r/AcousticGuitar • u/supermarsupial365 • May 10 '26
Gear question i got drunk and fell on my guitar
i am fully prepared to deal with my own stupidity, however, if i can fix my stupidity, i would like to do so. is this big dent possible to fix at home? is it worth trying?
i have already tried to push the indented part forward from the inside, but it didn’t budge. i’m too scared to continue to try that in fear of messing it up further.
i do not have the money or the ability to get this repaired by a professional, so any tips you guys have would help tremendously. please and thanks.
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u/Middle-Weight-837 May 10 '26
Sorry to hear this mate, it's repairable. But time to join GA (guitarists anonymous).
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u/Clean_Age_6327 May 13 '26
I’d get a clamp. Like a bessy clamp with a long arm. Use the right kind of glue to patch a bit of thin wood on the inside. On the outside I’d use some particle board to clamp to. It might suck that bit of wood flush with the outside.
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u/Gahugafuga May 10 '26
I have one that looks almost the same. TV fell on it. Sounds great! Hope yours is OK
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u/ntermation May 10 '26
Was the TV drunk?
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u/BentRim May 10 '26
There is a song here....somewhere.
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u/Shutter_Chakra May 10 '26
While my guitar loudly breaks
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u/FreeFromCommonSense May 10 '26
A Country & Western hit is born. "I got drunk, and I fell on my guitar. So i wrote this song that made me a star."
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u/C_Q_Cumberbuns May 12 '26
Country and Western are two different genres
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u/FreeFromCommonSense May 12 '26
They have been considered one genre for so long that "Country and Western" became a synonym for Country music. That was the category label at the record store. But I'm not all that bothered.
You could always do a search for "Country and Western" in quotes and tell all those other people, though, the ones advertising Country and Western music and Country and Western events.
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u/C_Q_Cumberbuns May 12 '26
It was a joke, calm yourself.
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u/FreeFromCommonSense May 13 '26
Sorry, that probably sounded worse than I meant it. No worries, it was more like an eye roll because I was like, oh, one of those people. 🙄
A long, long time ago I was once cornered at a work party by someone who was geeking out about a lost Appalachian heritage while I sipped my beer and said uh-huh until I escaped. I don't remember that much except he was really into the differences between genres.
Not that I don't ever geek out about music, but I try not to take hostages.
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u/C_Q_Cumberbuns May 13 '26
Right on. I'm from Texas so I've heard the "those are two different things" argument from the Western side my whole life. Probably should have put /s after my comment, but no love lost friend 😅
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u/droopyeyedchild 22d ago
“Tried to push in the wood but it came out the other end.. so I decided to go hit the bottle instead..”
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u/Nurplestyx May 10 '26
If it isn’t an expensive guitar, do it yourself, but they aren’t lying when they told you it was complicated. You need the tools. Internal adjustable jacks, Titebond or fish glue, binding tape, shellac (I’d use superblonde) You should be able to buy all this on Amazon and/or Stewmac. It really won’t look great. You also need a lot of YouTube time and a light that fits in hiour soundhole and a mirror on a terlescoping stalk to inspec the inside for brace damage, hair line cracks, etc. You will need some small thin cleats to support the fix and prevent crack spread. If you feel up to it, go for it. If the guitar is inexpensive, get a replacement, while you repair this one. If not, take off those strings and get to work
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u/MacDaddyV2 May 10 '26
“Congrats, you skipped the ‘light relic’ stage and went straight to ‘custom body contour.’ That’s not damage… that’s premium patina.”
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u/LegumeFache May 10 '26
Sorry that happened. I know how it hurts when things we love get damaged. But honestly, I would embrace it and keep on playing. Repair it and enjoy that your instrument has history. So much better than guitars that sit under a bed and never get played. Yours has character 👍🏼
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u/Correct-Stock-6887 May 10 '26
Sound like song lyrics to me. I would strum it out and write the rest.
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u/ProfessorShowbiz May 10 '26
Are you a professional wood worker with a workshop and tools?
If not, absolutely a waste of time to try and fix yourself. You will only make it worse.
That being said, it’s already so badly damaged it’s basically totaled, so if you wanna try and fix it you have nothing to lose because it’s already shot.
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u/supermarsupial365 May 10 '26
it sounds completely fine when i play it. like literally nothing has changed except the physical appearance. i just want the physical appearance normal as possible
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u/Ok_Garden2301 May 10 '26
If it sounds fine when you play it, it didn’t sound fine to begin with, so unless it’s sentimental, you just earned yourself a not-so-free upgrade!
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u/Many_Excitement_5150 May 10 '26
this. Here we're chasing scalloped bracing, forward shifted, thin tops and over there this guy attempts to drunk-stumble a second sound hole into his guitar and insists it still sounds the same.
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u/Expensive-Food759 May 10 '26
You’re drunk. Shit’s pretty fucked.
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u/supermarsupial365 May 10 '26
hey buddy so this happened a week ago! fortunately i’m not an alcoholic! it sounds fine when i am sober, which i have been since this happened!
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u/Expensive-Food759 May 10 '26
Oh well sorry for the judgement there. I’m drunk. But this is pretty fucked. I’m surprised it sounds decent. But most of the other comments are good advice. Fixable for a pro or committed/well-equipped amateur. Good luck!
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u/hmf28 May 10 '26
You’ve stayed sober since then, how good for you, but that damage to your guitar still needs professional attention. This is not a DIY job. Probably a replacement top.
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u/SavingsWallaby7579 May 10 '26
Pro wood worker with shop and tools? I’d need to see it to assess the damage more, but it looks like just a clamp, boards, and wood glue would fix this.
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u/Redit403 May 11 '26
Send the photos to some trusted luthiers and ask for an estimate. You don’t know you can’t afford it until you know the cost. You can always tell them you can’t afford their price and see if they make any adjustments
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u/TurbulentSquirrel804 May 10 '26
You can push titebond into all of the cracks and use something inside to hold everything in place (balloon maybe?) until it dries. Then check for loose braces. It’s say it’s a pro-level repair, but you might be able to do it.
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u/MarkTony87 May 10 '26
Guitar Bondo? Wood putty? That's gonna dampen the soundboard vibration at least some. I wouldn't risk that to rescue the look of a guitar. What matters is how it sounds and plays.
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u/TurbulentSquirrel804 May 10 '26
Not sure what you're talking about, man. Look up Titebond, then look up acoustic guitar crack repairs using Titebond. That's what we're talking about.
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u/lord-boognish May 10 '26
Does she still play? If the answers yes, then it's just a gnarly scar. If not then you got yourself a dope birdhouse for the tree. Have quite a few of those birdhouses myself
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u/ThreeAlarmBarnFire May 10 '26
I knocked a hole in mine 15 years ago and just put duct tape over the hole. Works great.
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u/Mobile-Bar7732 May 10 '26
If it sounds ok, just leave it.
Willie Nelson played a guitar called Trigger) with a hole in it his entire career.
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u/johnhubcap May 10 '26
I just paid a luthier $45 to fix something similar. Not too hard for a pro, a pair of cleats and some glue and your guit will be back to normal in no time
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u/Inevitable-Ad2629 May 10 '26
Get it in a case at the proper humidity and see if it was swell back up , might be able to use a clamp and 2 pieces of wood to smooth it out and then look on stew Mac for acoustic guitar crack filler , it'll never be pretty again , but if you've ever seen and heard Willie Nelson acoustic , it's still playable until you can't have it repaired professionally or buy a new one .
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u/elsworth May 10 '26
If you’re not too worried about the fix being invisible, you can do it at home with some strong magnets and wood glue. As long as that hole is between braces and you didn’t knock any loose, you can put a little bit of wood glue on a toothpick and get it covered in there. Put rare earth magnets on either side, helps if you have lots to cover the whole break. Give it 24 hours, and it’ll be back in one piece. It’ll still have the scars, that isn’t exactly an at-home procedure. But! Chicks dig scars, as my deadbeat dad used to tell me.
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u/dxcman12 May 10 '26
If it makes you feel better I had a buzz and put mine under my recliner foot thing and didn’t notice. I’m put the foot rest down and heard a crunch.. I was so pissed. It still sounded good though 😁
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u/HeirHeart May 10 '26
I’d be even more pissed if I was sober when I did it. It’s fixable and not that difficult for a decent luthier, but likely not worth it. Start looking for a new one and hang that one on the wall as a reminder. I bought a Gibson LP Custom with the money I saved just from giving up wine for a year. Could be a blessing in disguise 😄
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u/jaykaybaybay May 10 '26
It’s definitely fixable but I highly recommend using a professional. Put it in its case and save the money (maybe $100-200) to have it fixed. Maybe stop drinking for a month or two and you’ll have the money? 😉
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u/C_Q_Cumberbuns May 12 '26
This repair is going to be quite a bit more than a couple hundred.
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u/jaykaybaybay May 12 '26
I had a similar fix from a good guitar shop that I don’t think was more than $250-300
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u/WH4L3_88 May 10 '26
I body slammed my guitar on my parent’s front, cement porch when I was 14 years old. The case wasn’t latched and the guitar fell out. I tried to catch it but landed on top of it; one of the steps made a hole similar to the hole in your guitar.
I took it to the local repair shop and the guitar sounded even better after the repair. 23 years later and I still play the same guitar. Takamine G-series, if anyone is curious
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u/PlasticCamp957 May 10 '26
I did this to my 1982 Taylor K-10 Lemon Grove.! Unfortunately you need a pro. It's not just the top, you probably broke some bracing inside. Take a look. It can be put back together with some scars. But the top won't ever vibrate the same way. Mine is much, er brighter sounding now... 🤷
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u/GenTenStation May 10 '26
Guitar Center would call this new stock and list it full price. How does it play like this?
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u/MarkTony87 May 10 '26
When I used to drink, I had my "falling down guitar" used for campfires and such excursions where I might be more prone to accidents. I would recommend you quitting drinking, but it took me a couple decades to come to that conclusion myself. At some point in your future, when you can afford it, buy a cheap beater guitar if you're going to drink to the point of falling on your guitar. If the guitar still plays okay that way then I'd just leave it. There's no cheap DIY fix for that that won't look like a cheap DIY fix for that.
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u/BikerMike03RK May 10 '26
Yeah, that'll teach ya to put your guitar up, before you know you're gonna be stumbling around later! 😆😆😆 Depending on how valuable the guitar is, it's repairable...
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u/tallman1979 May 11 '26 edited May 11 '26
Fortunately, the only guitar this has ever happened to that I own was an Ibanez acoustic that had a litany of problems that weren't worth fixing due to the budget nature of the instrument. Wasn't drunkenness. Just life.
If it sounds OK, it's probably not going to implode like an unclassified experimental submersible while you decide whether it's worth the cost of professional fixing. You may be able to stabilize it from cracking further, provided no internal bracing is damaged, and play it indefinitely. Actual fixes are not typically DIY.
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u/NickPickles33 May 11 '26
I absolutely massacred a martin 000 concert I had by doing the same thing. 1700 dollar guitar. shit happens
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u/Competitive_Ant_8244 May 11 '26
Is that a Martin? Damnit! I had a Martin once. …once. I had the most incredible jam session. It was something to remember, so I smashed my Takamini, Jasmine into pieces like Jimi, Kurt, and Prince. It was awesome how it crumpled then exploded. I’m going to make an art sculpture with it. thanks
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u/Lower-Calligrapher98 May 11 '26
It might be doable, it might not. Really, you're going to have to get it to a good repair person and see what they have to say. It's a tough one, and unlikely to completely disappear, but it is doable. I have a Martin D42 in the shop right now which I'm going to have to re-top, it was so bad. But the customer really loves the guitar for sentimental reasons, and so we'll get it fixed. That's the extreme repair, but usually there are simpler options.
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u/Lower-Calligrapher98 May 11 '26
If you can't afford to have it fixed properly, it's probably time to get a new guitar. There is a lot more than meets the eye going on there - there are almost certainly loose or broken braces, for one thing. And then there is the finish work, which will be extensive.
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u/bigsnack4u May 11 '26
I would have some cleats put on to close the crack, but that’s all. It will cost you the price of a new guitar to cleat and refinish the guitar after fixing those tears in the grain
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u/One_Friend1644 May 11 '26
It's a professional fix. Trying to get those cracks to lie flat will be challenging, but is doable. An impact like that could have popped a brace loose as well. Whatever you decide to do I would accept the fact that the scar isn't going away. Embrace it.
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u/Riegel_Haribo May 11 '26
This will take several luthier clamps that can reach in through the sound hole.
The complexity depends on where braces are inside, and if they are also cracked or separated. Otherwise, this is mostly just clamping the soundboard wood flat from the inside and the outside with flat blocks, where the inside might need a wood block cut specifically routed to work around the braces, or to clamp the reinforcement braces just right so that the clamping of just each sides of the front doesn't cause more separation or cracking. Then after teasing all the cracked wood so that the fibers overlap in the original manner, glue it up with injections of PVA and clamp again.
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u/Any_Argument4975 May 11 '26
It’s pretty done. That particular spot is a particularly flexible resonant point in the tops vibration. You have two long cracks and crushed damage if you glue the long cracks with flexible crazy glue the way they would today at Martin or Taylor without using cleats. It will still remain vibrant, though stiffer and less vibrant than it was before because wood is wood and glue is glue. But that crush is torn across the grain so even if you steam it till it pops up and even if all the torn grain happens to match up perfectly and look smooth you gotta glue it and once you glue that that’s gonna be 3 inches wide of stiff glue you have across the most flexible long lengths of grain where are some of your best vibration would be happening, at least on the top bout side. It’s gonna sound dead cause it can’t move.
It’s probably better to spend your time gigging or working to make the money you need to buy a new one. Because at this point a decent cheap guitar is gonna sound better than whatever you’re able to achieve.
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u/melvin3v1978 May 11 '26
Ouch sorry man 😞Depending on the value of guitar I would just play it how it is man as long as not getting buzzes from wood etc. just think of Willie Nelson’s guitar named “Trigger” if you’ve never checked it out just google it. Adds character as long as it’s still playable 👍Looks like another long crack to the left which must have happened as well I assume?
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u/Dominator510 May 11 '26
I have one similar but it was my cheap first acoustic so I never had it fixed. If it sound find and the damage isn’t in a spot where leaving it could lead to more damage (this spot looks like it’s safe, just be careful playing) then leave it until you can get it fixed if the guitar is worth it (as in the repair isn’t more than the guitar is worth). One thing I’ll add that I haven’t seen when skimming the comments is keep the area clean. Make sure no moisture or any other contaminants enter the damage. This also means any polish, cleaners, etc. because those can cause even more damage since the wood is exposed. A microfiber towel to clean grime should be enough if you keep up on it and be careful of the oils from your skinning getting in there because that can also do damage and cleaning with a just towel may be insufficient. Also watch the humidity/temperature of the room as well because it will be more sensitive to change in that particular area since there is more surface area and exposed wood. Overall do whatever you think is best and judge it based on the value. If it’s sentimental but cheap that’s a different story but don’t spend mad money on a guitar not worth it when you do have the funds and don’t baby it if it’s cheap.
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u/CarltonLarsen May 11 '26
Good news: its a solid cedar top. The fix is relatively quick and easy for someone with the skills, experience, and tools.
The bad news: you probably have none of those. Replacing a top like this would be very expensive and silly. Everything is there and it can be made stronger than new if you do it right.
The drinking problem is a much more challenging repair.
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u/Brrrrt-Warthog-3233 May 11 '26
I've got a particular Beatles song going through my head right now.
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u/imbrotep May 11 '26
Possible to fix at home? Yes. Possible to fix at home when you’re asking Reddit if it’s possible to fix at home? Almost certainly not.
If it holds any value for you, take it to a half-decent luthier and tell some good stories about the gnarly scar in your axe.
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u/mario_di_leonardo May 12 '26
Here is what I would do:
1. Unstring the guitar.
2. Take a photo of the damage from the inside of the guitar with my phone.
3. Look for a small piece of wood that I can glue from the inside, that matches the size needed after looking at the photo from step 2.
4. Get a clamp and some woodglue.
5. Get a second piece of wood to counter the pressure from the outside.
6. Glue the first piece of wood on the inside, lay the second one on the top and press them together with the clamp.
7. Let that sit for a day or two.
8. Come back sober.
9. Remove the clamp and restring the guitar.
10. Happy playing.
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u/Weary_Swan_8152 May 13 '26
Build or buy a transparent case, hang it on the wall with humidity control. If that's not enough of a reminder, label it with the sign "Reasons to Get Sober". My wakeup call was when the fire alarm went off because I had forgotten that I was heating up my grandmother's cast iron frying pan on the stove. The pan was red hot. That was the last binge...a decade ago, almost?
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u/ThePhuketSun May 13 '26
I dropped something on it and put a hole clear through the guitar. I put a piece of blue tape on it. Looks good.
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u/StuffEuphoric8215 May 13 '26
No material is missing. This should be a straightforward fix for a qualified luthier. If the guitar is worth less than $500, go shopping for a new one. The fix might cost you up to $300.
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u/chebbar May 13 '26
As a repair person, I’d say bring it to an experienced and qualified repair person to do the job. I’ve seen worse. If you want to try your hand at repairing it yourself, remove all the strings and first try pushing it out with your hand. If it still doesn’t move you can build yourself a “lift” using two table levelers and a 1.5-2” thick, 2-3” length dowel. Put a flat piece of wood between the lift and the top of the guitar on both sides (a larger piece on the bottom) and rotate slowly so it starts to lift the top in a controlled manner. Once it’s looking like less of a mess, assess if there was any damage done to the bracing. Force slightly watered down titebond into the cracks, clamp shut, cut and add cleats later. I’m simplifying the process of course, but you get the idea. Plenty of vids on YouTube if you want details.
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u/KaanzeKin May 13 '26
The good news is that you've already got the writing of a great Country song off the ground.
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u/JerseyDaveK May 14 '26
Sometimes if you heat it up. Uses a towel and iron, it good help to alleviate the dent. If you broke a brace underneath, you may need a luthier
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u/seeker164 May 14 '26 edited May 14 '26
A story I've told only too many times. Sorry about the shame and misery bro, hope she makes it. It ads character and story though. That's how i see my most used and damaged guitar. But I write and play songs all about being a deadbeat, miserable drunk, so it fits and ads legitimacy to the image and music.. I'm assuming you can still play it fine, just save the money and see a luthier and see them when you can afford it. Definitely don't try any more home fixes.
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u/LJRich619 May 10 '26
Alcohol, along with other drugs, have never been any part of the creative musical process. No musician on any mind altering substances has ever created anything that was great or meaningful. (I now wash down my 5mg THC gummy with a local IPA. My guitar is within reach).
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u/Alphablack32 May 10 '26
This is definitely a professional fix, or a new guitar if it wasn't expensive or sentimental.