A tricky one...

octavedoctor

octavedoctor

New member
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A Taylor headstock, snapped across the grain like a carrot. Normal g clamps won't close the joint properly as pressure needs to be applied in a direction perpendicular to the line of the break, which, in this case, means at a shallow angle almost parallel to the headstock.

The solution?

A Spanish Windlass....

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The Spanish Windlass works in much the same way as a truss rod, using the tension in a deflected cord to redirect vector components of the tension drawing the headstock back and exerting thrust onto the break.

Hopefully the repair will be strong enough. A problem with this type of break is glue starvation as the porous end grain tends to suck the glue away from the joint so I sized the joint with thinned glue first then syringed some fresh, slightly thickened aliphatic resin into the joint and allowed it to squeeze out.
 
Re: A tricky one...

That, I would never have thought of - good work mate. How did you deal with the left/right movement of the headstock? it seems broken on the right hand side so i'm guessing it could easily mov eout of place?
 
Re: A tricky one...

In this case, the tough veneer Taylor use is holding the headstock together on the front and the windlass is acting in opposition to it.


If the headstock was completely detached then I'd have another windlass on the front and balance the tension on each one. Lateral movement is unlikely to be an issue as the break is so jagged that once the fibres knit the break is stable laterally.
 
Re: A tricky one...

Very cool. It's amazing to me what a talented person can do when the need is there...but the solution isn't. I am impressed.

Perhaps..."Grace under pressure" would fit.............

-dave
 
Re: A tricky one...

darnright said:
Very cool. It's amazing to me what a talented person can do when the need is there...but the solution isn't. I am impressed.

Perhaps..."Grace under pressure" would fit.............

-dave
Click to expand...

Or neccesity is the mother of invention.
 
Re: A tricky one...

i fully expect to see a Spanish Windlass for sale in the Stew-mac catalogue within the month at a price tag of about $150 made from deluxe honduras mahogany and genuine luthierie grade string.

And a tagline at the top of the page saying "we saw this neat trick on a forum somewhere so we thought we'd pinch the idea and make loads of money out of gullible people who'd rather spend money on a specialist gimmick rather than put the effort in themselves..."

Sorry Stew-Mac, you know I love you but I couldn't resist...:naughty:
 
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Re: A tricky one...

The final result!

Can you see the join...?

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Hehe! What a shame Photoshop doesn't work as well on real guitars! :naughty:

Here's what it really looks like.

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Re: A tricky one...

Incredible. That guitar has got a new beginning now!
 
Re: A tricky one...

excellent work mate - did you have to correct a wrinkle in the veneer or did it totally hold together? - now where do I buy my honduras windlass? ... hehe.
 
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