Who DOES this and why? Worst documented amateur Guild repairs - show and tell

[West R Lee]

As to the "why"? I think there are a variety of reasons, not the least of which many people don't know how to do a repair or what might be required to fix them properly. They see these "techniques" as a quick, easy fix with no regard for the guitar whatsoever. I think other people just don't care. They don't think enough of what they've got to get it done properly. Obviously, the cost of repair is prohibitive to many. You've got to remember that there really are people out there that don't have the same reverence for beautiful guitars.

West

 

[refret]

No, bridge grain is supposed to be along the long axis, perpendicular to the soundboard grain. If it was parallel to the soundboard's, it would split right along with it, and would be too flexible, since it would arch with the top, rather than transmitting maximum vibration direct to the X-braces. (Think of a hammer handle with the grain perpendicular to the handle length. It would snap the first time you hit something.)
Was your split along the saddle a through saddle bridge? (Where the ends of the saddle are visible, and the groove goes right through to the thin ends.) This is a common problem with everybody's through saddle, not just Guild, and the reason why everybody switched to a stopped groove.

When I replace a bridgeplate, I try and offset the grain at a 10-15 degree angle to the bridgepins. Just something I picked up along the way back in the dawn of guitar repair.
It seemed like a good idea, minimizing the possibility of cracking the plate along the pin holes.
Just my 2 cents.
As for why people do stuff, god knows. The stuff I've seen over the past 35 years or so......you wouldn't believe it.

 

[adorshki]

You've got to remember that there really are people out there that don't have the same reverence for beautiful guitars.

Some of 'em might even live right in our neighborhoods.
:highly_amused:

 

[LateStart]

OK.. What was the original intent here and can anything be done to repair it?

Back of an 70's F212 that is in otherwise VG condition.

Worth $400?

IMG_0853 by 1686, on Flickr

 

[LateStart]

Ok. Not sure this qualifies as a "repair" this is more a failed franken-attempt.

EBAY: Guild 12 -string neck on a Framus Body - Really badly done...

 

[LateStart]

Starting to take the Sunburst D35 from the original post apart.

The old bridge pins remind me of teeth pulled from a corpse.. And the screws... well I just don't know what to say, they aren't even the same length... New nut and bridge are needed. Have to start working on getting the bridge off the guitar. I dread to think about how it was glued down if it was secured with metal screws...

 

[jcwu]

I can't bear to look... and yet, I can't bear to stop looking!

 

[AcornHouse]

Starting to take the Sunburst D35 from the original post apart.

Have to start working on getting the bridge off the guitar. I dread to think about how it was glued down if it was secured with metal screws...

Heat it with an iron and carefully work a spatula under.

 

[classicrecordings]

This may not be a repair, but ...

http://www.kijiji.ca/v-guitar/barri...et/1021322492?enableSearchNavigationFlag=true

 

[SFIV1967]

This may not be a repair, but ...
http://www.kijiji.ca/v-guitar/barri...et/1021322492?enableSearchNavigationFlag=true

Well, interesting! Looks like the guitar is pretty drunk! :very_drunk:

I never saw something like this but looked up Ralph Novak's webpage who used to own the patent for the fanned frets: http://novaxguitars.com/info/concept.html

Also other luthiers still offers such fanned fret guitars:

http://jaybuckey.com/fanned-fret-guitars-for-sale.htm

http://www.bamburgguitars.com/#!models/c10nf

or a headless one:
http://www.blackwaterguitars.com/index.html

Ralf

 

[spiderman]

It wasn't a Guild, but I have seen pictures of an old guitar (Martin?) with stove bolts through the bridge ends going right through the body, through the back panel and anchored with nuts. Now that ties it all together!

Harmony H-173 bought in 1960 (retired), Alvarez AC60S 2008, Eastman AC320ce 2009 "Hybrid", Guild D25M 1974 (all mahogany, archback), Martin Grand J35E 2009, Martin D12-20 1970, Martin OM-21 2009, Martin 00-15M Custom (full body gloss, wide neck) 2011, Martin 00-15M Custom (12 fret, wide neck, solid peghead) 2012, Voyage-air VAOM-06 2010
"One chord is plenty, two and you're pushing it, three is jazz"
Lou Reed

 

[mario1956]

Nuts and bolts on the soundboard - you don't see that every day! Wow...

walrus

I owned a 1968 Gibson Heritage with the factory adjustable bridge. It had metal threaded inserts countersunk into the top and bridge plate and the saddle was screwed into the inserts on the top. Even to this day I often wonder what the heck they were thinking....Thank goodness the bridge was cracked so that gave me an excuse to replace it with a normal style bridge. It sounded 100X better after the factory bridge was replaced.

 

[houseisland]

I just rescued this D35 Sunburst - who does this? What else have you seen, show pictures...

Whoa! Like this was standard construction practice for Kay acoustic guitars in the 1950s. I guess they couldn't afford good glue. Is there something wrong? (I have to specify that I am not being serious here as it seems I am often misunderstood - but yes Kay did this but only with two or three screws - never with four or five as far as I know). Kay quality. Kay goodness.

 

[PrairieSchooner]

I once "assisted" the glue on an Alvarez 12-string bridge with a couple of dry wall anchors. Fortunately no photos exist, therefore I cannot be charged. Believe it or not, that was a pretty good sounding guitar.

 

[SFIV1967]

...but yes Kay did this but only with two or three screws - never with four or five as far as I know.

Mind to show an example? (I mean a picture.) I never saw a bridge mounted with screws on an acoustic guitar from the factory. The only thing I saw are saddle adjustment screws.
Ralf

 

[adorshki]

Mind to show an example? (I mean a picture.) I never saw a bridge mounted with screws on an acoustic guitar from the factory. The only thing I saw are saddle adjustment screws.
Ralf

Not to be a butt-inski, and for a different brand, but I have a distinct recollection of somebodyhere mentioning mid-60's Gibsons with bolted-on plastic bridges. (Gasp!).
Just by way of saying, oh yeah, it's been done by what we'd like to think of as legitimate builders.....I guess everybody has a few bad ideas in their production runs...

 

[SFIV1967]

...I have a distinct recollection of somebodyhere mentioning mid-60's Gibsons with bolted-on plastic bridges. (Gasp!).

O.k., true! Mounted from inside so you didn't see the screws from outside.

Ralf

 

[houseisland]

Mind to show an example? (I mean a picture.) I never saw a bridge mounted with screws on an acoustic guitar from the factory. The only thing I saw are saddle adjustment screws.
Ralf

Sorry, Ralph. I missed this earlier. But here is an early sixties Kay. Look closely at the bridge - three screws/bolts.

Sorry for the size of the pic. Asking price EUR 1295

http://www.marginallyirresponsible.com/vintage-guitars/kay/kay-k-27-k-8117-acoustic-guitar/

Here's another but with only two screws/bolts this time:

Better asking price (I was about to say "deal" but I am not sure the guitar would fit within the semantic/affective domain of the noun deal) - $50

http://craigslistvintageguitarhunt.blogspot.ca/2012/02/kay-acoustic-in-portland-for-50.html

 

[wileypickett]

My first guitar, a 1967 Harmony, had two screws holding the bridge on. Both screws were reset and covered with inlay dots. I don't think it was especially uncommon with the cheapie brands.

This one on eBay has exactly the same bridge as mine did: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Fancy-Harmony-Sovereign-/261622709339

If you were able to look inside, I'm sure you'd see the ends of the screws.

Glenn//.

 

[West R Lee]

WHOA! Just listed on eBay. And for a mere $1600....pickup included. And what a professional installation.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Gui...4-/151422684425?pt=Guitar&hash=item23417ecd09

West