To do the job properly would require the bridge, fretboard and soundboard [top] to be removed. The sound board would need to be replaced necesitating new bracing, placement and reglueing the bridge and finally the fretboard.. In other words the guitar would need to be pretty much rebuilt. I decided, with the clients ok, to go ahead and attempt to patch it up. The cost of the above repairs would easily exceed the replacement cost of the guitar.
Below: Work has progressed to the stage that the soundboard has been patched up and sanding the top has begun.
Even though it looks uneven at the bottom left it is actually pretty level .
I said initially that it was not going to be pretty but should be stable enough to support light guage strings and still sound pretty nice. No guarantees on the latter unfortunately, This however is the only way this guitar will survive. I was right about the frist statement, it is downright ugly and i decide rather than just coat the exposed wood to water proof it, I would sand off the varnish and redo the top. It will at least look a little more even.
Unfortunately for me the finish is the worst of all types, a hardcore
poly which has no solvent and has to be removed with sandpaper. These
days most cheaper guitars [under $2000] are coated with this stuff as
it is easy to apply in an industrial setting, requires no handwork and
can be knocked about a bit in the factory setting without being damaged.
A good quality instrument is built with repairs in mind and the glues
and finishes used allow ways to remove and undo if necesray. High tech
industrial adhesives and finishes do not.
Below:
final rough sanding is complete and it now requires a good rub down with
ever finer grades of paper to get a decent feel to it. Once that is done
it can be sealed with white polish and some good quality varnish applied.
I will go for a satin finish as the budget does not allow for high gloss.
