Official Luthiers Forum!

This is a Jasmine Takanime. Owner wants it fixed. I’m dubious. They worth nothing really. Unless I got something wrong. Was thinking a screw through the heel. Or just pass. Thoughts?

pass often the work far exceeds the value.

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John Hall
blues creek guitars
Authorized CF Martin Repair
Co President of ASIA
You Don't know what you don't know until you know it

Yeah, not shown in that picture is how high the strings are. I’m worried I’d get the neck stabilized only to find it was unplayable, not adjustable.

Might be a good birdhouse.

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

Weld it.

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"Act your age, not your shoe size" - Prince

Be sure to use an oxy-acetylene torch if you do.

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Jim Watts
http://jameswattsguitars.com

You guys are brutal but honest. Opinions accepted.

Very slightly water down some Titebond, work it in, and clamp overnight. See where the action is at that point. Ten minutes of effort. Sometimes the financial value is not what is most valuable to a client…

If you have it, perhaps Titebond Extend, thinned, could penetrate more than regular Titebond before trying to set, maybe?

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Peter Havriluk

Nice to see so many correct answers here, good going guys.

Mike walk away as you suspected. The instrument likely needs a neck reset it's age is correct and you mentioned we could not see the string height implying a problem. The neck joint is pinned/doweled and although they can be reset no one in the commercial world who has any sense would do it. It's risky, can result in major scope creep and the reset should cost more than two of these guitars are worth....

Because it may or does needs a neck reset this is likely the causation of the heel break. It also changes the neck angle enough to increase the pull on the heel and specifically the lowest, narrowest part of the heel where it is weakest.

Fixing the heel is fixing the symptom of a much greater malady it needs a neck reset and until that reset is done which would require repairing poly finishes as well the heel is likely to break again and again.

To be clear it can be fixed. Anything can be fixed but those with experience know to avoid the risk on a slog like this. One very good shop was sued over a guitar like this that they took on knowing they should not have. It's a well known story in the business and was very ugly for all concerned. A top shelf luthier made the mistake of taking it on, it did not turn out well because it was never intended to have the neck joint taken apart like this one and they got sued.

One of the very most important parts of being a repair luthier is knowing when to say no. We are inherently helpful people and crafty too so we want to help but there are times to just tuck that away for another day where we may be more assured that our labors and efforts are both productive and successful.

My last sentence would be beneficial to perhaps read twice folks..... The number one reason commercial lutherie shops fail is attempting to be all things to all folks....

As a "project guitar" for someone who dabbles the same risks exists without the reputational hit risk and there is nothing to be gained in so much as the experience gained from say a butt joint conversion will never be used or useful again. It's simply a project if one wants one with zero learning potential.

Because people know that some of us build guitars or are luthiers professionally they bring us things to find out the possibilities. Declining on jobs where the economics are not there or, or the instrument was never built to be serviced in the future with in this case an unserviceable neck joint is all very common in the commercial repair world. This is not a Hesh thing this is what I learned from others who do it too. We decline on over 50% of what comes our way and that's common for shops with work to do, a decent reputation and knowledgable crew working there.

But people will ask if it can be fixed and that's our opportunity to suggest if a replacement is to be had do everyone a favor and go with something serviceable built in the Martin style of a traditional acoustic guitar that with servicing can be kept alive forever more.

PREACH IT!

Unfortunately, you need to be in the business for awhile to realize the length and breadth of Hesh's statement.

I've been doing this over 45 years now, and I still need to remind myself. When you have a client who has been with you for multiple decades with money to throw away and a silver tongue, it's hard to say no.

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"Act your age, not your shoe size" - Prince