Boy what a dumb arse am I

[kbob2]

My guild D-55 about 14 mos old has been taken care of and kept in pristine shape as I try to keep my guitars as im sure all do but I was sitting at my computer desk listening to my speakers playing songs and turned sideways and my guitar top caught the desk corner and put a scratch about 1" to 1 1/8th. ". The beginning was deep but not into the wood. So I am a donkeys butt.. Here is a question to get opinions..... I took it to great dealer bought it from and discussed how to repair. They said they could put super glue in and wetsand it down even with surface and would be difficult to tell but if one looks right it might show a little... But they could wetsand and fill with nitrocelluose
and it might take 3 months and be expensive, They would have to do multiple coats of nitrodelluose paint because it shrinks. As it dries. Then the final coat would go on the whole top. What say you guys???? Which might be best solution? I chose super glue after much thought. Why? Because with nitrocelluose its still a used guitar and would not bring a better price if I sold it than the super glue repair.. used is used. So I hope it looks good.. I think bit will? Comments......?

 

[mario1956]

The nitro is a pain... been there done that... I think using CA glue is a good idea.

 

[PTC Bernie]

Personally, I wouldn't mix and match. If the original finish is NC the repair should be NC. But that's just me.

 

[wileypickett]

NC does take forever -- 10 coats will shrink down to about the thickness of a human hair in a few months, meaning you're practically back where you started. You have to fill, refill, and refill and allow long periods for the NC to off-gas.

When used correctly CA can fill the divot and be leveled in under 24 hours and it won't shrink. It's also almost invisible.

Veteran guitar tech Dan Erlewine recommends CA for these sorts of repairs.

 

[wileypickett]

NC does take forever -- 10 coats will shrink down to about the thickness of a human hair in a few months, meaning you're practically back where you started. You have to fill, refill, and refill and allow long periods for the NC to off-gas between applications.

When used correctly CA can fill the divot and be leveled in under 24 hours and it won't shrink. It's also almost invisible.

Veteran guitar tech Dan Erlewine recommends CA for these sorts of repairs.

 

[Westerly Wood]

Are you planning on keeping the D55? If so, why not just let the scratch be? It was an honest mistake, happens, character building etc.

 

[kbob2]

like the comments and they're all fitting my logic also... I was going with the NC but the tech said as all have said on here that NC will take layer after layer and take at least 3 mons. because of the shrinking and drying. The CA sounds reassuring that it will fill the gully so to speak, and should come out to a very smooth and level surface and it will be clear. The only drawback is the scratch coloration will shine through, how much is the question. My logic is/was A. If I even put guitar for sale with a long delay and a NC finish that the tech said the last coat would cover the whole top and that made me think what will that gain me? Meaning the guitar is used no matter what so the NC will not bet a premium price. The CA or super glue will fill the bill and the guitar is still used. When people buy used they expect blems and wear to a degree. But I will not give it away because it has a scratch. Many used buyers expect that! I say find a better deal? But I ain't selling anyway, so that CA glue doesn't even matter! Thanks Guys!!

 

[charliea]

If the scratch doesn't go into the wood, you can polish it so that it will all but disappear. Just takes a few minutes.

 

[walrus]

It's now officially "mojo" - leave it alone!

walrus

 

[SFIV1967]

The "vintage correct" repair method would be this: http://www.frets.com/FretsPages/Luthier/Technique/Finish/Lacquer/DropFill/dropfill.html
It's at least a 4 week process, 3 month sounds a little long however...
For a real deep scratch or lacquer check it would be this: http://www.frets.com/FretsPages/Luthier/Technique/Finish/Lacquer/CheckRepair/checkfill.html
Ralf

 

[griehund]

On the bright side, be thankful it was you that scratched your guitar and not someone you lent it to.

 

[Taylor Martin Guild]

I had a Martin repaired for something similar to your guitar.
It did take a few months to get the work done.
In the end, you can still see the repair, if you look for it.
Mine was damaged all the way to the wood though.

If you can get along without the guitar for a while, I would suggest that you have the repair done.
Don't go the superglue method though.

 

[Neal]

I got a pretty decent-sized scratch out of one of my Guilds using the 2-step Dunlop Scratch Remover kit. Worked like a charm for $20.

The scratch is still there, but is way less noticeable. It took multiple applications of the grittier of the two tubes of stuff, rubbed with a micro fiber cloth, to do the trick. I could probably have done a few more rounds, but my arm got tired.

I don't think I could bring myself to put super glue on a spruce top.

Neal

 

[adorshki]

I don't think I could bring myself to put super glue on a spruce top.
Neal

Me neither, especially an almost new D55.

I got a pretty decent-sized scratch out of one of my Guilds using the 2-step Dunlop Scratch Remover kit. Worked like a charm for $20.
The scratch is still there, but is way less noticeable. It took multiple applications of the grittier of the two tubes of stuff, rubbed with a micro fiber cloth, to do the trick. I could probably have done a few more rounds, but my arm got tired.

KBob:
Chazmo mentioned this on a similar thread:
"You can buy nitro "pens" from Stewart-MacDonald, . Easy peasy patch jobs."
I'd bet that technique, coupled with the polish Neal mentions, would give you the "best of both worlds": real NCL with minimal drying time.
Couldn't hurt to ask your luthier what he thinks.
Also double check that Dunlop stuff doesn't have any silicones, they interfere with NCL bonding with anything, such as if you needed to touch up the repair later on.
A final thought: I don't think superglue is going to color as it ages the way real NCL does.
In 15 years it might be real visible and twice as hard to fix, if that's important to you.

 

[fretless]

Are you planning on keeping the D55? If so, why not just let the scratch be? It was an honest mistake, happens, character building etc.

what the woodman said