Undisclosed repairs

everett

Hi All

i'm writing to hear other people's experiences in purchasing used guitars. i recently bought a used top-shelf gypsy guitar and after getting it home i realized there was a (undisclosed) repair done from a crack in the top. the repair looks very stable and the guitar sounds really good, but i just wish i knew about it before i purchased it since it was a considerable investment for me.

i know the sound is the most important thing...has anyone had this experience? i expect a fair amount of work on vintage instruments, but this is a modern build. i chunk away on my guitars so i just want to make sure it's ok. what's your take on the valuation of a repaired axe?

Craig Bumgarner

Cracks along the grain are not that uncommon and as long as they don't get out of hand, do not detract from the sound or the integrity of the instrument. They usually result from humidity changes, so keeping the guitar storage environment stable is helpful of course, in particular watch out for drying. Cracks, if small and not gaping, maybe okay without any repair, but a proper repair will likely stabilize the crack. A proper repair is unobtrusive, light weight and takes the structure into consideration. A good repair is usually a near 100% solution structurally.

Cracks that cross the grain are of much more concern as they suggest some serious stress or trama. These should set off alarm bells. Repair of such cracks can be done of course, but they are harder to do and are usually more visible. If you want to see just how much can be done, check out Eimer's page on restoring a Selmer that got crushed in the case:

http://www.eimersguitars.com/restauration.html Scroll down to Selmer 657.

The VALUE of the instrument, as opposed to its ability to make music, is another matter and it will depend largely on the buyer. Some could care less about minor, along-the-grain cracking, some would not dare buy into such a thing. In a vintage instrument, it is generally seen as coming with the territory which suggests to me that non-structural cracking is not really a big problem, more of an emotional response. In a newer instrument, the concern will be mishandling or latent defect though in many cases it is just the wood accommodating itself to the environment. A high end guitar is likely a light weight and fragile thing. Considering the forces and the fact that some weigh less than 3.5 pounds, its a wonder they don't fly apart in the first couple weeks.

A high end guitar is more likely to be purchased by a more experienced buyer who will probably know how to evaluate cracks without a lot of drama. Everything being equal, however, a crack, like any other deviation from "like new" will likely effect the ultimate value to some degree.

Craig