Another bow de-valuation question

[Guido]

Broken heads and splines have been discussed often… and one has a feel for the devastating consequences on value by observing the market.

Just wondering how this (pic) damage to the head compares. It is certainly more forgivable, no?

What percentage depreciation would you see c.p.?

[martin swan]

For me this isn't as serious as a splined head. Does the repair go all the way round the head or is it mainly on one side?

[Guido]

Thanks Martin,

yes it goes all the way around and I think it might be a “standard” repair approach for broken out cheeks; akin to a chevalled frog.

Here is another example:

[fiddlecollector]

It is also often hard to tell whether the lower piece is the original wood that has been glued back on  or a replacement piece. The wood can often shear straight across and if the grains very straight it can look like a plane line glue joint.

I dont see it anywhere near  as serious as a higher up break that requires a spline of some sort.  But these breaks can become more complicated if the back of the head mortice is seriously affected.

[martin swan]

45 minutes ago, fiddlecollector said:

It is also often hard to tell whether the lower piece is the original wood that has been glued back on  or a replacement piece. The wood can often shear straight across and if the grains very straight it can look like a plane line glue joint.

I dont see it anywhere near  as serious as a higher up break that requires a spline of some sort.  But these breaks can become more complicated if the back of the head mortice is seriously affected.

Agree ...

Your first example looks like a reguled original piece whereas the second is new wood. 

I suppose a minimum devaluation for new wood in the head (top or bottom) might be about 25%, up to maybe 50% for a more drastic rebuilding of the bottom of the head.