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Taylor 514E Top Replacement

February 6, 2015/in restorations /by Jeff Mallia

This Taylor suffered a terrible fate when someone fell onto it. It was sentimental to the owner and therefore worth it to him to repair so a new top was in order. To keep it as original as possible and also more cost effective, a replacement top was ordered from the factory. Taylor guitars are […]

1924 Martin 000-18 Pyramid Bridge

February 5, 2015/in restorations /by Jeff Mallia

Here is a small segment of a restoration from my archive that was completed in 2006. I thought it would be an interesting little segment of this repair to show the building of a replica/replacement bridge for the badly damaged original. The original bridge had holes on each end right through the pyramid peaks, as […]

Taylor 514E Top Replacement

February 6, 2015/in restorations /by Jeff Mallia

1924 Martin 000-18 Pyramid Bridge

February 5, 2015/in restorations /by Jeff Mallia

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Taylor 514E Top Replacement

February 6, 2015/in restorations /by Jeff Mallia

This Taylor suffered a terrible fate when someone fell onto it. It was sentimental to the owner and therefore worth it to him to repair so a new top was in order.

To keep it as original as possible and also more cost effective, a replacement top was ordered from the factory. Taylor guitars are so consistently made, that many years later, a replacement top is dimensionally as per the original spec. whilst it arrives as an over sized top, it’s bracing and sound hole etc are perfectly positioned as per the original.

First the damaged top is pulled back into shape to allow an accurate template be made. This is going to be a “Drop In” top replacement – a technique that Bob Taylor himself detailed in an industry journal many years ago. It means that the old top is removed without disturbing the binding or side finish at all. If there is no side damage, there is actually no need to do any side refinishing. The top repair can be completely contained to the top surface only. It’s a great method I have used many times since this repair – not just on Taylors.

Once the template is made, and the old top removed. The replacement top is accurately cut to the exact template shape. After dry fitting to make sure all brace ends fit perfectly into the linings and any adjustments made, the new top is glued in.

A purfling channel is cut (the trickiest part) without disturbing the binding, and new purflings installed. The new top is now sanded, finished in the original factory UV cure thin flexible polyester finish.

Lastly the bridge is fitted, and the NT bolt on neck cavity routed before the guitar is assembled and ready to go home to its family.

1924 Martin 000-18 Pyramid Bridge

February 5, 2015/in restorations /by Jeff Mallia

Here is a small segment of a restoration from my archive that was completed in 2006. I thought it would be an interesting little segment of this repair to show the building of a replica/replacement bridge for the badly damaged original.

The original bridge had holes on each end right through the pyramid peaks, as well as many cracks and worn holes. Problems with the spruce footprint also dictated the replacement be slightly larger than the original.

After removal,the original bridge was filled and re shaped to resemble it’s original shape prior to damage occuring. The filler was painted black to allow me to see the bridge in its orioginal form, making it much easier to measure and gauge visually.

Once the pyramids shapes were done, the centre of the bridge was shaped to finish off the build followed by detail sanding and polishing.

Then back on the guitar! After many years in storage, this guitar went on to a live a very busy life with a new owner. I’ll post the full restoration in a future blog entry.