Official Luthiers Forum!

Owned and operated by Lance Kragenbrink
It is currently Fri Mar 29, 2024 10:53 am


All times are UTC - 5 hours





Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 11 posts ] 
Author Message
 Post subject: Got a free broken guitar
PostPosted: Sat Mar 19, 2022 1:10 am 
Offline
Walnut
Walnut

Joined: Thu Mar 17, 2022 2:09 pm
Posts: 3
First name: ETC
Hi, I'm new to the forum and a novice guitarist. I'm looking for a luthier in MA, NYC, CT or RI to potentially fix a broken guitar I got from my sibling.

I think maybe the nut broke at some point, because it seems like it's got super glue on it. The bridge is split and someone definitely tried to fix it with superglue there. It didn't work. It's got some other dings, but it should be playable with the nut & bridge repaired. here's the nut & bridge, I was able to remove the end of a string and the bridge pin after it snapped off and got stuck

Can you give me a rough estimate of how much you think it would cost to repair? In your opinion, is it even worth putting money into it if it was free and originally worth ~$450? Is this something I could repair at home? I have very little experience woodworking & I'm not a luthier, but I have an overconfident dad who thinks he can fix it himself after watching some youtube videos.

Thank you so much for any help or advice


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Sat Mar 19, 2022 5:40 am 
Offline
Koa
Koa

Joined: Tue Jan 15, 2013 10:00 pm
Posts: 980
First name: Josh
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
I can’t advise on the prices for repair work where you live, I’m in a different country.

If someone brought this guitar into my workshop I’d advise them that they could find an excellent condition used example of the same model for less than it would cost to have me repair this broken one.



These users thanked the author joshnothing for the post (total 2): Hesh (Sun Mar 20, 2022 3:40 pm) • gargouilles (Sat Mar 19, 2022 1:06 pm)
Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Tue Mar 22, 2022 6:08 pm 
Offline
Mahogany
Mahogany

Joined: Thu Oct 21, 2021 4:23 pm
Posts: 42
First name: Yeaux
Last Name: Maumma
Focus: Repair
Status: Professional
Don’t want to be a Debbie Downer but it looks like the bridge has broken and been glued? Maybe from a high saddle pressing on the front of the bridge?! It also looks as if the saddle area has been routed for a diff saddle or??? This could get expensive for a free guitar, but it’s all do-able. Just up to you. Good luck


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk



These users thanked the author Lou Thier for the post: gargouilles (Wed Mar 23, 2022 12:58 am)
Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Tue Mar 22, 2022 6:21 pm 
Offline
Mahogany
Mahogany

Joined: Thu Oct 21, 2021 4:23 pm
Posts: 42
First name: Yeaux
Last Name: Maumma
Focus: Repair
Status: Professional
To fabricate a custom bridge (including slotting for the saddle and pickup) remove old bridge and install new one- I’d say $275-350 including setup plus New nut- 50 plus material and strings- $75ish.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk



These users thanked the author Lou Thier for the post: gargouilles (Wed Mar 23, 2022 12:58 am)
Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Wed Mar 23, 2022 1:17 am 
Offline
Walnut
Walnut

Joined: Thu Mar 17, 2022 2:09 pm
Posts: 3
First name: ETC
Lou Thier wrote:
Don’t want to be a Debbie Downer but it looks like the bridge has broken and been glued? Maybe from a high saddle pressing on the front of the bridge?! It also looks as if the saddle area has been routed for a diff saddle or??? This could get expensive for a free guitar, but it’s all do-able. Just up to you. Good luck


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk



I'm totally speculating here because I certainly don't know much about guitars and I wasn't paying much attention to them until pretty recently, but from what I've gathered, I think the version of the guitar I have is an early model—newer models have a differently shaped bridge. I suspect that I'm not the only one who had the saddle split, thus they changed the bridge. That's just my guess, though.


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Wed Mar 23, 2022 2:51 am 
Offline
Mahogany
Mahogany

Joined: Mon Sep 18, 2017 9:06 pm
Posts: 62
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
You also have to consider that the bridge plate (located under the bridge, glued to the soundboard) is probably shot (looking at the string that is stuck in there). Add another $100 to your estimate.



These users thanked the author FlyingFred for the post: Hesh (Wed Mar 23, 2022 3:49 am)
Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Wed Mar 23, 2022 12:46 pm 
Offline
Walnut
Walnut

Joined: Thu Mar 17, 2022 2:09 pm
Posts: 3
First name: ETC
FlyingFred wrote:
You also have to consider that the bridge plate (located under the bridge, glued to the soundboard) is probably shot (looking at the string that is stuck in there). Add another $100 to your estimate.


I was able to reach inside the soundhole and push the bridge pin & string out. the bridge is still split, but none of the strings or bridge pins are stuck anymore


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Wed Mar 23, 2022 5:11 pm 
Offline
Mahogany
Mahogany

Joined: Mon Sep 18, 2017 9:06 pm
Posts: 62
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
Did you put a mirror in the instrument to be able to see if the bridge plate is split between the string holes? That is what I meant with my previous comment…


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Sun Mar 27, 2022 5:41 pm 
Offline
Contributing Member
Contributing Member
User avatar

Joined: Tue Mar 19, 2013 3:34 pm
Posts: 1097
First name: Bob
Last Name: Russell
State: Michigan USA
Focus: Repair
Status: Semi-pro
gargouilles,
Unfortunately this is a cheap guitar and not something you would want to put much money into.

This is the type of guitar I would take in and repair in my spare time just to give it away to someone who isn't fortunate enough to buy one. I have been doing this kind of thing for years when ever I come across a free guitar. But to charge someone to fix it is not anything I (or many other luthiers) would even consider.

This is just not a job that most pro luthiers would want to touch since you would be spending more on it that the guitar is even worth.


On a different note, If you have any interest in repairing guitars this would be a great candidate to start with. You wouldn't have to put much into it except time. A great way to learn and its how I got my start.

Bob



These users thanked the author RusRob for the post: Lou Thier (Sun Mar 27, 2022 5:44 pm)
Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Thu Apr 14, 2022 6:20 am 
Offline
Koa
Koa

Joined: Sun Apr 25, 2010 4:46 pm
Posts: 501
First name: Mark
Last Name: McLean
City: Sydney
State: New South Wales
Zip/Postal Code: 2145
Country: Australia
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
I suggest that you let your overconfident Dad have a go at fixing it. He might impress and surprise you with the result, and then you will both be happy. If he fails you will not really be any worse off.


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: My opinions:
PostPosted: Thu Apr 14, 2022 8:34 am 
Offline
Koa
Koa

Joined: Mon Feb 13, 2012 8:49 pm
Posts: 952
First name: peter
Last Name: havriluk
City: granby
State: ct
Zip/Postal Code: 06035
Country: usa
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
If Dad can get the old bridge off without inflicting damage to the rest of the guitar, he's on his way. The broken bridge can be a pattern for someone to make a replacement with a bit more bridge wood in front of the saddle. Then Dad can watch some more videos and install the new bridge. The guitar can then be passed along to a luthier for setup and intonation adjustments. So long as the bridge gets the saddle in the right place, there's hope. Don't ignore the bridge plate inside.

_________________
Peter Havriluk


Top
 Profile  
 
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 11 posts ] 

All times are UTC - 5 hours


Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 21 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot post attachments in this forum

Jump to:  
Powered by phpBB® Forum Software © phpBB Group
phpBB customization services by 2by2host.com