Solid body guitar to fix

I was given an arbor solid body guitar to fix up I an not a luthier but have done minor repairs on a few electrics before. The cracks are at the bridge. The first crack is along the six screw holes that mount the bridge on the top of the guitar.the second crack is almost dead center of the bridge opening at the surface or top of the guitar about an inch and a half on both sides. This is a 1985 model arbor guitar Korean made I think its a plywood body it look like the top layer has separated caused by stress fractures from to much whammy bar use any thoughts on repairing this.
- James

James,
    If your cracks are running perpendicular to the strings, you definitely have a plywood body. The good news is that your cracks can be no deeper than the first ply is thick. This is a cosmetic problem. It does not affect the function of your guitar. I would attack such a crack with epoxy. Mix color powders into slow set epoxy, to match your finish. If the guitar is black or white you are in luck. You can get black or white epoxy at the hardware store. Take off all the hardware that will be in the way. Fill the cracks with well mixed epoxy. Clamp a piece of clear Plexiglas over the crack. The lips of the crack will swell with glue. Epoxy doesn't shrink as it dries. The Plexiglas will crush the whole mess flat and hold it that way until it cures. Wipe off all the squeeze out with mineral spirits. Pick up the Plexiglas and wipe it off, put it back down and pick it up and wipe it again. Epoxy squeeze out will glue the Plexiglas to the guitar and it can rip out chips of finish when it comes off. Some folks say wax the Plexiglas. Getting it good and dry should do the trick. You will need to drill out any epoxy that gets down in your screw holes. Check carefully for slopped epoxy. Epoxy comes off very easily, with mineral spirits, while it is wet. Once it dries, it's on there forever. Avoid 5 minute epoxy. It doesn't give you the time you need to work comfortably, and it dries softer than the slow stuff.

    I would imagine that a Korean guitar from 27 years ago would need more than just cosmetic work. You probably need a neck reset, new frets, or at least an action set.

Steve Mason

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