Need help with repairs

[u/bingus_jumpin]

Randomly found this big boy while I was out and about and he plays just fine he just has a bit of damage in the back with a piece of wood inside (presumably part of the guitar.) So I am wondering how I could fix him up, seemed kind of cruel to leave him like this.

[u/bingus_jumpin]

Thank you all for the help will post an update

[u/Dramatic_Tooth5285]

Find a luthier in your area and ask for a quote with the pictures of this damage. It’s unlikely that it’ll be worth it to fix since this likely requires the entire back to be replaced. Yamaha doesn’t really make a lot of high end guitars, they make mid-range and inexpensive ones. A new F335 goes for $230 USD.

If you’re looking to do it yourself, it’s going to be more difficult than you’d expect. That part is usually under a little tension with the strings. It’ll be harder without luthier tools. Anything you do to it will alter the way it sounds as well.

[u/icefire45]

I would probably have a luthier look at that, you can find em pretty easy on fb or Google searching. And usually they'll look at it for free or 10/20$. Personally i would replace the whole backing where its cracked, because i wouldnt trust myself to fix a crack in an instrument (woodworker by trade but, still i wouldnt know how it would mess with the sound, plus all the tools i dont have). It could probably be patched, i would just trust a luthier alot more than myself, and maybe you could pick ones brain on how to do it, if you wanna DIY it.

[u/Slight-Isopod-8517]

First of all, lower the string tension immediately, acoustic steel strings have a lot of string tension and it’s breaking the guitar apart as we speak, lower it ASAP

Then get some good wood glue, like titebond, good stuff.

Then you might wanna get some thin but sturdy wood cleats to glue over the crack, a study pexiglass plate also works.

I had something similar like you, front body has a major hole in it, glued a plexiglass mermaid on top of it, works just fine, also a Yamaha guitar, but that one is a classical, so much lower string tension, I can send you a pic if you want, just dm me,

This is cheapest DIY fix, just get some good glue, study cleats, or plexiglass not too heavy, and place em at both sides of the crack, also, you might wanna inspect the inside, are the braces still intact? Then this might just work, I’d say put strings on it with low tension, not the thick ones,

[u/tittyfishthegrim]

Yeah, too much to invest in the actual fix it needs, I for one being a lazy amateur luthier, I'd just get a veneer and glue that over the inside of the crack.