Top removal required?

[MikeV]

Would this crack require top removal?  Ball park cost?

 

[Barry J. Griffiths]

What's the "Ball Park" value of the instrument?

[Blank face]

20 minutes ago, MikeV said:

Would this crack require top removal?  Ball park cost?

Depends wether you want a proper repair (in this case: definitely yes) or a sort of fisherman's attempt. For the cost you have to ask your repairperson, costs can vary all through the ballpark.

[nathan slobodkin]

Yes the top has to come off and the cost for a strong and invisible repair would be significant. Functional but ugly would cost less. What is the fiddle and what condition is it in otherwise?

[MikeV]

11 minutes ago, nathan slobodkin said:

Yes the top has to come off and the cost for a strong and invisible repair would be significant. Functional but ugly would cost less. What is the fiddle and what condition is it in otherwise?

Pretty nice condition otherwise.  It's a midgrade instrument with nice wood.  Unknown maker.

[nathan slobodkin]

2 minutes ago, MikeV said:

Pretty nice condition otherwise.  It's a midgrade instrument with nice wood.  Unknown maker.

Get a quote from a good professional repairman and ask about  appropriate economics for this particular fiddle. If you like the instrument however then at the very least the top will still have to come off.

[FiddleDoug]

I would say yes. I don't see any other good way to push that out to the point where the ding is level and flush. A reasonable repair with touch up might be $500 plus.

The "classic" way to do it is to remove the top and linings, push out the fracture and glue, thin the rib, fit a patch of rib to go on the inside, glue the patch, thin the patch to the original thickness of the rib, put the linings back in, and put the top back on, and retouch. (very expensive)

A more budget friendly method might be to take the top off, push out and glue the fracture, overlay a patch (veneer or 1/32" plywood) on the inside of the rib between the linings, put the top back on and retouch. (that's the $500 option)

[MikeV]

1 minute ago, FiddleDoug said:

I would say yes. I don't see any other good way to push that out to the point where the ding is level and flush. A reasonable repair with touch up might be $500 plus.

The "classic" way to do it is to remove the top and linings, push out the fracture and glue, thin the rib, fit a patch of rib to go on the inside, glue the patch, thin the patch to the original thickness of the rib, put the linings back in, and put the top back on, and retouch. (very expensive)

A more budget friendly method might be to take the top off, push out and glue the fracture, overlay a patch (veneer or 1/32" plywood) on the inside of the rib between the linings, put the top back on and retouch. (that's the $500 option)

Thank you for the details, looks like it's not a trivial repair.  The estimate is much appreciated.