Hi everyone,
I'm wondering if anyone would be willing to share their thoughts or advice on how to approach a repair.
The patient is an Epiphone EF500RA (OM-style, IRW b/s, Sitka top, satin sunburst on the top). About five years ago it took a fall from the bed of a pickup truck and made contact with the towbar on the way down. Pics at the end of this post.
Since the accident it had been living a quiet life in a closet, until last week when the owner (an old friend) brought it to me for some advice.
I suggested that it was likely the cost of repair+finish touchup would approach or exceed the cost of sourcing an undamaged secondhand example of the same model off Craigslist. The owner has in any event already moved onto a new instrument and isn't too concerned about this one.
I'm a hobbyist builder who has been looking for likely patients upon which to practise and develop some repair skills, so I have half a notion to offer to purchase this thing for a nominal fee and see if I can go about getting it back in action.
Pics:
Took a look inside with a little camera and the carnage in these pics seems to be the full extent of the damage. No loose/cracked braces. All the damage is south of the bottom tonebar. The cracks don't seem to run under the x-brace. Sides are fine.
Even though there are no 'missing pieces' and I can align everything sorta OK with a clamp and some flexible plexiglass cauls, my instinct is that this is too severe to glue up and cleat. Perhaps I should look at cutting out the damaged section of soundboard and grafting in some new spruce?
What do you guys think? I would really appreciate any advice on what way to approach this
