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Hi

A friend gave me this Martin backpacker to fix. He said he had sat on it.

From the looks of it, the top cracked, but it looks repairable. The back has also cracked across some braces, and it may be fixable as well, but I don't know how I am going to get a clamp in it. Perhaps that Stewmac repair jack thing would work...

The guitar looks to be all solid, the neck and side is made of one piece of wood (basically, the neck has two thin pieces of wood extending out the heel, which is expanded into the side). The guitar is strung with nylon string, so it doesn't look like the tension is that much. I think I might be able to get hide glue into the crack and clamp it shut, most the damage seem to be at the edge.

Also, the top has separated from the side at the break, so I will have to glue that back in as well...

How much should I charge for such work?

_________________
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

1 Hour = $ ????

I wouldnt spend more time than that

Agree with Steve. I have one of these. Less than $150 used.

Sounds like its going to be more work to repair it I guess, I mean the amount I would charge may be close to, or higher than the replacement value of this guitar. I'll have to ask the owner if this thing has sentimental value to him.

The crack on the top is quite extensive, it pretty much runs the length of the body from the soundhole, and the back is also cracked. The back to side joint has also cracked in two places. I wouldn't know if I'd be able to get a clamp inside the thing... seems easier to retop the guitar since the top isn't too securely attached to the side (no kerfed linings or anything!)

_________________
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

Tai, I seem to get a lot of repair jobs from frineds, musicians with not many biscuits,
on instruments, amps, whatever, that ain't worth much.
I'd charge $50, and spend more time that I wanted to on it.
Practice your repair skills.

Thanks for the advise.

At least it looks more repairable than that ovation I saw before... that one had neck angle problem (someone seems to have reset the neck but did not get the angle right, I didn't think it was possible to remove an ovation neck), and a loose bridge.

_________________
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

i picked up one from martin that was damaged many years ago just to see how hard they were going to be to work on .
the one i got looked pretty much like the one you have ..
i wound up taking the top off , doing the back and side repair with it off .
then just replaced the top ..
more time than i would ever get paid for , but it was interesting just to see the inside .