ADVICE NEEDED: Hairline parting to centre top on a hand-built guitar from 1960

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silddx

Posts: 586
Joined: May 8 2012
From: London

ADVICE NEEDED: Hairline parting to c...

Do you think I need to be concerned about this? Described as a hairline parting to centre top by a highly respected guitar auctioneer. It's a guitar hand made in 1960 by an English luthier. It's the only photo I have at the moment but have asked for more. No idea if a repair was ever attempted, but I have asked that too. No knowledge of the bracing pattern, sorry. Doesn't appear to be any issues north of the bridge.

Thank you!

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Estar sano. Más guitarra.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 1 2024 9:29:57

RobF

Posts: 1616
Joined: Aug. 24 2017

RE: ADVICE NEEDED: Hairline crack on... (in reply to silddx)

It's called a seam separation and it is fixable. There's probably a brace running either over or alongside the seam which complicates matters somewhat, but these things do happen and do get repaired.

Thing is, stuff like this shouldn't be evaluated online based on a single picture and the say-so of an auctioneer. The instrument needs to be in hand to properly assess the damage and arrive at a repair strategy. Anyone who tells you otherwise is full of it. Don't buy stuff like this in this manner. Even experienced people get taken at auctions (not just talking guitars here). Ask me how I know...

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 1 2024 15:31:47

silddx

Posts: 586
Joined: May 8 2012
From: London

RE: ADVICE NEEDED: Hairline crack on... (in reply to RobF)

Thanks very much, Rob. Greatly appreciated. It looks like a nice guitar otherwise and it might be worth a shot for a few hundred bucks.

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Estar sano. Más guitarra.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 1 2024 16:22:14

Ricardo

Posts: 14942
Joined: Dec. 14 2004
From: Washington DC

RE: ADVICE NEEDED: Hairline crack on... (in reply to silddx)

Those are some old and corroded strings there. If it is open, try a little humidity to see if it closes. It might be the case it was already patched. The issue is if it is wide open, it might run under the bridge which can affect the sound.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 1 2024 16:31:38

silddx

Posts: 586
Joined: May 8 2012
From: London

RE: ADVICE NEEDED: Hairline crack on... (in reply to Ricardo)

Yeah, nasty strings. Thanks for your advice, I'll see what they can tell me, and I have asked if there's any evidence that repair has been attempted.

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Estar sano. Más guitarra.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 1 2024 18:28:53

estebanana

Posts: 9396
Joined: Oct. 16 2009

RE: ADVICE NEEDED: Hairline crack on... (in reply to silddx)

If it’s a few hundred bucks it might be worth repairing.

Humidify, hide glue is your first course of action.

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https://www.stephenfaulkguitars.com

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 2 2024 2:28:47

silddx

Posts: 586
Joined: May 8 2012
From: London

RE: ADVICE NEEDED: Hairline crack on... (in reply to estebanana)

Thank you, Stephen, that's encouraging. It will be interesting to see more photos and information.

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Estar sano. Más guitarra.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 2 2024 8:33:40