I have just removed the back from a Goya 12 string guitar, and am preparing to remove the huge plywood bridge plate and re-profile and re-locate some of the braces so I can turn it into a good instrument.
I've opened a few backs before, and all but one were originally assembled with hide glue. The back on this one was assembled with white PVA glue, and took it much more time and care to get it off cleanly. I'll put it back on with hide glue. I'll probably also use it for the new bridge plate and any braces that I move or replace.
After 20+ years of instrument work, I think my choices through carefully. As has already been said, "The right glue for the right job."
I use 6 glues in the shop: Hot hide glue and Titebond Original for general carpentry; liquid hide glue for frets, nuts, and occasional low stress joints; Wilsonart Melamine glue and Duco cement for plastic bindings; and CA, mostly for patching fingerboards and filling nut slots. The longer I do this work, the less often I use CA.
I always keep in mind that the next person who works on the instrument does not need to struggle with the consequences of a bad glue choice.
The stains are from the removal process. They will be sanded out before re-assembly.
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