I 've seen these Kay "cut out" guitars for years and just got this one to restore.
I has several serious issues, back coming off, missing a top brace, neck and heel blocks loos, needed a neck re-set.
I was able to pull the neck using the new Stu Mac heating rod in a soldering iron (first time using it. So so results, but i didn't hit the pocket right and went into the heel block, but eventually worked). I then very carefully removed the back keeping the binding attached to the back as much as possible (primarily because it was coming off that way already). Happily the back came off almost perfectly.
The issue I'm pondering right now is the curvature of the top. This is solid maple, almost certainly heat pressed with boxwood kerfing and cloth back strips, The top had three wooden braces (one missing), matching the arch as well as a large wooden brace above the Lyre cut out (which was re-enforeced with a thin spruce backing with the grain going in the opposite direction.
I can see the neck and heel blocks are both loose at least to a degree, but my bigger concern is that one of the remaining braces has pulled loose at the ends under the arch of the guitar top.
I am wondering how best to deal with this. My inclination is to gently clamp the brace and top back together and re-glue, but I don't want to crack or split the top in the process. Perhaps some gentle heat prior to attempting that? The other option would be to simply cut an appropriate "shim" piece to fit into the gap, then glue that to the top and the brace. I'm a bit suspect about that approach, but I figured, I'd ask the community and see what they have to say. I also assume I'll need to stabilize all the loose braces, end blocks etc before cutting and installing the missing brace.
I will say that I am pleasantly surprised at the quality of the build and how nice an instrument this will be if properly restored.
Thanks for any advice!
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