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Interesting repair, '70's Kawai 12 string KH-100
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Author:  gxs [ Wed May 14, 2014 8:19 pm ]
Post subject:  Interesting repair, '70's Kawai 12 string KH-100
I don't think this is worth much, but it has sentimental value to a friend. It is a N/C deal / science project.
I did some research and all the pictures I found of the KH-100 showed a tail piece. This one has a fancy rosewood pin bridge, and a belly that was distended nearly .5". I thought maybe the bridge plate and braces gave. Upon inspecting with a mirror I found an old homebrew repair. . . but that was not the weirdest part. The top braces were roughly arranged like a classical . . . and there is no bridge plate. To clean up the homebrew, I took the back off, and found that the braces that ran length-wise were drilled through (twice) at the bridge to accommodate pins. One was cracked at the bridge, and the other was broken away. Peripheral braces were coming loose as a result of the center braces failing, and the top was separated from the tail block

I think at the factory they drilled the bridge pin holes right through the braces. I think that they were building these with tail pieces, and at some point in the '70's decided they wanted something a little more cowboy looking and started slapping pin bridges on them without changing the braces, and drilling right through them.

If it didn't have a big fancy mustache bridge, I'd probably fix the braces and try to find a 12-string tail piece like the other Kawai's I have seen, but there would be a lot to cover on the top where the existing bridge sits with a floating bridge.

To get it back playable I am thinking about moving the braces around to something like a '70's Gibson double x pattern and adding hardwood bridge plate. I assume the sound will change, but I am thinking that may not be a bad thing.
Regards,
GS
Author:  Chris Pile [ Wed May 14, 2014 11:10 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Interesting repair, '70's Kawai 12 string KH-100
What's the big yellow goober in the middle?
Author:  gxs [ Thu May 15, 2014 9:41 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Interesting repair, '70's Kawai 12 string KH-100
Chris Pile wrote:
What's the big yellow goober in the middle?


That, would be the homebrew solution to the top bellying. Someone put 1/2x1/2x4" piece of pine and tried to connect the top to the bottom using plumber's putty. Under tension the putty snapped, and the belly returned, now with the added benefit of the rattling sound of the wood piece banging the top
Author:  WudWerkr [ Thu May 15, 2014 11:15 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Interesting repair, '70's Kawai 12 string KH-100
[headinwall] [headinwall] lol that looks like lotsa fun !
Author:  Michiyuki Kubo [ Thu May 15, 2014 6:25 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Interesting repair, '70's Kawai 12 string KH-100
Thanks for sharing. I would also think about x bracing. Maybe it can compensate a little to what has already been pressed down on. Can you believe they drilled through the braces? Great stuff. Maybe they thought less is more haha.
Author:  gxs [ Sat May 17, 2014 12:21 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Interesting repair, '70's Kawai 12 string KH-100
It is pretty crazy for sure. Maybe they thought drilling holes in the braces would reduce the weight :-). I got most of the plumbers dope out, and came up with a brace pattern I like, and put in a bridge plate so it should be back in action in a few days.
Cheers,
GS
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