How to Fix Separating in Guitars

Laminated guitars can separate. Repair them with glue and clamps.

Most electric guitar bodies are laminated. This means that they are made up of numerous pieces of wood that are glued together. If the guitar has been exposed to high moisture or humidity, glue joints can separate, even if the guitar has been adequately finished. Wood contracts and expands, some at different rates. This can also create laminated joints to separate. You can surgically inject some glue and clamp together almost any guitar separation.

Things You'll Need

• Masking tape
• Putty knife
• Utility knife
• Glue
• Hand clamps with soft pad covers
• Furniture polish
• Cloth

Instructions

1. Stick masking tape along the sides of the separation, as close to the separation as possible.

2. Insert the tip of a putty knife into the separation. If the separation is too small for the putty knife, use the tip of a utility knife.

3. Pry gently on the knife to open the crack slightly. Push the knife in deeper to hold the separation open as far as you can.

4. Hold the tip of a putty knife against the separation and squeeze hard to inject glue deep into the separation. Continue injecting glue until it will not absorb any more. Use your finger to force more glue into the separation.

5. Clamp the separation shut with a hand clamp. The separation should close tight enough that you should hardly be able to see the original separation. If the separation is longer than three inches, use two hand clamps. Wait 24 hours for the glue to dry.

6. Pull off the masking tape. Spray some furniture polish on a soft cloth. Use the cloth to remove any residual dry glue from the guitar by polishing it vigorously.

Tips & Warnings

• You can also use this technique on guitar headstock or necks. If you can still see a fine white line where the separation was, use a color-matching stain marker to color the crack the same as the guitar body.

• Pad the jaws of the clamps with cloth pads to prevent denting of the guitar body if your clamps do not have plastic- or rubber-covered heads.