Parallel cracks in guitar side

[Keith Somerville]

Hi, all. Customer has brought in her cherished old classical which has suffered an accident. Finding it really tricky to align the cracks: have tried all manner of magnets, clamps, go-bars. Any ideas?

[Greg Mirken]

Can you push the sides into alignment with your thumbs? If the crack runs obliquely through the side one edge can get pushed past and lock against the other. Sometimes flexing the side will enable it to snap back into place, sometimes running an exacto blade along the crack will help.

[David Farmer]

Looks nasty.

Is the upper crack exactly along the lining?

probably have to do it in small sections.

A spreader on the inside to let parts pass each other as Greg said might work with magnets to keep things flush when brought back together.

Here's one method I use. A piece of plastic flexed with pairs of strong magnets to line things up.