Pre 1867 2-17 Martin repair

[tippie53]

I am still closing and gluing the cracks. I am doing only 1 or 2 at a time. The cracks that are outside of the patch area are getting a little cleat . The cracks that cannot close will get a filler in them , pictures will follow.

[tippie53]

Ok here is the progress of this old girl

I made the fillet and then addressed a cawl to get this clamped . What has me most surprised is secure the top felt before I even did the Fillet. I actuall made that thinner to .015 and hide glued that in.

I now am in the process of making a new bridge and will complete the top repairs. So as you can see the top cracks are secured and the top is nice and flat and the top is pumping air very well.

[thronson]

1867 ... thats off the charts olden... it looks like belly surgery... i m think'n its going to look fine once repaired ... wonder what it will sound like ... continued good luck jh... t

ps... amazing that the largest split did not get past the rosette ... but the inside edge of the sound hole looks a little delicate...

[johnnparchem]

I am enjoying watch this repair. Please keep posting!

[tippie53]

the crack stops at the cross brace under the sound hole, The hole is delicate for sure. I think I found some of the pieces in the guitar. I do expect this to sound pretty good and will post a video on it. The bridge plate was glued in to day and tomorrow the last fan brace will get installed. After that it will be some minor fret work.


thanks again for the interest and we did a video on some of the repairs and how I address different issues.

[tippie53]

This is getting near the end. I have the bridge plate installed and now glue in the last fan brace. I had to make this and I use torrified spruce . You can see the new bridge , and what is under it. The The mirror is showing the taped in brace. I used a piece of spruce as a pad to set across the back braces and smaller lengths to jam up against the fan brace.
you can see in the photos the procedure and sequence.

[thronson]

speculating on the history of this 1867 guitar... i assume that it was originally strung with braided gut strings... perhaps the damage occurred when a former owner switch to steel strings... hence the damage and repairs.... does your friend Steve want nylon or steel strung up after this repair? t

[tippie53]

yes it was steel strung , the firewood bridge plates didn't help. This will get nylon strings this week.

[tippie53]

Strings are on and updated photos will be forth coming as well as a sound byte

[Benjy]

John, that is just wrong teasing us like this! Ha! Ha! I am amazed at what you have done with this guitar. I am ready to hear it!