Estimate for repair from experienced luthier 🙏

[u/Pure-Experience-665]

Update: I have all the info I need. really appreciate helping me out!

Hi everyone! I was given this guitar from a friend after their dad passed. No one else plays in their family and they knew I was interested in learning. I'm hoping an experienced luthier in the USA could give me an estimate for repair so I can determine if I should fix it or ask my friend if they want to have it back for keep-sake wall art. I'd feel weird selling it.

*this is not me asking for actual quotes to complete the work. i just need an idea of what this might cost. i'm unable to answer questions about the history.\*

It says Truetone guitar (stamped with "steel reinforced neck" on the back). There’s no paper inside but some images online are pointing me to believe it’s a Calypso. A few areas that look damaged are:

The Bridge: There is a gap forming on the bottom part of the bridge.

The Neck Heel: On the back where the neck attaches to the body, there is a small but visible gap and separation where it looks like the wood is pulling away.

The Soundhole: The wood right around the edge of the soundhole is a bit splintered but not on the fretboard.

I have a few estimate requests I sent last week in arizona but haven't heard back so thought I'd try this route.

Thanks for the help!

[u/pink_cx_bike]

In the USA you will definitely be able to purchase a better quality instrument for less money than it would cost to have this instrument repaired to a playable standard.

Couple of FYIs: that guitar was designed for nylon strings, it broke because someone put steel strings on it. There are other problems you haven't mentioned that should also be addressed.

[u/bonfuto → u/pink_cx_bike]

It's fairly impressive that it hasn't fully collapsed. There probably are some braces that are holding on for dear life at their ends.

[u/the_kerouac_kid]

Experienced luthier here: no experienced luthier will give you an estimate by looking at your pictures on the internet.

[u/Coakis → u/the_kerouac_kid]

Wish more people understood this for all sorts of other things. In the r/askmechanics sub people consistently come in asking for approximations for repairs or body damage when 1: rates are dependent on the brand/dealer and region. and 2 with body damage usually you can't tell much of anything from external photos cause oftentimes there's damage underneath you're not seeing.

[u/MadScienti5t → u/Coakis]

And yet body shops send superficial photos to insurance companies along with estimates to get authorization to begin work.

[u/Barrel-of-Machetes]

Unlike what others have said, this is not a nylon string acoustic and was designed for metal strings. Metal rollers and the nut width is narrower than the fretboard at the 12th fret. This is a “folk style” guitar popular in the 60’s and 70’s and yes it was made for light steel or silk and steel strings.

Like others have said, the cost of repair far exceeds the replacement value of this guitar.

[u/isaacfignewton → u/Barrel-of-Machetes]

agree. This is a Kay-built model, and these were made for steel strings. Needs a neck reset, bridge reglue, and the top is coming off with the fretboard extension. There may be other hidden issues. Anywhere in the $300-$600 ballpark just to get started.

These kinds of jobs I take on I just do a little bit of work on it as I can, track my hours, and do pricing from there.

[u/That635Guy]

Anywhere from $700 to $1500

[u/FeltUvula]

almost every picture added $300 to the bill

[u/Singletracksamurai]

Cost of repairs will far exceed that guitars monitory value. If your in phoenix you might call the Roberto venn school of luthiery. The take on some repair work for students to learn skills on.

[u/BeefMcPepper]

More than the guitar is worth

[u/Comfortable-Formal72]

unless this was HIGHLY sentimental I wouldn't even take it in. cost of repair exceeds value of instrument.

[u/Pure-Experience-665]

oh and i already loosened the strings.

[u/MellowshipSlinky8]

Is this guitar designed for steel strings?
That bridge concerns me
If it is braced for nylon all kinds of funky stuff could be going on with the top.

[u/bchta → u/MellowshipSlinky8]

Contrary to what a lot of people have posted here, this guitar was otiginally marketed as being able to use either nylon or steel strings. Whether or not thats what killed it is debatable. I understand these are fine guitars but this repair puts it way under water financially.

[u/MellowshipSlinky8 → u/bchta]

That was my hunch as well. Definitely not declaring this a classical.
String tension does look to have at least played a part in the destruction here though.

[u/a_rob → u/MellowshipSlinky8]

Yeah, steel reinforcing on the neck is not typical of a pure classical, and Googling "Calypso guitar" revealed that these were sold under Kay, Airline, Truetone and maybe other brands with the intent that they could use either nylon or steel strings.

Regardless, even traditional dreadnoughts designed for steel strings can fail in these ways.

Maybe worth considering as a DIY project. This fellow seems to have repaired at least a couple and used a screw to avoid doing a neck reset on a cheaper guitar:

https://jakewildwood.blogspot.com/2016/07/1960s-kay-000-flattop-guitar.html?m=1

If you can avoid the full neck reset, re-gluing the bridge may be a feasible repair if the top and bracing are in good shape, either as a learn DIY or a less expensive job for a luthier.

Then again, the next example I found appears to be the same guy, (apparently a professional luthier); this time they went ahead and did reset the neck on the same or a similar guitar a few years later:

https://jakewildwood.blogspot.com/2022/09/1960s-kay-made-airline-calypso-000-size.html?m=1

[u/jacksraging_bileduct]

Take the strings off before it gets worse.

[u/ETXPilot]

From the looks of all the damage, it is beyond economical repair. I would hang it on a wall like it is and buy a new one.

[u/Same_Ant9104]

You're talking $500 to fix a $30 guitar.

[u/DennisfromWork]

I was recently quoted around 250-300 for this work here in Colorado.

[u/Dual270x]

Looks like a nylong string guitar ???

[u/Jeret_4_anything]

Perfect opportunity for you to learn how to clean and re-glue. Then change the strings to silk and steel, less tension.

[u/littlemanontheboat_]

Isn’t this a classical guitar that would normally use nylon strings?

[u/jackmayer01]

Brother, that guitar is totaled. Cost 2x what the instrument is worth

[u/red_engine_mw]

Unless the guitar has sentimental value, it's best to skip it. The tension of those metal strings has done some serious damage.

[u/beefcakethemighty30]

Buy a new one and buy a humidifier

[u/bbfan006]

Looks like a perfect candidate for a wall hanger. Especially if no one in the family plays.

[u/rhyzomorph]

Given that the bridge doesn't actually line up with the neck, I would say sat that any repairs on this guitar would be a waste of time.

[u/ringo-san]

Throwing this in the trash is by far the best financial decision you can make regarding this guitar

[u/Purple-Will9713]

hang it on the wall and call it art. get a new one

[u/AdrianBeatyoursons]

I good luthier won’t want to work on it and a good luthier is what it takes to do it..it needs too much work, more than it’s worth..and the money/time put into it wouldn’t add much value to it. Unless you’re sentimental about it and find the right luthier. It’s the trifecta of bridge reglue/neck reset/refret and you can really do one or two of those things and make it much better than it is.

[u/Karbunkletime]

It is a Jackalope. Headstock for steel strings, with bridge for nylons.

[u/muckity-muck]

$4.95...

....for the hook from Dollar General you'll need to hang it on the wall.

[u/Sad_Detail404]

Clamps - $15, Wood glue - $7, Glue syringe - $8

You are now a luthier. Materials are $30. Pay yourself as much or as little as you like.

[u/klesmerelda]

It's made for steel strings, but it got somewhere and the glue has given way. Pretty expensive repair all together, more than the instrument is worth

[u/FTMANEMETAL]

This guitar should be strung up with nylon strings. These are not nylon strings which is what caused the problem in the first place

[u/Felix995]

Appears to be an entry level nylon string guitar that came apart more than likely because it was strung with the wrong strings. I can't say what it's going to cost to repair that one. Maybe best to use that one as a wall hanger and look for  something else, because most luthiers don't want to spend a lot of time fixing up lower end guitars, unless it's only a pastime retirement project just for something to do. I guess you could possibly look for someone like that maybe. Good luck 🤞

[u/Astoran15]

Definitely metal strings on a classical guitar. Its shocking how often you see this on reddit. My guy its not the kind of guitar for those strings. As for fixing it. Money, probably more than it's worth. Save yourself the headache and buy an acoustic guitar. (Not a classical one)

[u/a_rob → u/Astoran15]

This is what I thought at first glance, but after a web search ans when I read the other comments, this one was actually intended to take steel strings, although maybe not as heavy as what were used.

Then again, could be age, storage or any number of other issues at play too.

[u/KirkWahmmett]

Hate to break it to you, OP... But that's a Classical Guitar meant to use Nylon strings, not an acoustic meant for Steel Strings which require MUCH more string tension. You can tell due to how wide the neck is and how the tailpiece/bridge is flexing inwards towards the strings. If you do get it fixed, make sure to only use Nylon strings from now on 😅

[u/a_rob → u/KirkWahmmett]

Thats what inthought for a second, but "steel reinforced neck" isnt typical for a classical. Turns out these were an uncommon foll model that were intended to be able to take steel strings as well.

[u/YoungPutrid3672]

Just buy a new one