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need help for buddy in Iraq
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Author:  rono [ Sat Oct 30, 2010 10:50 pm ]
Post subject:  need help for buddy in Iraq
I've been posting step-by-step photos of my first build on facebook and my friends and family have been following closely. I received a message today from a friend from high school. I haven't seen Mark in about 10 years. He's stationed in Iraq with the Air Force. His guitar was damaged during shipping on the way over. He asked me for help in getting it repaired.

He sent be a few pictures. It looks like the damage is on the treble side of the back...blew out along the binding. I don't know anything about the guitar. It looks like it's a laminated back- and the headstock looks fender-ish.

I know it's crazy to try and prescribe a repair based on 5 pictures of a guitar that's half a world away. I feel that his best bet is to wait until he arrives back home to get it repaired professionally. But, he's asked for help and I'd like your opinions.

Mark has a wife and three young children waiting for him here at home. If it costs me a couple hundred bucks to send him some clamps, a few feet of hardwood for clamping cauls, some fresh strings, and a bottle of titebond or CA to make his time overseas a little bit easier, well- it's worth every penny.

Here are the pictures Mark sent. I've asked from more info like make and model. Let me know what you think I should suggest.

Thanks-
Author:  bluescreek [ Sun Oct 31, 2010 7:01 am ]
Post subject:  Re: need help for buddy in Iraq
I can see that it isn't a Martin , but that doesn't mean it won't be a good guitar. I am guessing here but with a quick look see from your friend , If he can look inside with a mirror and not see any loose braces , he can fix this with some superglue and tape. The first thing he would do is to get thin super glue and with masking tape , secure the back with it. Then wick in the ca along the separated area. Allow some cure time and take of tape . Tape along the repaired area . A loose brace will sound thudy . That is another repair technique if he has to do that.
Author:  rono [ Sun Oct 31, 2010 9:36 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: need help for buddy in Iraq
Thanks John! The end of a roll of LMI binding tape will be way less expensive to ship than clamps.
Author:  Haans [ Mon Nov 01, 2010 4:17 am ]
Post subject:  Re: need help for buddy in Iraq
Most inexperienced folk are pretty dangerous with superglue. I'd send him a small bottle of Titebond and masking tape.
Author:  jfmckenna [ Mon Nov 01, 2010 10:48 am ]
Post subject:  Re: need help for buddy in Iraq
Haans wrote:
Most inexperienced folk are pretty dangerous with superglue. I'd send him a small bottle of Titebond and masking tape.

That's a good suggestion. I'd probably use CA on that but Titebond is very forgiving in both work time and clean up.
Author:  wbergman [ Mon Nov 01, 2010 11:07 am ]
Post subject:  Re: need help for buddy in Iraq
If it is a plastic binding, will Titebond be of any use?
Author:  jfmckenna [ Mon Nov 01, 2010 1:55 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: need help for buddy in Iraq
wbergman wrote:
If it is a plastic binding, will Titebond be of any use?

Looks to me that the back is actually separated.
Author:  Casey Cochran [ Mon Nov 01, 2010 5:41 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: need help for buddy in Iraq
Why don't we just send him a new guitar? I'll chip in. What an easy way to say "Thank you".
Author:  Haans [ Mon Nov 01, 2010 5:48 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: need help for buddy in Iraq
Yes, Titebond works with celluloid binding. It's not as sturdy as a cement or SG, but it's very forgiving, and can be cleaned off after with a damp cloth. I've used it a lot to glue binding on old Gibson mandolins.
Author:  bluescreek [ Mon Nov 01, 2010 6:52 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: need help for buddy in Iraq
the problem with tite bond in this situation is flow to cover all of the loosened area and that the old glue is still there. CA is not that big a deal and will have the highest chance of success . Also tite bond will not make a permanent bond to glued plastic binding. I agree , lets send him a new guitar.
CA with a good pipette is must .
Author:  Bobby M [ Mon Nov 01, 2010 7:04 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: need help for buddy in Iraq
bluescreek wrote:
I agree , lets send him a new guitar.
Count me in also. John, everyone here trusts you. How about you organize how to pull this off?
Author:  Rod True [ Mon Nov 01, 2010 8:37 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: need help for buddy in Iraq
Here's what I'd tell him.

Just tape it closed with duct tape, play the heck out of it when he can and tell him there will be a new guitar that you built for him when he gets home.
Author:  bluescreek [ Mon Nov 01, 2010 8:57 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: need help for buddy in Iraq
If you want to have a guitar drive , I think the desert is a hard place to have a high end guitar but the martin x series , will be great in this environment. the HPL is not affected by the arid desert or temp swings. If you would be interested In can see what the cost of one would be. I can also get blueridge so what do you want to do?
Author:  rono [ Mon Nov 01, 2010 10:16 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: need help for buddy in Iraq
[clap] [clap] [clap]

Wow, you guys are super generous. I have goose bumps here sitting on the couch. It's really great to know that there are such nice generous people here in the community.

I'm not going to tell you guys we shouldn't do this. By all means if you think we should go ahead with it I would be proud to donate. But, I really don't think it's necessary. He's done some self repairs on this guitar before. He even said that it's been 3 or 4 years since he's played this one.

Again, I'm really floored by your generous offers to put together a drive to get Mark a new guitar. This is totally unexpected. I don't want anyone to think that's what we were looking for- just needed some repair advice. This guitar seems to fit Mark's needs and skills.

Thanks again. [:Y:]
Author:  bluescreek [ Tue Nov 02, 2010 5:53 am ]
Post subject:  Re: need help for buddy in Iraq
Let Mark try the super glue fix and in the mean time see if we can't raise a few bucks. I will see what the cost is on a few decent guitars and then lets try and raise some money.
Author:  Haans [ Tue Nov 02, 2010 6:30 am ]
Post subject:  Re: need help for buddy in Iraq
I'd be inclined to go with Rod on this one. Duct tape is the way to go on this instrument and situation.
John, completely disagree on the bonding strength of Titebond on binding. It is totally acceptable for repair of binding on any instrument. I've use it on many mandolins and on my own '22 Loar era F4 and '16 A4, and they have held for MANY years. The important part is it does no damage to fragile varnish finishes on vintage instruments. C/A will ruin a finish faster than you can blink.
Guess we will just disagree on this...
Author:  bluescreek [ Tue Nov 02, 2010 7:23 am ]
Post subject:  Re: need help for buddy in Iraq
I agree that there is minimal damage risk with tite bond or hot hide glue. I have used tite bond on this repair only to have it come back later for repair repair. I would agree in some instances it may work . The original ivroids were put on with actetone. If the binding just came loose from adhesion failure I would think about that but if it shrank you may need something a bit more grabby.
I have a 1918 A5 in the shop with this situation. I may use the tite bond on the loose fretboard binding but I feel I need more hold on the curved area. I agree we all find out techniques and we may disagree . I hope we never get disagreeable.
Author:  Casey Cochran [ Tue Nov 02, 2010 8:04 am ]
Post subject:  Re: need help for buddy in Iraq
The guitar in the pics appears to be a Fender? I was thinking that it's probably not worth the effort to repair it. Obviously, it is a risk to ship a guitar that far. My suggestion was to send him a "player", but if someone wants to build one or sell one of their builds I'm all for it and I'll donate. Otherwise, have an old Yairi DY50N that I'll donate if I can get some help with shipping.
Author:  fingerstyle1978 [ Wed Nov 03, 2010 6:46 am ]
Post subject:  Re: need help for buddy in Iraq
APO Shipping to Iraq is not expensive at all. It is considered a US address and priced accordingly, you just have to fill out a customs form, otherwise it is the same as shipping in the US. I believe that guitar is a Fender Starcaster. If he likes it then great, but my point is this. If you are prepared to spend $100+ to send him stuff to fix that hunk of junk (if it is indeed what I think it is) you may as well just send him a new Fender. I think they go for $150.00. I bought several of them and had them shipped over to me while I was there to distribute to other soldiers. Since it is not 140+ degrees right now, this is the best time to ship guitars. It costs about $18.00 to mail a guitar to Iraq, and whatever you send will take at least 10 days to get there. More likely 2 weeks.

Hope this information helps.
Author:  bluescreek [ Wed Nov 03, 2010 7:58 am ]
Post subject:  Re: need help for buddy in Iraq
I will kick in $10 for shipping. I can pay through Ppal
Author:  Casey Cochran [ Thu Nov 04, 2010 7:51 am ]
Post subject:  Re: need help for buddy in Iraq
Do we want to try to get a new guitar or send him the old Yairi? If we want to send him the Yairi, anyone who wants to help with shipping can PayPal me at caseykacey@bellsouth.net.
Author:  rono [ Thu Nov 04, 2010 9:21 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: need help for buddy in Iraq
Casey Cochran wrote:
Do we want to try to get a new guitar or send him the old Yairi? If we want to send him the Yairi, anyone who wants to help with shipping can PayPal me at caseykacey@bellsouth.net.



Casey- You're really too generous. If you're sure you want to do that I'll check with Mark to make sure the address I have for him is still current. I can send it with paypal to cover shipping.

Thanks a lot man.
Author:  Casey Cochran [ Mon Nov 15, 2010 8:25 am ]
Post subject:  Re: need help for buddy in Iraq
What's the address?
Author:  rono [ Mon Feb 07, 2011 10:44 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: need help for buddy in Iraq
Sorry to dig up an old thread, but I wanted to publicly thanks Casey. I got a Facebook message today from my buddy Mark and he has received the guitar that Casey donated. It doesn't get him home to his wife and daughter any sooner, but it certainly made his week.

Thanks again Casey!
Author:  Casey Cochran [ Tue Feb 08, 2011 7:18 am ]
Post subject:  Re: need help for buddy in Iraq
My pleasure. I'm glad it made it to him in one piece.
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