Can this be Repaired?

[Billy Mack]

My mandolin is coming apart at the seam where the back/binding meets the side, right under the tailpiece. #There is about a 3 inch separation. #What is involved to get this repaired? #Does anyone have a recommendation for someone I could send this too? #I live in Colorado. #Thanks for any help.

[sunburst]

That can be repaired. If you haven't already, get the string tension off of the instrument!
No specific recomendations of repair people in your area, sorry.

It will likely involve some sort of form or clamping structure to re-align everything to glue.
I built one years ago that fits most mandos, most peaple that do this probably have one.

[BigJoe]

We can easily do this in our repair shop if you are interested you can e-mail me.

[Billy Mack]

Thanks for the info. I looked down today and saw that separation and it looked like a disaster. I have never had a problem like that before.

[Darryl Wolfe]

Big Joe..do you guys do those repairs similar to the way Frank Ford does in his Frets.com articles? I've been too busy to finish building the clamps, much less fix the three A-models I have with the same syndrome.

Darryl

[Mandopickr]

Where at in Colorado, there are several great, and very capable luthiers here in the Denver metro area alone.

[BigJoe]

Hey Darryl...I don't know how Frank Ford does it. I have not read the article. Depending upon the situation we find when we have the instrument in hand we make the determination as to how to proceed then. I realize the answer is somewhat vague, but it is hard to know what you will do till you have all the information. Thank you for your question.

[HoGo]

What type of glue would you use for this kind of repair? I have one with this syndrome that has GOK glue used. Possibly white. Should I go with white or what glue would you recommend?

[Billy Mack]

Mandopickr, I live in Parker. I know about the repair shop at the Ole Towne Pickin Parlor, but not much else.

[sunburst]

Darryl, I've seen Franks article. My jig works pretty much the same way. I built it before I saw the article, but I think I like mine better. I'll try to describe it.

I started with a piece of 3/4" plywood and cut out a piece shaped like the outline of a mandolin body, but about 2 inches bigger all the way around. I cut the inside out to allow room for the arched top (or back) with the rim resting on the plywood. It's padded with cork. It is also open on one end to allow room for the neck, so that it sort of resembles a toilet seat in a public rest room.

There's a wood rim fastened and glued around the outside edge of the jig so that I can put wood screws through all around the mandolin and push it into shape by selectively tightening the screws against the sides of the instrument. The screws have blunted points and I use scraps from mando sides as pads between them and the mando.

I can use it for F or A shaped mandolins.

Here's the part I like better than Frank's.
once the sides are aligned, I can glue and clamp the mandolin right in the jig and set it asside out of the way to dry.

Now for an advantage to Frank's method.
I now need to make another one for Mandola. His method fit's anything.

[Mandopickr]

Billy Mac, there's a guy in Colorado Springs at the folklore center named John Ramsey, not only does he do great repair work but he builds a pretty nice mandolin too. Also send an email to Jim Hillburn, he can probably name someone or maybe he could do the repair. The other guy I was thinking about moved away. Olde Town Pickin parlor did some fret work for me one time and I was very pleased with their work.

[Billy Mack]

Thanks for the info Mandopickr

[Greenmando]

Who's the maker? is it still under warranty?

[Billy Mack]

Greenmando - it is a Givens

[Givensman]

What number is the Givens Billy Mack? F or A?

[onlyagibsonisgoodenuff]

If you'd like to save some money, this type of repair can easily be done in the comfort of your own home and the parts are readily available at most hardware stores. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif

[Billy Mack]

Givensman - #645 signed 1/1/92; A model.

onlyagibsonisgoodenuff - that is what it would look like if I tried to fix it. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif # I am not much on repairs so I will have to learn how to take better care of my mando to prevent future damage!

[Darryl Wolfe]

Big Joe....Sunburst....thanks for your replies....I forgot about this thread and just got back to it. #From the for what it's worth department, I decided I was too busy to mess with a jig at this time and let Randy Wodd fix three A-models of mine with this same problem. #He did a nice job at a very reasonable price. #Two of the A-models are real projects....now I can proceed with the work that I like the best...binding, fingerboard, refin and generally making something nice looking out of a real junker.
Here's one..that needs the most work..

[Darryl Wolfe]

The other...a '23 snake A2

[Darryl Wolfe]

And the third one..a nice A-2 black face snake that was as bad as the brown one next to it

[Luthier Vandross]

Hey! I've seen those before!

We have a jig.. a slightly oversized mold, with screw plates..

This is not a job for people who lose hair easily. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

Next up on the plate is a nice black mandola.

-hair loss emoticon-


M

[Darryl Wolfe]

Hi Luthier Vandross..I'll be picking those up tomorrow (Thurs) around 3:00pm

[Luthier Vandross]

Nice to meet you, Sir!

We talked about your mandolin, and I have decided I could go up... a little bit.. ;)

How's 4x your money?

Be safe, and have fun with the Fr'A'nkenstein.


M

[Darryl Wolfe]

Yes..now we are talking...The brownface snakehead A2 after. A little binding cleanup and some french polish and we will be ready to go

[Darryl Wolfe]

And the neck is now in one piece too..a little careful camoflauge and...

[Luthier Vandross]

I dunno, I'd stick with the original color... but, if you are sold on camo, I like the green splotchy design.

;)

Miles

[Darryl Wolfe]

http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[Dan Adams]

Billy Mack: Or anybody else! Did you find somebody close to you (I'm also in Colorado)that has the skills to fix the crack? An friend just brought me his Mom's old mandolin, a mid teens Gibson A-Model, with two cracks just like the cracks and seperations in this thread. I'll post pics later. I need to first find out who can do the work, and secondly an approximate cost. The owners are unlikely to pay for repairs, but might be willing to sell the instrument. Its a prime candidate for a total refurbish. If I decide not to undertake this project, the mandolin will probably be offered for sale here on the Cafe if the owners agree. Unfortunately the finish has been removed, the bridge is gone, so I'll also be needing information on obtaining a replacement bridge, or a reproduction. Strange thing, the original pick guard is in place and the original tailpiece. The seperations look to be caused by moisture, because the serial number on the label is not readable. 32xxx. The thing is a twin to my near mint 1917, its just had a harder life. Thanks in advance for the information that will hopefully bring this instrument back into the playable world. Dan

[Luthier Vandross]

I love to start with that! I love bringing them back.. in pumpkin. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

Email me if you can't find someone to fix it locally, I'd love to have it.


Miles

[Dan Adams]

Lets try to upload the first picture. As always and experience.

[Dan Adams]

Well, guess I ougt to at least attemt to attach the photo.

[Dan Adams]

Crack resulting from one seperation.

[Dan Adams]

Lower seperation. Notice the color of the back, a far cry from the deep burgandy.

[Dan Adams]

The back.

[Dan Adams]

The top seperation. This seperation is on the rim, and to the left of the tailpiece, the bottem seperation is on the rim, and to the right of the tailpiece? The only other two small factors I can think of are the end pin is no longer all there, its chipped around the edges, and there is a missing washer form the top A sting tuner peg. You can actually see this in the first photo. Now where do we find those parts, along with a bridge? Hope the photos help. Thanks for the input! Dan

[Dan Adams]

Okay one last question. Any ideas of the value in this condition? We can obviously track the value of those that are playable by checking the web sites and watching ebay. This one has me stumped. If I decide to buy it I would offer them a fair price, but would have to take into cosideration the estimated cost for a restoration. Ideas? Thanks Again! Dan

[Luthier Vandross]

Cost of restoration.. hmm to look like minty new, with a carved bridge...

About $900.00-$1000, or soish, total.


M

[Billy Mack]

Plinker8 - There were some suggestions of local shops in the Denver area that are listed earlier in this post. I chose to send my mando to a luthier in Montana that was recommneded by a reputable dealer up there. I havent got it back yet, so I am reserving judgement. Good Luck

[Dan Adams]

Billy Mack: I actually send my mandolins to Bryan Kimsey in New Mexico. Great set-up luthier for guitars, has done me just fine with my mandolin, and Bryan is a great guitar player and mandolin player. I need to make contact with Bryan about another mando set-up and a minor bridge adjustment.

Now the owner is actually looking to have this old Gibson put into playable condition, and then decide what to do with the instument. Current price for the instrument seems to be a consideration, but no input so far from this board? Its hard to speculate on prices of instruments that need work. I might just offer a couple hundred, and worry about the restoration in time.

Pick my brains, Dan

[Billy Mack]

Well, thanks to Greg Boyd, and his house of fine people, I have received my Givens A4 back in great shape. He sent it to Luthier Kevin Kopp who repaired the separation as well as doing some fret work for me. #The repair is undetectable and the mandolin plays and sounds as good as ever. They are a great bunch of folks up there. # Happy Again!

[Billy Mack]

After..