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Someone obviously flubbed up on this one...my guess is that they didn't drill a pilot hole and caused the crack. A friend of mine picked this guitar up for cheap and came to me for the repair. Now, the real question is whether I should just glue the crack and clamp it, leaving the strap button in the same place; remove the strap button,repair the crack then fill the hole; etc.? I do not think that the structure of the guitar has been affected by this crack (he has had the guitar for 6 weeks and the crack has not enlarged at all), but what do you suggest I do? By the way, I am new to the forum have built 2 guitars from kits and very much enjoy anything guitar. Thanks for the help in advanced.

You are right ,someone flubbed it. It is also a good point to show where not to put a strap button. You have a few options . First get the screw out and see if the crack will clamp shut. If it will then wick CA into it . Next you have to decide how best to hide this. I suggest one of 2 things. Drill out the hole a little under the side of the button. Use a glue like tite bond and glue in the plug. I would only drill about 1 inch in. Use a good hardwood dowel and redrill and mount the button back in. That should help to stabilize and secure the crack and supply some support .
The other option is add a heel cap and move the strap button to the side of the neck.

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John Hall
blues creek guitars
Authorized CF Martin Repair
Co President of ASIA
You Don't know what you don't know until you know it

Looks like you already got two answers while I was getting ready to respond. But I agree wholeheartedly. Remove the button, repair the crack, and relocate the button. Also a good time to add a heel cap - they're not just for looks, but give some extra stiffness and support across the grain.

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Wes McMillian
Santo, TX
http://www.wesmcmillian.com

I've suggested CA on a very similar heel crack on another forum and some folks argued CA and hog don't match well because of the pH...

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Build log

Looks like great minds think alike Hey Todd? LOL
Todd can you call me ?
john

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John Hall
blues creek guitars
Authorized CF Martin Repair
Co President of ASIA
You Don't know what you don't know until you know it

I would use hot hide glue for a repair like this. I think CA should only be used for repairs when you have a crack that is so tight that other glues will not penetrate sufficiently. This crack is open enough that hot hide glue would easily penetrate it.

I would definitely move the strap button too - as a player that location would make the guitar hang wrong for me.

If you do plug the hole you might consider using a contrasting plug such as ebony or even abalone.

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Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"

Alexandru, I did some test gluing with thin ca on cracked mahogany. On all three tests I did, the glued crack was stronger than the surrounding wood

DJR,

Welcome. It would be good if we had a name to address you by, either in your user name or sig.

If that were in my shop, I'd use hide glue for fear of having CA migrate and glue the neck to the body, which would make for a very unpleasant surprise for some repair person who has to do a neck reset sometime down the road. CA would adhere very well to the finish under the heel, hide glue perhaps not so much.

Pat

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formerly known around here as burbank
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http://www.patfosterguitars.com