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:
Align and Glue the Neck: Carefully lined up the broken neck and glued it back together without removing the fingerboard.
Reinforce with Wooden Dowels: Inserted small wooden dowels to strengthen the joint and provide additional stability.
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.
IMG 20230315 163525 936
IMG 20230316 140237 090
IMG 20230316 140245 080
IMG 20230318 131139 085
IMG 20230319 115439 493
IMG 20230324 184121 062
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
Remove the Fingerboard: Detached the fingerboard to access the break and prepare for a secure repair.
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.
Create a Neck Mold: Made a mold of the neck to assist with shaping and reinforcement.
Hollow Out the Neck: Carefully carved out several inches on both sides of the crack to prepare for reinforcement.
Chalk Fit a Maple Insert: Shaped and chalk-fitted a piece of maple into the mortise to reinforce the repair.
Plane the Excess: Trimmed and planed down the maple insert to ensure a smooth, flush fit.
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.
