Here are some major neck breaks that require detailed repair work.

Student Cello Neck Repair

This cello had a severely broken neck. While a neck graft would be the best solution, it wasn’t practical in this case. Instead, I used the following approach:

1. Align and Glue the Neck: Carefully lined up the broken neck and glued it back together without removing the fingerboard.
2. Reinforce with Wooden Dowels: Inserted small wooden dowels to strengthen the joint and provide additional stability.
3. Reshape and Smooth the Neck: Once the glue set, I reshaped and smoothed the neck to restore its natural feel and playability.

This method provided a strong and functional repair, ensuring the cello could be played again.

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Repairing a Sheared-Off Cello Neck

This cello’s neck was sheared off. Since it was an inexpensive instrument with sentimental value, I opted to repair it without performing a full neck graft. Below are the steps I took to restore it:

Step-by-Step Repair Process

1. Remove the Fingerboard: Detached the fingerboard to access the break and prepare for a secure repair.
2. Glue the Neck Back Together: Clamped the crack tightly and secured the flat surface of the neck to a straight edge to ensure proper alignment.
3. Create a Neck Mold: Made a mold of the neck to assist with shaping and reinforcement.
4. Hollow Out the Neck: Carefully carved out several inches on both sides of the crack to prepare for reinforcement.
5. Chalk Fit a Maple Insert: Shaped and chalk-fitted a piece of maple into the mortise to reinforce the repair.
6. Plane the Excess: Trimmed and planed down the maple insert to ensure a smooth, flush fit.
7. Reattach the Fingerboard: Once the structure was stable, glued the fingerboard back onto the neck.

This approach provided a strong and lasting repair, preserving the instrument’s sentimental value while making it playable again.

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