PRS 35th Anniversary: Top damaged around selector switch

[Alvise]

Hello everyone,

I'm truly desperate: my new PRS Custom 24 35th Anniversary just fell off a chair and damaged the top around the selector. Photo in attachment (https://ibb.co/gVjnG9D). It doesn't look like serious damage, and the guitar works and plays well as before, although the top is fractured at that point and I am really upset about the happening. In other words, the selector broke through the top for 2 millimeters.
I already contacted the guitar shop and we're arranging the repair.

I'm asking this community for some advice: please tell me whether this kind of damage is fully repairable. I truly hope so! The guitar is brand new, I bought it in April 2021!
Thanks in advance for any other advice you can share!

 

[AP515]

Yeah, that's painful. Two thoughts. If it is stable and the switch works fine you can just allow it to be the first ding and continue to play it as is. If it is unstable and the switch wobbles or is otherwise in need of repair, the best place to look is the PTC. May be a long wait though.

 

[RickP]

It’s definitely repairable. Contact the PTC on what’s needed. Cost will likely be dependent on how “like new” you need it to be, but it can be fixed. As noted above, you can do a spot repair if it’s stable and even do your own glue-up if you’re handy with some simple hand tools for disassembly and clamping.

Sorry to see it! Those first dings are heart-breakers.

 

[Alvise]

Well, first of all, I want to thank both AP515 and RickP for their nice replies. As you said, the first ding on a guitar worth 4200€ and brand new is a heartbreaker.
The selector is totally stable, luckily, therefore I may even accept and keep it as it is. But I'm afraid the selector could fall more through the top with time, the more you switch its position by applying a little pressure with your finger the more it could compenetrate the top. In a month or so that could be worse, so I'm considering fixing it.
Now, the problem with PTC is that I am not American, I'm Italian. Of course in Italy a lot of luthiers exist and I'm wondering whether PTC could make a difference or not. PTC would be far from ideal also because of the shipping to US, the wait and the cost, like both of you said. Do you believe I could just contact them and ask for advice for the time being?
A reasonable alternative would be contacting a local luthier, which would make things easier and cheaper, and simply ask him to lift the part and glue the wood as well as he can: maybe that's a good compromise. Unfortunately I have no skills in doing that myself like RickP suggests.
Thanks for your kind support guys

 

[Alnus Rubra]

If you’re concerned about the integrity of the top, open the control cavity and look at the switch from underneath.

If you’re confident enough to do this (I don’t know your level of experience), take the switch out and look to see if there is a fracture to the maple top from the inside. If there isn’t, it’s unlikely that the damage has penetrated the maple and maybe just the finish.

A good local luthier to you may be able to do a super glue repair to the fracture in the finish.

Best of luck with whatever you decide to do.

 

[DISTORT6]

Have you contacted PRS Guitars Europe?
I see quite a few pictures of repair work on their Instagram page.

 

[Alvise]

Distort6, Thank you very much for your suggestion: I just contacted PRS Europe for advice.

Alnus Rubra, actually your point is my point as well: the luthier at the shop where I bought the guitar told me he could remove the fractured circular alcove where the selector penetrated the top, but that would mean to cut the wood top and to patch it with something more resilient of a similar blue colour. In other words, that means the guitar won't come back as it was.
I have no skills unfortunately for performing the check you suggested, but I am considering taking the guitar to a local luthier first, for an opinion at least. I have the feeling the fractured part can be "lifted up" back to its original position and by glueing it wisely the fracture almost disappears. No cuts, no patches, just a fix.

 

[aphantomvaper]

That sucks so bad! If it helps, I have a 10k guitar (not PRS) that has all sorts of dings and breaks in it from road wear, put there by me. I didn't prefer it that way but there is only so much you can do.

I hope you do get it fixed to your liking.

No more expensive guitars on chairs! I too had to learn that once...

 

[SinSir]

that would mean to cut the wood top and to patch it with something more resilient of a similar blue colour. In other words, that means the guitar won't come back as it was.

This is the extreme to me. I was thinking nail polish or something. I'd get another opinion or investigate further before going that route.

 

[Alvise]

Well, let me thank everyone who replied to me in this thread. The thing has evolved in a favourable way: the damage is confined to a small region of 1 square centimetre, therefore no need for wood cutting or replacing or anything involving complex reworking. I wrote to PTC US as well as to PRS EU for having multiple opinions on the subject and they all basically say the same: by lifting up the fractured surface underlying the selector switch and by applying a ultra thin glue the break will almost disappear. No need to repaint, no need to ruin the top, nothing. So in the end it seems the situation is recoverable with a little effort.

 

[DISTORT6]

Well, let me thank everyone who replied to me in this thread. The thing has evolved in a favourable way: the damage is confined to a small region of 1 square centimetre, therefore no need for wood cutting or replacing or anything involving complex reworking. I wrote to PTC US as well as to PRS EU for having multiple opinions on the subject and they all basically say the same: by lifting up the fractured surface underlying the selector switch and by applying a ultra thin glue the break will almost disappear. No need to repaint, no need to ruin the top, nothing. So in the end it seems the situation is recoverable with a little effort.

Great news!

 

[ScottR]

Well, let me thank everyone who replied to me in this thread. The thing has evolved in a favourable way: the damage is confined to a small region of 1 square centimetre, therefore no need for wood cutting or replacing or anything involving complex reworking. I wrote to PTC US as well as to PRS EU for having multiple opinions on the subject and they all basically say the same: by lifting up the fractured surface underlying the selector switch and by applying a ultra thin glue the break will almost disappear. No need to repaint, no need to ruin the top, nothing. So in the end it seems the situation is recoverable with a little effort.

That's AWESOME! Glad it's a somewhat easy fix! Hope you enjoy it to the fullest when it's all sorted out.

 

[bodia]

Well, let me thank everyone who replied to me in this thread. The thing has evolved in a favourable way: the damage is confined to a small region of 1 square centimetre, therefore no need for wood cutting or replacing or anything involving complex reworking. I wrote to PTC US as well as to PRS EU for having multiple opinions on the subject and they all basically say the same: by lifting up the fractured surface underlying the selector switch and by applying a ultra thin glue the break will almost disappear. No need to repaint, no need to ruin the top, nothing. So in the end it seems the situation is recoverable with a little effort.

That's great to hear!