Bridge re-glue, center seam & sound hole crack :: 1996 Martin HD-28 [4.9 lbs]

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Bridge re-glue, center seam & sound hole crack :: 1996 Martin HD-28 [4.9 lbs]

A player is taking his Martin along with him for an extended time down to Grenada (island in the Caribbean), so he stopped by for a check-up beforehand.  The bridge was coming up so it was removed, cleaned up and re-glued.  An existing top crack repair was coming apart so I removed a single cleat, glued up the crack and splinted it (fit a sliver of wood into the crack).  Lastly a sound hole crack was reinforced.  All ready for the island!

Top crack repair :: 2003 Taylor 214

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Top crack repair :: 2003 Taylor 214

Cleating a top crack with TJ Thompson's Crack Corrector jig.  Works great, really dig it.  I'll repeat this setup for a bookmatched crack on the treble side.

Check out this repair that was featured on my daily "On the Bench" vlog.  Subscribe to my Youtube to follow along.

Bridge re-glue :: 1996 Martin HD-28

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Bridge re-glue :: 1996 Martin HD-28

The bridge was removed, refit and re-glued with hot hide glue.  Before refitting the bridge, a top center seam crack was reinforced and splinted.

Center seam top crack :: 1996 Martin HD-28

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Center seam top crack :: 1996 Martin HD-28

I'm using magnets along with low-tack drafting tape to lay out the top bracing.  Once I find the braces, I can fit the cleats that I need to install in order to reinforce this open top seam.  Below I'm using TJ Thompson's top crack corrector jig (available through Stewart MacDonald) to install a radiused cleat that runs the length of the crack.

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Lifting bridge :: 2003 Taylor 214

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Lifting bridge :: 2003 Taylor 214

Using a Martin Guitars-inspired bridge removal tool from Stewart-MacDonald to pop off this failing bridge.  Before I refit the bridge, two top cracks will be addressed that run the full length from the outer bridge pin holes to the tail.