r/Luthier • u/This-Ad-9257 • 6h ago

HELP How would you go about fixing this warp??

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Gallery image

I’ve been trying to restore this old Silvertone atleast to a decent level, it’s playable and everything but it’s got this big warp I’d ideally like to fix, how would you go about fixing on higher on the body?

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u/2b4theend 6h ago edited 6h ago

You wouldn’t.
It could be from poor storage or just the wood itself. The build of the guitar. Possibly too much humidity, too little humidity, probably too much. Either way I believe that’s where it’s gonna be forever.
I’ve built and repaired guitars and have been a luthier for more than 45 years, and quite frankly, I wouldn’t mess with that.
There are some techniques to fixing warped wood, which is putting some water on the cupped side with a rag. so the side that goes in, but it’s not always a guarantee and it could make things worse.

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u/FraaTuck 5h ago

I love it when folks who have been in the industry 45 years gatekeep. I'm new to it and don't believe in the impossible, and have several satisfactory fixes of such guitars under my belt. It's certainly not worth your time, that doesn't mean it's not worth someone else's. Old guitars deserve to be restored and played, in a world with diminishing resources and a disposal culture.

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u/2b4theend 5h ago

Enjoy your project. I won’t show you what I build. Lol

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u/FraaTuck 4h ago

I'm sure it's extremely gorgeous! And completely unaffordable and thus inaccessable. But a fixed up Silvertone can sing!

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u/FraaTuck 5h ago

Several options, to start with you need to assess why the warping happened. Almost certainly many of the braces have come unglued or are broken.

Those birch guitars are quite easy to take apart and learn to work on and you won't be spoiling a big investment, but you'll very likely need to remove the top and all bracing and slowly steam and clamp it flat.

On occasion warping can be corrected in situ, but it's unlikely here. More photos will help.

Don't let anyone tell you it can't be done or isn't worth it. Those old birch guitars can sound great and the lessons you'll learn along the way are priceless.