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Greetings,

The pictuare sais it all.

http://www.image4u.org/host/public/pview/606/s6%20%2B%202.JP G

I am looking at an s6 + cedar inwich the entire front panel is nicely cracked and busted. The rest of the guitar is however intact, neck, inner framework, bridge ect all in fine condition.

 

Recomendations?

 

My options would seem to be a)try to find an actual s6 + flattop and replace it. b) hire someone to fashion a replacement for me, and b) quit being a wuss and just tackle the project like i mean it, grrr. Not that I am by any means a luthier myself....so option c is fairly bold and maybe stupid.

wark atoo
To start with, I have no idea the value of a Seagull s6 If a solid wood or laminate, highend, middle or low end just not up on the brand or know anything about it.
If repair, suggest retop. that may however, unless someone just want to be nice and some experience be an expensive thing. maybe more than guitar worth, depends on who does it and how much they charge for that kind of thing. Where I am at, probably cost more to fix than replacment of guitar.

If want to start learning maybe with some (well maybe alot) of help, retop it yourself. Cut the fretboard off at the body, clean up and make and put new top on. EASIER SAID THAN DONE THOUGH. But if a project and want to to learn, go for it.
If this is not a real expensive guitar, buy another. If expensive fix it.

Find a builder and have a new one built. There are folks here who can do that. How much that would be as opposed to buying another of same brand or retop may depend on who did the build. Ask and shop around, may get a better guitar for same or if not much more money.

Very timely post as I just had someone call me to do the exact same repair, on a Seagull no less. (It wasn't you was it?)
A little while ago I saw a tutorial of a builder(who's name escapes me) retop a guitar without touching the binding. Absolutely brilliant! That might be a bit out of your league, it's certainly out of mine.
Here's how I'd tackle it:
1) heat the end of the fretboard with an iron until you can get some sort of thin blade under it. Use your wife's cake decorating knife, it works great. You'll just want to work the knife under it until it's free of the top. Then get in and unbolt the neck.
2)Next I'd route off the rest of the old top. I think in this case I'd put it face down on a router table. Using a binding cutter cut the bindings off and then use the same knife and iron to remove the top from the linings.
3) make a new top (easier said than done)
4) mount the new top on the guitar
5)route new channels and re-bind the guitar.
6)re attach neck and bridge.
That's all there is to it.
Yes, it's a pretty big job. And yes, it's will likely cost more than the guitar. But on the other hand, it might be a chance to make a decent guitar really nice. If I were doing repairs, I'd do it in a heartbeat as I hate to see things get thrown away that can be used again.
Good luck with this. Paul

[QUOTE=Pwoolson]
A little while ago I saw a tutorial of a builder(who's name escapes me) retop a guitar without touching the binding. Absolutely brilliant! That might be a bit out of your league, it's certainly out of mine.
[/QUOTE]

Paul,

I think it was John Greven. Got to the Extras page and then Re-top How To.

Awesome

_________________
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

Yes, Dave, John was indeed the builder I was thinking of. Friggin' brilliant. All I can do is sigh and shake my head in disbelief. Humph!

Dave-
Thanks for the Greven link- pretty 'cool hand with a router, for sure. One slip (in any direction) and you're toast.
Something to shoot for!

John

whilst pauls "all there is to it" is a bit breezy he is correct, even though he hasn't enumerated all the sub-steps constituting his suggested plan of attack.

i doubt the seagull would be an economically realistic repair proposition if you have to pay some one to do it. but to do it yourself the materials costs would likely not exceed $45, but depending on your woodworking skills and available tooling it should be very doable.

Wark, my friend, I think re-topping this guitar yourself is a nightmare waiting to happen, unless you have, or are willing to aquire, a lot of detailed knowledge. I think some of the well-meaning folks here who suggested that you try it have forgotten about the minutiae they had to learn at the beginning.

It looks like it was used in a professional wrestling match. If you want to learn to build guitars and have the time, I think I would try to build a completely new one. Sometimes old cars are just not worth fixing unless they have great sentimental value. Do you love your Seagull that much?

One thing that can help when making a new top is to make a pattern of the sides and put the sides in a small mold before removing the top. With the top off the sides will have a tendency to move out of position and that can make putting a new top on troublesome. Good luck if you go for it. I dont know if it is worth it or not but it could be good practice for later even if the guitar isn't worth much.

Blake

If it were mine I'd go ahead and try to retop it. What have you got to lose? You're obviously not going to decrease the value more than it already is.

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Dave Rector
Rector Guitars

Hey, it looks in the perfect condition for a Dreadnaught to me .

Colin

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I don't believe in anything, I simply make use of a set of reasonable working hypotheses.