In this video, Dan demonstrates how to fix a crack in a boutique acoustic guitar caused by intense sun and humidity damage — including a nifty trick for perfectly locating a cleat to hold the crack closed.
Products used in this week’s video:
Digital Humidity & Temperature Gauge
http://www.stewmac.com/item/5765
Titebond Liquid Hide Glue
http://www.stewmac.com/item/0633
Low Tack Protective Tape
http://www.stewmac.com/item/1682
Cam Clamp
http://www.stewmac.com/item/3723
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StewMac has everything you need to set up, repair or build guitars.
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What tape is that you're using at 1:35? Is that just plain masking tape? NewB thanks
The sides of that guitar are beautiful!
What type of glue?
Mad skills!
Dan is the "Bob Ross" of lutherie. His delivery has such a calming cadence to it which always gives me confidence when making guitar repairs. Nobody has taught me more than Dan. Thanks, Dan & StewMac!
Magnetic film . . . never heard of that. Brilliant idea.
i have a Larrivee Parlor guitar that got horrible cracks in it (looked like a cut that needed stitches).. i got some portable dehumidifiers, and placed them in the room.. and also some of those square moisture absorbers and put them in the guitar case.. and although i didn't glue the cracks closed yet.. they did close up on there own
I have many guitars but only one is really special. '68 Goya folk guitar. Dad's first guitar, my first guitar and my son's first guitar. It got impact cracks from living under my dorm bed in the late '80s. Bashing punk tunes out of it was needed at my sucky military school, but that didn't help either. Before my son was born dad gave me the guitar but first he had it repaired professionally. Cost nearly it's value, or more, but a job well done. My son is very careful, and it's his favorite guitar to take to school where he has lessons and jam sessions with kids…but now it's cracked again. Luckily he likes his $70 Strat that I fixed up and his Boss Mini amp and he's big enough for a 25.5 scale guitar now. No more classic acoustic going to school. I am determined to fix it myself. Meanwhile, I will fix some guitars at a school I taught at, for free, to be sure I know what I'm doing. I doubt I'll ever be a great player, but I do like modding and fixing and setting up guitars. Living in NZ it's lucky I can do the StewMac membership as the shipping cost is otherwise a real burdon along with the exchange rate. And I am done with Ali Express…EVERYTHING they sell is terrible.
Where do I buy the magnetic film and cleat holder?
Stewmac –You are a disgrace using that Fake Hide Glue. Use Fish glue in case it needs to be repaired later . Franklins dries and becomes waterproof and acts like Chewing Gum . Fish glue in a bottle lasts Ten Years on the shelf . Fake Hide Glue. Horrible Stuff .
This is EXACTLY what I needed. Thank you, Sir.
StewMac needs more Dan Erhlewine
I have a crack in a vintage Ovation. I don't think it is through the wood. It seems to be just the veneer. Should I have it repaired before selling it?
I want that shirt! Seriously!
Dan is it possible to fix seam lines showing under poly electric guitar finish?
Really appreciate the straight to the point video. Well done.
You make this way easy for noobs. Guitar center wanted 400 bucks to do this to my Taylor
لاWhoever makes me happy to participate, I wish him paradise
I just wanted to sell my acoustic.. Now I am watching this 😏
What glue are you appling into crack?
WOW! I had a crack on a top just like the one described. Bagged it up overnight and it closed up so tight I had to look to find it. Glued it with thin set
and glued a cleat on with tightbond using magnets. GREAT FIX! Thanks so much!!
That magnet film trick is amazing. What a helpful video!
At what point in this process is the plastic cleat holder removed from the cleat? Does the glue need to have dried before removing it or should it be removed immediately the cleat is in place and how do you release the cleat holder from the cleat without disturbing the cleat? Important details that are omitted from this video. The devil is in the detail.
Thank you so much for the awesome and practical content
Hello Dan, I have a crack on the back of an arch-top Jazz guitar, with F-Holes. Any way to repair that? No sound hole to get your hand in there.
How do you repair a lattice top? there is no space for the cleats.
I use a pair of strong magnets. I put tape on the top one to protect the finish and I tape my cleat to the other one. After dry fitting a couple of times for practice, I'll glue the cleat and match up my magnets. I just wish that the SM scissor jack wasn't prohibitively expensive like all else SM……
Respect your elders brothers I’m a machinist and I learned some of the best tricks in the book from old Timers. The man that came up with that magnetic trick was pretty slick in his thinking. Truly a nice job on this
Here in Central California, the swell/shrink for guitars each season is basically reversed; our winters are damp and humid, with the infamous Tule fog an ever-present pest leaving everything coated with moisture as temperatures hover above freezing. (A sopped-in, wet cold is a miserable cold!) By contrast, the summers are outrageously dry and notoriously HOT for long stretches at a time. Perhaps this is why guitars in this part of the US don't seem to experience as much top cracking so long as they are kept in reasonably stable environments?
Awesome video..I have the exact same problem in a Fender I just bought so your video couldn't have been any better suited to what I was looking for. I feel confident enough to give this a go now!!
Thanks for the handy tips and tricks too! Cheers, Pete
How do you wipe the glue after you place it
You don't clamp the inside cleats while the glue dries?
Where can I buy those cleats?
how much does it cost to fix a problem like this if you don't mind to ask for ? thanks a lot.
Hopefully not a daft question but could a fancy cleat be applied on the outside? ( I’m not bothered if it looks odd) Would it work?
So where does one find that cleat / magnet tool?
Dan is the man! Love watching this guy work his magic.
Great video. Clever tricks
Thank you sir. Am learning some knowledge from a professional
exelente muy bueno
Great video. You’re a wonderful teacher.
A hygrometer is a must! I have a (poorly made) Seagull Pepino guitar. I believe the wood was not seasoned well enough. But in the winter my apt gets brutally dry and even with a damp sponge in a plastic bag with holes in it (inside the sound hole) the guitar still cracked. My luthier fixed it (along with a saddle fix to fix the poorly set intonation). The humidity thing is real, though. Especially in winter. I put damp sponges in a plastic bag with holes in it in all my guitar cases in the winter–and I never leave them out on the stand. Dan is a treasure, for sure.
Great video. Thank you
Is that magnetic cleat holder available thru Glaser?
I'm looking at a guitar that has a crack from humidity and I'm hesitant to buy it because I am worried there might be more issues with in then it seems. If not its a pretty good deal. I am not sure what to do because I do like the way it looks. I guess I should go and play it to and take a closer look. Any recommendations on what to look out for? Also that is a beautiful guitar.
Hello! I have a question: Do we keep the bowl with water and a sponge inside the guitar when leaving it inside the polybag overnight?
Helpfull video, thx
But please tell us:
where to buy the magnetic cleat holder please..
What type of glue did you use to fill in the crack?
Wow! That guitar is beautiful! What brand is it?