In guitar building, glue is not just something that holds wood together.
The adhesive you choose also affects repairability, stability, and—indirectly—the way vibrations travel through the instrument.
Modern Wood Glues: White and Yellow (PVA)
White and yellow carpenter’s glues, known as PVA, are very common today because they are easy to use, have a long open time, and do not require heat.
However, once dry, PVA glues remain slightly elastic, creating a rubbery joint that does not transfer vibration as efficiently. They also make future repairs more complicated because the bond is more difficult to reverse.
For this reason, I avoid them for critical joints on high-end guitars.
Hot Hide Glue
Hot hide glue is the traditional adhesive used on vintage instruments and classic guitars.
Once cured, it forms a hard, crystalline joint with no elasticity, which helps the wood pieces vibrate together as one.
A big advantage: hot hide glue is reversible. With heat and moisture, the joint can be separated for future repairs without damaging the wood.
The downside is that working time is short—it must be applied while hot and sets quickly, requiring skill and preparation.
Fish Glue (For Frets)
For certain jobs I use fish glue, which is similar to hide glue in hardness and acoustic properties but does not require heat.
It has a longer open time, making it very practical. I use it especially for frets, as it bonds well, is easy to clean up, and can be reversed later if needed.
Does Glue Affect Tone?
Glue alone won’t magically change a guitar’s sound.
But in critical joints—neck to body, neck and fingerboard, it influences how the whole structure vibrates as one unit. A better bond means better resonance and a more responsive instrument.
My Choice as a LuthierFor my work, I use hot hide glue for all structural joints and fish glue for frets.
These traditional methods take more time and experience, but they result in instruments that are both resonant and serviceable for decades to come.
