit to my knife. It's tem…
Private member Discussion3D Printing

F Hole Plugs for Archtop

I drew up and printed these F hole plugs for a customer a little while back, felt like showing them off here. The bottom diamond shaped piece has a M4 nut in it, and is super glued to the body of the plug at its two tips. An M4 screw threads into the nut through the counter-sunk hole in the top of the plug. The entire plug drops into the F hole, and then you can tighten the screw slightly to expand the plug so it clamps itself into plac…

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Private member
Great idea, and I love the idea of comically oversized F holes.
Private member DiscussionTools and Jigs

Poseidon’s Horn: The Ultra-Humidifier

Introducing Poseidon’s Horn! Coming in just shy of 18”, this tubular behemoth is the ultimate mess-free humidification device for closing up those pesky top and back cracks prior to repair. It’s dry to the touch and holds 1000ml of water! The days of finessing a Tupperware through a sound hole are over. Cheap and quick to make! Parts list (Supplies to easily make 10 of them) . Water beads - https://a.co/d/5v5Q2da . Braided sleeving - https:…

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Private member
Well that's pretty damn cool.
Ian Davlin DiscussionJob Postings

Tempe Arizona: Acoustic Vibes Music ($21-26/ Hr)

Acoustic Vibes Music is looking for a lead tech that would primarily be working on Martin and Taylor warranty issues. We are a Martin and Taylor Warranty Service center. So everything from Setups, to making new nuts/Saddles, minor finish repair, refrets, binding repairs, cleating cracks in tops, Pickup installation, strap button installation, pickguard removal and installation, bridge removals and reglue, level crown/polish, and oc…

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Private member DiscussionAcoustic Repair

1915 Washburn damaged bridge plate

I have a 1915 Washburn parlor that just walked through the door. Bridge plate is pretty chipped out and led to a top crack and the bridge pulling up. The plate is tucked in the kerfing so removal isn't an option. Anyone ever dealt with this sorta thing before?

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Ian Davlin
If it were me, I would pull and replace. You can make a depth stop saw by cutting a saw blade and gluing to pieces of wood on either side. As this is a spruce bridge plate, it would respond favorably…