just looking for some thoughts on this one. i have an augustino loprinzi custom acoustic. it has a cracked headstock, this being the main issue, but also a seam split in the body. i'm seriously considering a DIY job, it's just too expensive otherwise and i want my baby back. i'm wondering, since the damage has already been done, can i do irreparable damage if i botch it up? i know this is ideally a pro job but it's around $500-$600 to get it done. would any of you guys attempt this yourselves? thanks.
mike

I'm o.k. with woodwork. That looks impossible to me. It seems you basically need to remake it from scratch. It it were a $20K vintage Les Paul maybe that would make sense. You can completely rebuild something with a pedigree, I have heard. For enough money.

What is that acoustic worth put back together?

I think I'd just move on from that one.

Remember, the Liberty Bell sounded better after it was cracked, maybe it's better just to leave it.........Kidding of course

I probably would try to fix it myself, but I ain't got good sense (and even less money) when it comes to stuff like that. If you do decide to try to fix the headstock, the existing crack will have to be opened up far enough to get glue back into the entire break, otherwise the stress will just open it right back up, and you'll have to make yourself some clamping jigs to give your clamps flat surfaces to pull against. A pro Luther would probably scarf a new headstock back into that neck, removing the old one entirely. The top is another matter, I've never worked on one where the top pieces separated like that, so I don't know how you'd need to fill and clamp it.

The difficult part in these repairs is repairing the finish afterward. The crack is just repaired with glue, or possibly a route and a wood bar for stiffening. In the picture of the headstock I can't see where the problem is.

Matching the finish will take skill and patience. Its probably going to gave polyurethane finish, and this is hard to blend (unlike nitrocelluloce). I have done a few guitar repairs and there are some guitar repair forums out there where you can get some excellent advice.

I would go ahead and attempt the repair, though I just looked on their web site and it looks like an expensive guitar. Is this in the $2000 to $3000 range? If so I would NOT attempt this as a first project. If you really want to learn how to repair cracked headstock, fix one on a $20 garage sale guitar first.

Headstock repair is pretty common; here it a typical thread: http://www.reranch.com/reranch/viewtopic.php?t=22862

just looking for some thoughts on this one. i have an augustino loprinzi custom acoustic. it has a cracked headstock, this being the main issue, but also a seam split in the body. i'm seriously considering a DIY job, it's just too expensive otherwise and i want my baby back. i'm wondering, since the damage has already been done, can i do irreparable damage if i botch it up? i know this is ideally a pro job but it's around $500-$600 to get it done. would any of you guys attempt this yourselves? thanks.
mike

Look for some of the guitar repair books sold by Stewart-MacDonald, written by Dan Erlewine.

You'll need special clamps for the body repairs.

Not many acoustic guitars have a poly finish because that's a good way to make it sound totally dead. Lopronzi is a decent guitar, IIRC and I would suspect that it is a nitro finish. Still, the right glue and care are needed for this to turn out well.

Best bet is to go to some gigs around town and ask who the players take their acoustic guitars to for repairs. They'll have a favorite and will usually recommend the better ones. If they mention Denny Rauen, he's one of the best around. If there's a guitar shop that sells mainly acoustic, ask them- I'm not sure $500-$600 is a good price unless the cracks have been there for a long time and dirt got in.

That price sounds way too high (about double what I would expect). Check some other shops. You might also check with the company to see what they would charge. If this were a $300 guitar I would say give it a go but this one seems to be worth the $ to fix right, which means professionally.


Augustino LoPrinzi Guitars and Ukuleles
1929 Drew Street
Clearwater, Florida 33765

Telephone: 727/447-2276
Fax: 727/446-7704
Email: loprinzi@gate.net

Not many acoustic guitars have a poly finish because that's a good way to make it sound totally dead. Lopronzi is a decent guitar, IIRC and I would suspect that it is a nitro finish.

Yes, you are right, lacquer per the web site. I would think the value of the guitar would be preserved if the original manufacture repaired it (ie, it might be more expensive, but it would be worth it in the long run).

If you send it back to the original builder, it will be considered legitimately "fixed" as to original specifications. If this is a big dollar guitar, that is probably the only way to the expected money out of it.

I know of someone who reportedly pulled a very collectible Les Paul from one of the local Goodwills. There it was, a heavy guitar with a broken neck. Someone had ragged it out something awful; beat up with spray paint, stickers, missing hardware. Stripping it down, it turned out to be very old and valuable. It went back to Gibson for a very expensive rebuild. Still, it is worth five times as much as anything Gibson might charge. Even 100% rebuilt, it still is what it was.

I guess I believe the story because I like it...

If you send it back to the original builder, it will be considered legitimately "fixed" as to original specifications. If this is a big dollar guitar, that is probably the only way to the expected money out of it.

I know of someone who reportedly pulled a very collectible Les Paul from one of the local Goodwills. There it was, a heavy guitar with a broken neck. Someone had ragged it out something awful; beat up with spray paint, stickers, missing hardware. Stripping it down, it turned out to be very old and valuable. It went back to Gibson for a very expensive rebuild. Still, it is worth five times as much as anything Gibson might charge. Even 100% rebuilt, it still is what it was.

I guess I believe the story because I like it...

and you're hoping you find one next :)

The cheapest guitar on their site is $2200. I'd say it's worth having a pro do it.

The cheapest guitar on their site is $2200. I'd say it's worth having a pro do it.

I agree, and I would send it to LoPrinzi for repair.

wow thanks guys for the info. i've decided NOT to attempt this repair, it's worth too much to me to risk messing it up more, and not in a monetary sense either. the tone i get from this guitar rivals some old martins i've played. and gibsons too. i believe this guitar is from the late 70's. aside from the obvious issues it also needs considerable fretwork which i have no idea about so it's best to let a pro do it. i called loprinzi and spoke to a woman who said it could be fixed, she said they will fix their guitars, thanks Wuchak for the contact info. i'm torn however between the repair being done by the actual builder or s.b. macdonald, who highfigh mentioned. he has a great website and a good reputation it seems. either way i appreciate the responses and i'm sure it's better to spend the $$ than to take on something like this myself.
mike

wow thanks guys for the info. i've decided NOT to attempt this repair, it's worth too much to me to risk messing it up more, and not in a monetary sense either. the tone i get from this guitar rivals some old martins i've played. and gibsons too. i believe this guitar is from the late 70's. aside from the obvious issues it also needs considerable fretwork which i have no idea about so it's best to let a pro do it. i called loprinzi and spoke to a woman who said it could be fixed, she said they will fix their guitars, thanks Wuchak for the contact info. i'm torn however between the repair being done by the actual builder or s.b. macdonald, who highfigh mentioned. he has a great website and a good reputation it seems. either way i appreciate the responses and i'm sure it's better to spend the $$ than to take on something like this myself.
mike

Actually, the luthier I mentioned is Denny Rauen:
http://www.rauenguitars.com/

and Stewart-MacDonald is a supplier of luthier parts, tools and accessories. I think I also mentioned Dan Erlewine books, available from Stew-Mac.

Looks like SB MacDonald is pretty well qualified, though.

It seems to me that the repairs would need to be disclosed if you were ever to sell this instrument. The repair will need to have a pedigree, make sure you can document who did the work. That will establish the top dollar value.

That is really cool to bring it back to life. Curious how much such a repair will cost.

Neat website, highfigh. Thanks.

Neat website, highfigh. Thanks.

+1. i'll definitely consider this guy. if keith richards trusts him i think i can. :thmbsp:

+1. i'll definitely consider this guy. if keith richards trusts him i think i can. :thmbsp:

'Dat's Keef, mate!

Denny does a lot of restorations, including repairs for the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra. Most of the musicians listed are local but some, like Willie Porter, BoDeans, Violent Femmes, Buddy Guy, Keef, etc really want things done right and he does it that way.

Please let us know where you decide to have it repaired and post some pics once it's done.

Just goes to show that "you learn something new everyday". This thread is the first time I've ever heard this guitar maker mentioned, so I was unfamiliar with the quality of the instrument we were talking about.

I'll amend my earlier post by saying: If you've got a guitar that plays and sounds as good as vintage Martins or Gibsons, then by no means attempt to repair it yourself. Fixing it yourself is fine for a $300 guitar, but for a piece as nice as this, it's worth the money to have it done properly. A great Luther can work miracles.

getrigt99, Certainly agree having a pro at this one is the right choice. That said I've not done a split soundboard yet but I've done several broken headstock repairs and a neck reset. Depending on the crack/break repairing the head may not be difficult. There are some really good examples of the process on the web. What ic-racer said is dead on. Getting the finish right after the repair can be the hardest job. I would advise anyone attempting to do a repair like this for a guitar that is good but not quite good enough for a pro then read up well on the right glues, tools, process, etc, and practice several times on a not so precious instrument. If you keep your eyes open guitars with broken headstock that can be had for next to nothing show up. When fixed can be kept, handed off, or resold (with full disclosure of course).