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Hello,

I'm not sure how I overlooked this, but there is a purfling mistake on the back of this latest build which is providing a unique opportunity for me to be creative. Below is a pic. I've already put the first coat of z-poxy on so I'm hoping to avoid going backward to try to fix it.



My first thought was some type of decorative heel cap that would sit over top of the binding. It would create a bump on the back of the guitar though. Something like this:



I'm wondering if anyone has seen a design like this before or if it perhaps has a name (I learned volute recently, maybe this type of heel cap has a special name ). Doing an image search for "guitar neck heel cap" I didn't see any images of a heel cap that was not just flush or slightly short of the back of the guitar.

The binding scheme is Ebony with w/b strip. I thought about maybe a piece of ebony shaped to cover the area. I was planning to have the heel shape be a D shape, around 12-15mm wide or so.

Any hints on the heel cap approach or other ideas how to cover up would be appreciated.

Thanks!
Brad

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If I was to fix that I would lift the ends of the bindings using a heat gun and re-glue or just reset while hot so that it lines up. The end gap/design opportunity would make neck resets a real mess finish wise. I will bet you will lose nothing but a bit of time as the zpoxy is still in whatever pores it is in.

Looking at the picture you may be able to use a heat gun to heat the high binding and pull it down with tape. PVA is a bit thermoplastic so it will reset.

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Of course! That would be a huge problem to deal with in a neck reset.

OK, I will try to fix it then. Thanks for the pointer about the neck reset!

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More work maybe, but if that fix fails, put in a back center strip of ebony, mitering in with the white.

Was this a well executed embellishment or save -- we can't tell so that is a good thing.

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Ken Cierp

http://www.kennethmichaelguitars.com/

I too would go with John's 'fix'. It looks like there is plenty of our purfling material to make it look good

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Joe Beaver
Maker of Sawdust

Thats san easy fix. Just scarf in a small piece or use a heat and work it and fix it. Could be as pretty quick fix.

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A heel cap like the one you are thinking of would only lead others to wonder what you are covering up.
Take a day off and think about it. Then fix it. You have one chance to get it right.

So many times I have tried to make something look a little better, only to make it look a lot worse...I would leave it alone and try not to do it next time.

What's going on there? Binding didn't get clamped down or purf channel was to big ? Close up pic?

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Pat

"I've already put the first coat of z-poxy on so I'm hoping to avoid going backward to try to fix it."

Choices:
1. Don't
2. Using a single edge razor blade cut the purfling lines loose, remove a sliver of wood from the back and push the lines into place.
3. Add a back strip
4. Scarf in a small section of purfling

I've done all those things at one time or another. All but the first choice can make it look worse (or better).

I have heated and realigned binding in that area. It works. Might have to scrape out some cement with a #11 blade or dental probe to get it aligned. Clamping tight would be easy with a long bar clamp and you could spot glue it with CA under direct vision.

That's what I think I'd try.

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It's not what you don't know that hurts you, it's what you do know that's wrong.

why not just make ur heel cap flush. u can route down the overlap area of the box so the cap fits in nice and snug. (p.s. i've never built a guitar in my life. still working on the basics : )

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