Repair of a Sterling by Music Man JP60 Sterling Silver model. Ideas welcomed.

[EricVera]

Hi! So, I bought a SBMM JP60 SS model a few weeks ago and my Dad had an accident with it. Long story short, it fell and now it is as you can see it on the pictures.
He explained me how it happened and I'm still trying to put it together in my mind, but, now I have to repair it.

Here are my thoughts on how to proceed with the repair process, let me know what you think of it or any other ideas that might help. Thanks in advance.

I plan on putting glue for wood on the broken part of the bridge so it holds the wood together and once it has dried, I want to drill it on the back, where the springs are an add a couple of little screws so they both hold the wood together. Kind of reinforcing it. This part of drilling and the screws have me thinking a lot if it is or if it isn't such a good idea, hence why I'm asking and posting this thread.

So, any way. What do you think? Can it be saved or should I shelved it? Thanks for your time and for replying.

 

[DrKev]

Ouch! Oh man, I'm so sorry!

I think the repair could hold together just fine with the right kind of glue and the right clamping technique during the setting process. I think screws are a bad idea. Once that big piece is correctly glued back in place, I would drill out the hole for the bridge post to a larger size than the post would be. Then cut and glue in a plug, then drill the plug for the bridge post again (so the post is 100% 'encased' in the plug so it's in a single solid piece of wood with no glue joints crossing the post hole). Another option is possibly routing away the damage to a clean flat surface and insetting a whole new block of wood between the bridge and pickup cavity. Then plug and redrill for the bridge post.

BUT, if you are not already experienced and adept at this kind of repair, I would take it to a good luthier. If the job can be done right you can be pretty confident it will hold and remain stable. If it's not done right by a professional who knows what they are doing, it will proably fail on you and then you're in a bigger, less repairable mess.

If money was no object I'd say strip the finish, repair/rebuild the damage, and then respray the prefect custom color of your choice.