re-attaching an old guitar label

[Brian Stewart]

I'm fixing a mid 60s Epiphone Cortez that has a bunch of cracks in the back and top.  Using steam, I removed the old label so it would not get damaged while repairing the guitar.  I also needed to re-glue the center-strip on the back, so the label had to come out.  Anyway, taking the label out was sort of a success in that it came out, but it did tear and it is quite delicate.

As I near completing the repairs, I'm thinking about the best way to re-attach the label.   Since the label is nearly torn in half, I'm thinking about maybe gluing it to another sheet of paper before re-attaching it to the guitar.  Maybe this is overkill?

Either with a backer or not, is there a recommended glue for this job?

Thanks,

Brian

[Robbie Collins]

You may have a better chance of realigning the edges outside the guitar. If you use a backer, make sure it is acid-free.

[Matt Haugen]

I have used double sided tape with great success on several occasions of reattaching labels. I use the pickguard adhesive sheets that stew-mac sells. It has worked great, added stability to delicate labels and I haven't had one come loose yet. I believe I read a thread about Frank Ford using gelatin to affix repair labels to guitars as well, I don't know if that would be the right move for you, but just wanted to pass that along as well.

[casey campbell]

contact cement perhaps?  it's not wet enough to hurt the label, and yea, i think a very thin backing on the label would be ideal. 

[Ned Knepp]

As usually, the Wizard of Frets has paved (glued?) the way here. It worked pretty well for me.

[Richard Bales]

I usually put repair labels on the underside of the top plate.  They are out of the way and not generally visible.  But I reverse the label -the font and printing are backwards.  That way, when someone looks inside with an inspection mirror, the printing is right way around.   Simple to do when you use a computer to print the label.