Mike Forrester: Guitar Repair Pics

Martin 12-string Headstock Repair

This Martin 12-string suffered a broken headstock. Here, I have glued it back together, and am preparing to reinforce the repair.
12-string headstocks sustain high string tension, so this repair will have to be reinforced with splints.
The splints are cut from straight-grain, hard rock maple, and are being glued into routed slots in the headstock.
The splints bridge the crack repair, and will spread the string tension throughout the headstock.
I use ultra-high stength marine epoxy for repairs of this nature, resulting a very rigid structure.
The finish is being sanded off of the back of the headstock. I will follow up with fresh lacquer and color matching.
I have color-matched and sprayed the back of the headstock with fresh nitro lacquer, seamlessly blending the repair into the original finish.
This repair is practically invisible from all angles, and is stronger than the wood prior to the repair.
The headstock has received a new veneer, decal and fresh nitrocellulose lacquer finish.
The new finish has been buffed and the tuners installed.
Slots will now be cut into the new string nut, and this Martin 12-string will be ready to make some music once again!