How to Replace an Arch Top on an Electric Guitar
The arch top electric guitar made its name as a jazz instrument because of its "fat" and mellow tone. Like its acoustic predecessor, it is large but lightweight. These guitars are not very robust instruments: the arch top can be as little as 1/10 of an inch thick. Repairing a damaged arch top can be very expensive, meaning that it may be worthwhile to do it yourself.
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Things You'll Need
- Screwdriver
- Small steamer with needle injector
- Putty knife
- File
- Finger plane
- Chisel
- Woodworker's knife
- Varnish
- Paint (optional)
- Glue
- Clamps
- Electronic tuner (optional)
Instructions
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1
Measure the size of the new arch top against the old one. If the fit is not exact, use the file and finger planes to adjust the size. If necessary, cut the holes for the pickups.
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2
Un-string the guitar and use a screwdriver to remove the pickups. Remove the bridge, pick guard and tailpiece.
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3
Inject steam into the seam where the top meets the side using the steamer. Loosen the glue all the way around the edge of the arch top. Use a putty knife with rounded corners to slowly and carefully loosen the arch top. Remove the top.
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4
Clean the old glue out of the seam with the chisel and woodworker's knife. Scrape and smooth the seam.
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5
Spread the glue around the inside of the seam. Place the new top into the body. Clamp the top to the sides; place the clamps as close together as you can. If needed, place pieces of leather or other padding under the jaws of the clamps to protect the wood. Clean up the excess glue with a damp cloth and let the glue dry for 24 hours.
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6
Paint or varnish the new arch top as needed to match the rest of the guitar.
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7
Re-install the pickups, pick guard, bridge and tailpiece. String the guitar and tune it with an electronic tuner or another instrument.
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Tips & Warnings
Modern electric arch top guitars use a floating bridge and floating pickups, meaning that they only have "f" holes in the top. Older models have floating bridges but fixed pickups.
Archtops are braced underneath. These braces can sometimes come loose or split, causing bulges in the top.
References
- Photo Credit musical instruments image by agno_agnus from Fotolia.com
