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I managed to crack the lining when I glued in the backing for my soundport and the cauls weren't quite perfect. I tried to clean them up ended up over-sanding them a bit on the top and bottom. I've learned a bit about how much you can sand reverse-kerf linings which turns out to be not much.

So far I've thought about (1) try to remove and replace the lining, (2) Use a strip of veneer to dress it up, or (3) do nothing, chalk it up to experience, and just move on.

I would appreciate your thoughts and recommendations.

The crack is hard to see with the low resolution it's on the right side below the ebony backup. The sandthrough is pretty easy to spot though.

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Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"

I would probably do nothing, unless it is an eysore through the soundhole or soundports. Its hard to tell how much it will stick out, but my guess is not much.

If you have not glued the back on, that basswood reverse kerf stuff is pretty easy to slice off with an instrument makers knife like we have been talking about in another thread.

I'm not much of a neat freak about the inside, so i would probably leave it.

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Jordan Aceto
Ithaca, NY

I completely agree with Jordan and think that you are fine as is.

BTW a tip that I learned from Lance that greatly reduced any reverse kerf lining breakage for me is to soak them in very hot water for 60 seconds, pad dry and install immediately. Other than the pink bathtub ring from the Mahogany Bob's your uncle.

If you're really concerned back it with a strip of whatever (spruce or something) otherwise I'd leave it. No one's gonna look in there and if you try to remove it and redo them you risk creating more problems.

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Cat-gut strings are made from kitten guts, stretched out to near breaking point and then hardened with grue saliva. As a result these give a feeling of Pain and anguish whenever played, and often end up playing themselves backwards as part of satanic rituals.

Typhoon Guitars
http://www.typhoon-guitars.com

OK, #3 is it, I'll just leave it. As several of you noted it's not that noticeable (except to me - hah).

Hesh, I'll surely be using the hot water trick next time although I did figure out how to make joins in the lining that are very hard to see.

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Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"

Not to be a stickler for details, but your linings are backwards. Was it intentional???
In any event you shouldn’t have any issues with it

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Rich S

"The inconvenience of poor quality will linger long after the thrill of a bargain has been forgotten"

That's why it's called "reversed kerfling" because it's meant to be glued that way. It looks cleaner and the strip actually help to make the side stiffer.

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Cat-gut strings are made from kitten guts, stretched out to near breaking point and then hardened with grue saliva. As a result these give a feeling of Pain and anguish whenever played, and often end up playing themselves backwards as part of satanic rituals.

Typhoon Guitars
http://www.typhoon-guitars.com

Ya, sorry Rich S. It was totally intentional

It really stiffens up the rims using the reverse kerf linings.

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Rich S

"The inconvenience of poor quality will linger long after the thrill of a bargain has been forgotten"

No question; I would burn it. You have completely ruined what might have been a decent guitar.

Just kidding. Stucturally it shoud be fine. Don't make perfect the enemy of the good.

Steve,

For future guitars you may want to think about inletting the side braces into the linings rather than a butt joint as in the picture you posted. A side crack at the join would not be fun.

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Dave White
De Faoite Stringed Instruments
". . . the one thing a machine just can't do is give you character and personalities and sometimes that comes with flaws, but it always comes with humanity" Monty Don talking about hand weaving, "Mastercrafts", Weaving, BBC March 2010

burn it


For future guitars you may want to think about inletting the side braces into the linings rather than a butt joint

Good advice Dave. I will definitely do it different next time. I initially decided against the soundport since this is my first acoustic but changed my mind after the linings were in. The rest of the sides have bias-tape reinforcements running the full height every 5 in.

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Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"