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I have a 2001 Takamine GS330S that is missing a small piece of binding on the top. The missing section of binding is about 10 cm. Right where the piece is missing there is a crushed area on the guitar top maybe 10 cm wide on the edge tapering to a point about 10 cm from the edge; looks like that might come back some with steam although it is 2-3 cm deep. I'm thinking bring the wood back as much as possible then try to color-match on a small piece of replacement binding material then finish the top repair and spot-spray / sand the area then polish. My concerns are that I won't have enough wood come back with steaming and that I won't be able to color-match the binding repair piece.

I suppose another option would be to route-out the entire binding, make repairs to the guitar top, and replace the binding with new. Hoping someone has had to make same/similar repairs and could maybe provide some tips.

Any chance of a photo? A photo would help considerably.

duh, here are some pictures. thanks.

pretty sure i posted a reply with pictures. hate to double-post be here goes second try:

Is this viewable?

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B73nTF ... sp=sharing]

Good clear pics. This looks like an interesting challenge. I wonder whether the spruce damage can even be lifted. Before a more extensive repair it might be worth a try.

I would probably find a patch with matching annular rings and lay it in. (Did you mean to write 10 mm x 10 mm? A 10 cm area of damage would be a rather bodacious hit.) The trick is (definitely for me) to have a good pair of magnifying lenses to make sure the cuts are sharp/clean and match the angle of the patch ends. The patch, fitting snugly, should be slightly proud of the surface so after the glue sets it can be taken down to the top surface. Re-binding is probably the best option, though if it were mine I would try a scarf-joined binding patch, too.

Good luck!

yeah meant mm, thanks