What do you think of this crack?

[BriGuy1968]

My brother brought me his guitar this week because he said the action was too high, so I told him I'd take a look.

He's an amateur player only, and the guitar is a 1984 Celebrity (by Ovation) CC61.

By the way, Mrs BriGuy chooses the sheets, so just shut up about the pink! [emoji35]

Anyway, I figured I'd adjust the truss rod, oil his fretboard and change his strings (which he had wound on the wrong sides of the pegs [emoji23])... all of which I did, and then I noticed this on the heel:

Near as I can tell, it grows as I tighten the truss rod. I put 10s back on it to reduce the tension, but this thing is still showing... and the action isn't getting any lower. In fact, if I physically bend the neck back a little to bring the strings closer to the board, the crack disappears.

I'm not really very good with acoustic construction. My gut tells me he needs to take it to a luthier or just retire it, but is this something that's relatively easy and inexpensive to fix?

Thanks in advance for your input! [emoji1303]

 

[PS412]

Re: What do you think of this crack?

Yikes! I'd opt for retirement.

 

[vinta9e]

Re: What do you think of this crack?

"retire" huh? glue it back together and plow the field with that thing!

If it ain't workin', why keep it?

 

[kramersteen]

Re: What do you think of this crack?

Exact same thing happened to my mates acoustic this week I suggested gettign some glue in there and clamping it back down.

 

[BriGuy1968]

Re: What do you think of this crack?

Exact same thing happened to my mates acoustic this week I suggested gettign some glue in there and clamping it back down.

Thing is that it's not separated enough to get some glue in it. Wondering if I need to take it apart and, if so, how involved that would be.

I've glued some top braces, but have no idea how the neck and body are joined on something like this.

 

[kramersteen]

Re: What do you think of this crack?

Are there bolts inside the belly of the great animal? Some just unbolt i think but to be honest i don't even own an acoustic anymore and i have only worked on them a few times.

It looks like it cracked above the join?

 

[BriGuy1968]

Re: What do you think of this crack?

No bolts inside, but I'm not sure if that cap at the bottom of the heel is decorative or if it's hiding some type of connector. If it is, it sure looks permanent!

And yes, the crack appears to be above the join.

 

[kramersteen]

Re: What do you think of this crack?

Does the crack open up?

 

[BriGuy1968]

Re: What do you think of this crack?

Barely, but not enough to get any glue in there.

 

[ehdwuld]

Re: What do you think of this crack?

Syringe with glue
Tighten strings to open crack

Remove strings and clamp

 

[Godin15]

Re: What do you think of this crack?

looks to me like a write-off for sure.

 

[kramersteen]

Re: What do you think of this crack?

looks to me like a write-off for sure.

No

 

[BriGuy1968]

Re: What do you think of this crack?

I've gotta be downtown tomorrow afternoon for Mrs BriGuy's final radiation treatment (oh yeah!), so I think I'll take it into a local guitar shop with a good luthier and see if he can give me some idea of what it would take to fix it.

My brother says he doesn't want to spend any money on it, so it may be up to me if it's gonna live.

 

[Boogie Bill]

Re: What do you think of this crack?

I am SO DISAPPOINTED!!!

From the title...I was expecting pictures of Kim Kardashian!



Bill

 

[Chris0709]

Re: What do you think of this crack?

Taking the neck off definitely not the way to go if you are starting out with repairs, likely a dovetail or similar type of joint, and who knows what type of glue was used, not worth it. A thin glue and syringe makes sense, but even better than clamping would be to keep pressure back against the top, to make sure it sets at a good angle and more flush. Google should show some good techniques for that, usually involving the tuners and string wrapped to keep tension. Not worth paying for but maybe worth trying to fix!

 

[beaubrummels]

Re: What do you think of this crack?

What do you think of this crack?

Most cracks I can think will just get you in trouble.

 

[BriGuy1968]

Re: What do you think of this crack?

Most cracks I can think will just get you in trouble.

Preaching to the choir there, Pastor Beau. I'm on my third marriage... trust me, I know!

Oh wait... maybe three marriages means I DON'T know! [emoji33]

 

[Godin15]

Re: What do you think of this crack?

Taking to a Luthier is the best thing to do. Then he will tell you if its worth the money to repair it or not.

 

[Chistopher]

Re: What do you think of this crack?

Oh, good. I thought I was about to have to start a forum sermon about crack and what it did to great bands like the Beatles.

But if I had that issue I'd probably do as ehdwuld suggested and open the crack up a bit, add glue, then seal it. If the neck breaks then you got more surface area to put glue on, so I'd say try and save it.

 

[Aceman]

Re: What do you think of this crack?

String with glue and a C clamp. Maybe some blocks/rags. Any luthier should have these if you are worried. And it take s way less glue than you would think.

Glue + pressure + time = BETTER than new. This should be a < $50 fix. IS that shallow or mid? If mid get pro fixed. Either way sweet guitar. Get it fixed!