Gluing Martin Alternative X Aluminum top back on???

[Ian Davlin The Looth Group]

Hey, this is a super unusual bonding situation. I would test test test. Here are some tests I would run.

1. G Flex epoxy from west systems.
2. West 105 with West 404 filler
3. Maybe CA. Sounds like a hassle though with a ton of eye burning episodes.

[Dave Staudte (rhymms with "Howdy") NB Guitar Repair (New Braunfels, TX)]

For what it is worth, I built 5 guitars with aluminum tops for a guy about 5 years ago. I glued the tops to the sides with West System 105 and 206 Slow Hardner. They’re all still together. The braces were integrated with the top, milled out of solid aluminum so no other glue joints except the rim. The bridges were glued with the same, and I put the 2 Gibson bolts in for good measure.

[Anthony Kreher Kreher Guitars]

Wow, integrated braces in a single piece aluminum top. That is intreguing. How does ot sound? Was the top domed? Have you ever done any guitar analysis on it? if not, check out Giuliano´s videos here on the group. I would love to see a spctrum from one of them

[Paul M]

have you ever seen these? They sound 1/2 between pretty good and exactly how you’d think they sound:
https://reverb.com/item/49883703-alcoa-vintage-aluminum-upright-bass

reverb.com

Alcoa Vintage Aluminum Upright Bass | Reverb

Aluminum Corporation of America upright bass. Nice condition overall. Had a luthier fashion a bridge for it and install decent used strings. Has a label on the back of the bottom of the fingerboard - hard to photograph. There is … Continue reading

[Dave Staudte (rhymms with "Howdy") NB Guitar Repair (New Braunfels, TX)]

Unfortunately, I do not have any of the guitars. The are mostly in CA. He’s gotten interest from Ovation and Rainsong recently among others. Does well at the NAMM show regarding interest and met with Tim Teal from Martin with them. I have Guilianni’s book and yes it would be interesting to test them. Surprisingly they actually sound pretty good!

[Ian Davlin The Looth Group]

Sweet butterbeans.

[Dave Staudte (rhymms with "Howdy") NB Guitar Repair (New Braunfels, TX)]

See reply below with top bracing pics…thought I had this figured out 🙂

[Paul M]

Seems like West System mostly recommends the G/Flex for Aluminum at this point, they used to offer an etching kit for the 105 system but don’t use it anymore.

I like the thickened stuff in the toothpaste tubes a lot.

https://www.epoxyworks.com/index.php/aluminum-adhesion/

epoxyworks.com

Aluminum Adhesion

Tom Pawlak tests aluminum adhesion and compares the results of WEST SYSTEM G/flex 650 Epoxy against WEST SYSTEM 105 Resin/206. Slow Hardener.