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Guitar Wizards - Help Me Fix my Guitar!

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samwise
Posts: 2592 - Karma: 36
So I passed an antique stand today and copped this vintage epiphone 12 string

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The problem is, the bridge is cracked. I can't tune it much past a step and a half below standard tuning without ripping the thing out. Anyone know how to go about fixing this myself?

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Thanks for the help!
Jun 27 2009 8:19PM
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Hansel.
Posts: 4583 - Karma: 112
first off take the strings off, you will prob need to replace anyway. second take it to a sam ash or a guitar center and have them fix/replace it. other than 1 person on ns (righteous.) your not going to get much of an answer past super glue/hot glue or mighty putty
Jun 27 2009 8:28PM
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Aaaron.
Posts: 11817 - Karma: 903
take it to a shop.
professionals are professionals for a reason.  best to protect your investment.
Jun 27 2009 8:42PM
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BigJew
Posts: 6974 - Karma: 79
Is the tailpiece itself cracked or is it just coming off the guitar?

If the tailpiece is cracked you'll probably have to replace it.

If it's just coming off the guitar, take off all the strings and the bridge and use a knife to pry the tailpiece off. Take some fairly rough soundpaper and pull off the old glue on the guitar and the tailpiece. Then use some wood glue (epoxy will work too) and glue it back on. You don't need very much glue. Clamp it down and leave it for at least a couple days before you restring it. It should be fine.
Jun 27 2009 8:51PM
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josh.
Posts: 3469 - Karma: 42
NO. they dont know what there doing there.

go to a Luther.
Jun 27 2009 9:22PM
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charmander
Posts: 10636 - Karma: 373
this
Jun 27 2009 9:27PM
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freezed
Posts: 12973 - Karma: 500
You can do it yourself for sure. Pry the whole tailpiece off the guitar, and sand down the area it was on so there is no glue residue there. Is your actual tailpiece cracked? If so, you need to get a replacement, like http://cgi.ebay.com/12-STRING-ACOUSTIC-GUITAR-BRIDGE-TAILPIECE-ROSEWOOD-A4_W0QQitemZ250447453256QQcmdZViewItem or whatever you think would be best for your guitar. If it's not, then all you need to do is glue it back on, check out this page....http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Glues,_adhesives.html

Stewmac is the best for all guitar supplies. You can get everything from there, also their customer service is really good, you can just call them up and talk to them and they'll help you out.
Jun 27 2009 10:02PM
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petesguitar1
Posts: 358 - Karma: 5
First option - Luthier - be sure to check some of their other work

I am kind of wondering about the 2 silver sticker / dots on the tailpiece. If the guitar has been repaired before then you may find some small dowells in there, hopefully not. Does the headstock look all original, so machine heads are all the same, no obvious extras or alterations. I only ask because this can sometimes be a result of excess tension, but usually found where someone strings a nylon string acoustic with steel strings.

If you don't care, have a crack at it yourself, but if you want something decent, get a professional to do it.
Jun 28 2009 8:29AM
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samwise
Posts: 2592 - Karma: 36
Thanks for all the help guys. I kinda want to do it myself, just a little project to keep me busy over the summer. But if it proves to be too much work, does anyone know how much getting it done professionally might run? It's by no means a really nice guitar, I just want something to mess around with, all I need is for it to play somewhat well.
Jun 28 2009 9:03AM
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Aaaron.
Posts: 11817 - Karma: 903
*luthier


and i can't see it running more than 20 or 30, if all they need to do is reset the bridge.
also, i would take it to the luthier with the strings already off, less work for him.
Jun 28 2009 9:30AM
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freezed
Posts: 12973 - Karma: 500
If they can just sand a bit down and reattach the same bridge, it shouldn't be very expensive.

like i said in my first post though, it's something you could do yourself if you wanted to.
Jun 28 2009 2:16PM
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