Piece of binding came off my D-25...

Ghostwheel

Junior Member
Joined
Feb 24, 2020
Messages
20
Reaction score
11
Hi all, a bit of binding (?) came off the base of the neck of my '91 D-25. Can I just glue this back on myself? If so, what type of glue should I use? Or would I be better off bringing it down to a pro? Looks pretty simple, but I don't want to take any chances.

First time I've left it in the case for a couple months in years (got a new Orangewood recently and have been playing that) and this is what I was greeted with!

Thanks much for any advice!
 

Attachments

  • 20200730_172919.jpg
    20200730_172919.jpg
    315.7 KB · Views: 224

docfishr

Member
Joined
Jul 20, 2016
Messages
175
Reaction score
22
Hi all, a bit of binding (?) came off the base of the neck of my '91 D-25. Can I just glue this back on myself? If so, what type of glue should I use? Or would I be better off bringing it down to a pro? Looks pretty simple, but I don't want to take any chances.

First time I've left it in the case for a couple months in years (got a new Orangewood recently and have been playing that) and this is what I was greeted with!

Thanks much for any advice!
You don't need a shop for that. Just scrape off any glue residue from both surfaces and lightly sand the plastic cap piece. You can glue it on with medium super glue which will give you enough working time to line it up perfectly (use nitrile gloves), then just hold it there for a minute and you are done. Any squeeze out can be carefully scraped with a razor blade.
 

Ghostwheel

Junior Member
Joined
Feb 24, 2020
Messages
20
Reaction score
11
Beautiful. Was hoping it would be straightforward. Just wanted to be double sure. Thanks much!
 

Ghostwheel

Junior Member
Joined
Feb 24, 2020
Messages
20
Reaction score
11
I take it all back. Not my thanks, but I think there may be more going on here. Now I notice the edge binding in that whole area is separating. You can actually see it in the picture. I didn't notice it but now that I'm messing with it, it's obvious. I wonder what caused it. Moisture in the case? Normal ageing? I think I'd better get it checked out by a pro just to make sure it's not something that's going to be some sort of creeping problem.
 

Ghostwheel

Junior Member
Joined
Feb 24, 2020
Messages
20
Reaction score
11
So the shop called and said they couldn't get the original to stick, but they had some extra binding plastic they could cut a piece from and that's what they did. It's a little ragged and doesn't fit too snug and...oh, it looks like this...(see attached). Would you accept this? The shop owner looked a little embarrassed and said that he hadn't seen it and they'd do something when I bring it back again (after they finish working on the action on my Orangewood).
 

Attachments

  • white.jpg
    white.jpg
    268.1 KB · Views: 212

kostask

Senior Member
Joined
Jul 28, 2006
Messages
1,018
Reaction score
484
Not acceptable. They could have painted it black before gluing it on. Or they could have taken the time to find a piece of black binding.

Did they say why it didn't stick? Even with Cyano (super/crazy) glue?
 

Ghostwheel

Junior Member
Joined
Feb 24, 2020
Messages
20
Reaction score
11
They didn't say why. The tech wasn't the one who was there. I had tried a little crazy glue (Gorilla glue gel) myself but didn't find the plastic would sit flat and I didn't want to mess with it too long so I just brought it in. Maybe the glue remnant made it more difficult to keep it stuck. Maybe they hit the same problem I had. He also could have spent more time to file it a bit more and make it smooth and fit the contour of the body. It's really a jury-rig job, functional but not very aesthetic or professional. I was considering leaving well enough alone but I'll give em another chance when they finish the Orangewood. I'll trade it back. (Need something at home to play.)

I'll say this...wow, after a couple of months with the Orangewood I literally laughed out loud at how superior the feel and sound of the Guild is in every way possible - a treasure that I don't want to screw up.
 

davismanLV

Venerated Member
Joined
Mar 24, 2011
Messages
19,196
Reaction score
11,812
Location
U.S.A. : Nevada : Las Vegas
Guild Total
2
Uhmmm, NO!! They had the original which looked to be in good shape. The only way it wouldn't stick is if they didn't prepare the surfaces correctly, or if they used the wrong glue. Or both. Don't let 'em get away with that. I hope they still have the original heel cap!!
 

davismanLV

Venerated Member
Joined
Mar 24, 2011
Messages
19,196
Reaction score
11,812
Location
U.S.A. : Nevada : Las Vegas
Guild Total
2
Yeah, but now if they're that clueless how much damage they going to cause trying to get the ugly one off of there and they've really created more of a mess for themselves. Jeeze......
 

kostask

Senior Member
Joined
Jul 28, 2006
Messages
1,018
Reaction score
484
i would seriously consider finding another company/person to work on my guitars. I don't know what the situation is around your area, but they should have never given you back the guitar the way it currently is. Even apprentice luthiers know how to glue a heel cap on, and about making sure the surfaces are correctly prepared. This is a trivial repair, probably in the top 5 in terms of how easy it is.

As soon as you get your Orangewood back, leave the shop, and don't ever return. Find a repair person who knows what they are doing, and who cares enough to not let something like this leave the shop.
 

davismanLV

Venerated Member
Joined
Mar 24, 2011
Messages
19,196
Reaction score
11,812
Location
U.S.A. : Nevada : Las Vegas
Guild Total
2
I agree with all the boys.... this looked like a simple repair. And you trusted them to do it and they failed you!! Run don't walk..... sad, sad state of affairs..... Walk into a good shop and say "This is what I won't accept!!"
 

davismanLV

Venerated Member
Joined
Mar 24, 2011
Messages
19,196
Reaction score
11,812
Location
U.S.A. : Nevada : Las Vegas
Guild Total
2
Hey Ghostwheel, i'm really sorry this happened. When I first saw it I thought, "Oh good simple easy repair." And then someone mucks it up for you and I'm sorry about that. That's why I've learned to do so many different things. Not because I'm good at them, but because so many other people are NOT good at them and they disappoint. And then you have to fix it again. So then I started looking at stuff and going.... I'll take it slow and I'll see how I do. Next thing you know.... I'm doing fine and I'm fixing things for other people. Wasn't my plan but sometimes, just having an idea of what to do is enough. Sorry your super simple break reduction, turned into this. Shame on them!!
 

wileypickett

Senior Member
Joined
Jun 18, 2009
Messages
4,964
Reaction score
4,489
Location
Cambridge, MA
Looks like they did a straight-cut to the "flat" edge of the heel cap. Problem is the body of the guitar is rounded. For the heel cap to fit flush it needs to exactly match the curve of the guitar.

I know this because I tried to replace the missing heel cap on one of my Guilds and did the same thing. I started over, recutting the piece with a curve, and it fit perfectly.
 

Ghostwheel

Junior Member
Joined
Feb 24, 2020
Messages
20
Reaction score
11
Thanks for all these replies. Glad to see I'm not just being picky. I haven't gone back yet but I will report on the results when I do.
 

Ghostwheel

Junior Member
Joined
Feb 24, 2020
Messages
20
Reaction score
11
Sorry that I never updated this. The shop did indeed fix the piece. They replaced it with a newly made piece that matched. Well enough anyway. I figure the guitar should last as long as I do - barring other issues. I've started putting up a few songs, so here it is. Please forgive the amateur effort, that is, after all, what I am. Sorry the head stock is partially covered by the camera...

 
Top