Official Luthiers Forum!

I want to remove the top on one of my guitars, make a few changes and replace it. Is this possible, or should I just make a new top?
I'm thinking I would rout the binding and purflings off and then use an iron and spatula to remove the top. I would make the changes and replace it. It seems that this should work. I used fish glue, so it should come of easy and sanding the glue off and re-gluing the top back on should not be an issue. Is that right?
I'm sure that I'll need wider purflings. Is there anything else I should be concerned about?

_________________
"An adventure is only an inconvenience rightly considered. An inconvenience is an adventure wrongly considered." G. K. Chesterton.

One way is to remove the binding and use your binding cutter to route it off my making a deep cut

_________________
Andy Z.
http://www.lazydogguitars.com

Unless the top is really something special that you positively have to save, I would simply set the router for the top thickness, and route it off the linings. Leave a couple small spots on each side to support it, then just snap those off. Then make a new one, clean up the lining to glue it on, and rebind.

_________________
Tony Karol
www.karol-guitars.com
"let my passion .. fulfill yours"

If you are replacing the top, why do think you will need wider purfling? The only reason I could see is if you used full binding height purfling as apposed to thin purfling with a stepped channel. But even then unless you go over deep when routing off the existing binding and purfling that should not be and issue, especially if you make (thickness) your own bindings.

If the guitar is finished then use damp towels between the iron and top to avoid getting finish baked on the iron. My choice of removal implement is a hot seam knife after routing off the binding but a common spatula would work use toothpicks to keep the seam opened behind you work will make life simpler.

Many will rout off the binding then rout the old top right at lining height. I have done this as well and it is pretty simple to do. Always keep the base of the router over the lining and forward of where you have routed.

Thank you for your input. I've decided to replace the top. I'll just rout it off. This is a time I'm really, really glad I use bolt on neck and extension.

_________________
"An adventure is only an inconvenience rightly considered. An inconvenience is an adventure wrongly considered." G. K. Chesterton.

Unless you're in a big hurry why not try to remove it without damage. It will be good practice if you ever need to save a top that needs to be removed.

_________________
I didn't mean to say it, but I meant what I said.
http://www.brackettinstruments.com/

http://www.grevenguitars.com/GrevenGuitars.html. Then go to "extras", then "re-top how to".

_________________
John Lewis
Wannabe builder owned by 2 crazy dachshunds

You can most certainly do the method you described, I've done it before myself and it easy. However if you don't care about the top then you can actually remove it by routing it right off keeping the bindings in place. Make the new top to fit into binding and then maybe add one or two more purfling strips to hide the joint. Then you don't have to rebind or refinish the sides.