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Post by wilbotan on Jun 20, 2019 9:48:48 GMT
Hi All, Been loving this Lightning since I got it last September. Long story short, it fell face first onto the floor as the neck was resting on a chair that got moved. Didn't think much of it at the time as it wasn't a big fall. However, when I went back to play it the next day the action was really high, and I noticed that the heel had come away from the body (hopefully you can see this in the photos?). My question is whether this it would be possible to fix this myself? I've just been told my job isn't continuing past July so sending it off for repair isn't currently an option. Feel like such an idiot for letting it drop, hoping there's a way that I can get it back up and playing again. Thanks in advance for any help you guys might be able to give! Cheers, W. Attachments:
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Post by pete1951 on Jun 20, 2019 12:53:48 GMT
You need to know how the thing is put together before you take it apart, looks like the join between the neck and neck-stick has broken. You might be able to see the break through the F hole, taking a picture of it is tricky. Have a look and get back to the forum. Pete
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Post by Michael Messer on Jun 20, 2019 13:11:23 GMT
Hi William
Oh dear.... that's a bit of a nasty wound. #170043 is only a few months old
Pete is right that you need to understand how it is put together, but let's see some photos first.
As it is now unplayable, my advice is to take the strings off, take the coverplate off, lift out the cone and take some photos for us.
Do not remove the tailpiece, just the coverplate. This is because there is a block of wood that might well fall out of its position if you loosen the tailpiece screw. The coverplate will lift out with the tailpiece in position.
Seeing some photos is the only way forward.
Shine On Michael
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Post by wilbotan on Jun 20, 2019 13:24:36 GMT
Thanks for that - I've taken some more photos from inside the body of the guitar. It looks like you could be right, the join seems to have come loose - am I seeing that right? Apologies for the poor quality/angle of the photos! Thanks so much for your help, it would be gutting to have to leave it broken
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Post by wilbotan on Jun 20, 2019 13:31:59 GMT
This might actually be a better angle from the other side - definitely looks to have come loose.
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Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Jun 20, 2019 13:36:01 GMT
I'd say the neckstick has dislocated / fractured. It can be repaired (with know-how), but will probably need a set up after too. If it's the case you need a new neck, I will gladly take the broken one off you (for a fee of course). TT
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Post by pete1951 on Jun 20, 2019 13:43:14 GMT
Looks like the the neck is fine, and the neck-stick is fine, it’s the glue joint that has failed, this is not a difficult repair but you need to know what your doing! Pete
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Post by Michael Messer on Jun 20, 2019 14:59:03 GMT
William, I know that you said you don't want to get into spending money on this repair, but I would think very carefully before attempting to do this yourself. I think it should go to Dave King, because Dave knows MM Guitars better than anyone. I will speak to Dave for you and see what we can come up with.
Shine On Michael
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Post by wilbotan on Jun 20, 2019 15:07:36 GMT
Hi all, thanks for the input. Real shame, I'm up for a bit of diy but definitely not up for jeopardising the guitar.
Thanks Michael, please let me know what he says, if I'm going to be unemployed for a bit could definitely do with having the guitar about to keep me company!
Cheers all, W.
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Post by washboardchris on Jun 21, 2019 21:36:54 GMT
Hi, where are you based?
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Post by wilbotan on Jun 21, 2019 21:54:34 GMT
Hi there - based in SW London but work in central
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Post by leeophonic on Jun 22, 2019 6:37:00 GMT
The best advice based on where you are is to get the guitar to Dave or he may advise Celine who is not far from you she worked with Dave in Denmark Street.
Regards
Lee
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Post by Michael Messer on Jun 22, 2019 7:57:40 GMT
Thanks for all the offers to help and suggestions of ways of doing it.
I am speaking to Dave King about William's guitar.
Don't worry William, we'll sort it for you.
Shine On Michael.
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Post by wilbotan on Jul 28, 2019 19:54:55 GMT
So after a bit of to-ing and fro-ing I decided to give fixing the guitar a go. I thought it would be good to get to understand how the guitar was put together, wanted to save a bit of money, and the couple of people I contacted didn't get back to me (probably a bad time of year!). I thought I'd found the problem when I got the neck stick out and found that the box joint was really loose and just held together with big blobs of some kind of epoxy. I cleared off the old epoxy, made a shim, glued it up and the neck seemed to be flush with the body again - felt very pleased with myself! However, when I strung it up, the heel pulled away again, but it looks like the neck joint is still holding. So my question to much better informed forum members is: what other issues could I look into? Should I make some more shims as there are still a few smallish gaps in the joint? Glue together with something stronger than wood glue The obvious answer is to take it to a resonator-informed luthier, but I'm sort of enjoying the process (at times) and know I'll feel very gratified when it works out Cheers for any suggestions anyone might have! Attachments:
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Post by pete1951 on Jul 29, 2019 9:23:42 GMT
The hole in the body is usually not a tight fit. So when doing this repair I use some 1mm ply and glue it over both sides of the old joint. . Is it possible you have not glued the stick back in exactly the same position? This will mean the heal will not sit back right. Pete
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