Crack - possible to repair ??

mykelbass · #1 11-26-2011, 10:07 AM

I've bought a bass with a crack in it. see picture. Will the be possible to repair ? Any ideas on how ?
Thanks in advance for your time, and advises.

bassteban · #2 11-26-2011, 10:18 AM

Almost anything is fixable(within context & reason)- the question is: Is it worth the effort required? If you can work a good amount of glue into the crack & clamp it well, it should come out good, as far as I can tell from your pic. I'd relocate the screw that seems to have helped split the wood.

mykelbass · #3 11-26-2011, 10:38 AM

Thanks for a quick reply. Would ordinary wood glue work ?
Its an ibanez atk from the 90's so maybe i'll just get another body.
But, i'll try to fix it. If not for anything else, just as a learning experiment.

Pilgrim · #4 11-26-2011, 02:06 PM

Do your homework first. I can't tell where the crack is from the photo (nice shot, but too close-up to let me see the location.)

Wood glue or Titebond (I'd use Titebond) will work fine, but you MUST work the glue into the crack, and you MUST clamp it firmly and correctly. This is a repair you get only one chance at, and it must be done right the first time.

Any good guitar repair guy can glue it inexpensively and save you some sweat.

Stumbo · #5 11-26-2011, 02:12 PM

Elmers Wood Glue Max.

Fill the hole with wood filler so it can be redrilled, if necessary.

Turnaround · #6 11-26-2011, 03:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stumbo

Elmers Wood Glue Max.

Fill the hole with wood filler so it can be redrilled, if necessary.

Wood filler is not a good choice to fill a screw hole when another screw will be going in the same location. Plug it with a small dowel, glued in, redrill and it will be fine.

MHT75 · #7 11-26-2011, 10:52 PM

If you're looking to repair the crack or keep the crack from expanding in the future.
I would glue the crack and drive a wood screw from inside the control cavity or from the outside edge of the bass at something close to a 45 degree angle to the line of the split through the body and the crack.
( pre-drill a small hole through and a larger shallow hole so you can bury the head and cover it up with colored wood fill if esthetics are a concern for the outside)
My aim wouldn't be to close the gap with the screw ( which could split it further ) it would be to give it extra stability with the glue.
As for plugging the hole , Turnaround's got the ticket or drill another hole on your cavity plate ( that's where i'm assuming the crack is )

Good Luck

Oh , one more thing . That screw hole looks awful big . Maybe it's just me , if you are going to put a screw close to the edge of any open space . Make sure isn't anything bigger than needed ( like the diameter of the factory screws of the plate ) the extra tension ( force ) created by a larger diameter needs to go somewhere . As others have said , pre-drill the hole with a smaller bit.

Stumbo · #8 11-27-2011, 12:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Turnaround

Wood filler is not a good choice to fill a screw hole when another screw will be going in the same location. Plug it with a small dowel, glued in, redrill and it will be fine.

Yep, regular wood filler won't work...

Epoxy wood filler will.

Pre-drill it and you're good.

Audiophage · #9 11-27-2011, 09:46 AM

If you bought it with the crack is there any reason you can't return it?

john grey · #10 11-27-2011, 01:11 PM

Superficially it looks like a crack due to a strap screw run into a grain split. That''s not too tough if you have to correct tools. A 12" SandScrew with wooden jaws should reach and the use of Titebond or Elmer's Wood Glue would work into the crack nicely. Just get it in as deeply as possible and close the jaws for 24hrs.
Due to the screw hole, a hypodermic syringe should work that glue deeply enough to get it to the end.