RE: Dipped top

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RE: Dipped top

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Ricardo

Posts: 14828
Joined: Dec. 14 2004
From: Washington DC

RE: Dipped top (in reply to Anders Eliasson)

he already said he has been trying to contact luthier with no quick response as when he was buying it.

Time to put that thing on Ebay.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 8 2014 17:53:03

Sr. Martins

Posts: 3079
Joined: Apr. 4 2011

RE: Dipped top (in reply to Ricardo)

The guitar plays and sounds very good, I just dont want it to implode. All the guitars Ive had in my house during these almost 100% R.H. periods have a belly at the center, not one on each wing.

Ive contacted the builder/seller once more with some of the pics Ive posted here.

At the moment I still think the guitar is very susceptible to humidity. The 24 frets thin neck on my electric bass is like that too, I can almost use it as an hygrometer. On those two weeks when the RH dropped a lot, the bass had almost 2mm relief, now its back to "one hair" height.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 8 2014 18:08:24

Anders Eliasson

Posts: 5780
Joined: Oct. 18 2006

RE: Dipped top (in reply to Ricardo)

quote:

he already said he has been trying to contact luthier with no quick response as when he was buying it.

i got that wrong.
Thanks for clarifying.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 8 2014 19:45:02

Sr. Martins

Posts: 3079
Joined: Apr. 4 2011

RE: Dipped top (in reply to Ricardo)

We'll see how this works out. :p

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 8 2014 20:17:45

estebanana

Posts: 9360
Joined: Oct. 16 2009

RE: Dipped top (in reply to Sr. Martins)

quote:

The guitar plays and sounds very good, I just dont want it to implode. All the guitars Ive had in my house during these almost 100% R.H. periods have a belly at the center, not one on each wing.

If it was going to implode it probably already would have.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 8 2014 20:45:28

Sr. Martins

Posts: 3079
Joined: Apr. 4 2011

RE: Dipped top (in reply to estebanana)

quote:

If it was going to implode it probably already would have.

Oh.. that's the kind of reassuring words one wants to hear from a known luthier.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 8 2014 21:47:46

tijeretamiel

Posts: 441
Joined: Jan. 6 2012

RE: Dipped top (in reply to Anders Eliasson)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Anders Eliasson

use a dehumidifyer and slowly go from whatever you have down to less. Guitars dont nee to be kept in 40-50% humidity. 40 - 75% Rh should not cause any problems if the instrument was built in a controled environment.

In cases where an instrument gets really wet and start changing its shape, its important to lower the humidity SLOWLY and go down to at least 60% (better 50%) for an extended period until the instrument is stable again.

If a wooden instrument was built very dry, it will suffer more from humidity. It is a compromise. Luthiers from regions where it gets very dry in winter, often build at 40 - 45%RH in order to avoid cracks in the guitar later on, but its not the best for guitars living in humid areas.

Thanks Anders.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 8 2014 22:37:23

estebanana

Posts: 9360
Joined: Oct. 16 2009

RE: Dipped top (in reply to Ricardo)

You know a top can theoretically expand and contract across the grain quite a lot. Have never measured, but I have researched- The wood is trapped between to stopping points the sides and it has to go somewhere when it get engorged with moisture and expands, this one looks like it went down.

But the puzzler is what is going on with the bridge? See I've never seen a top take a bridge for a ride quite like that except on a top that was either left in the trunk of a very hot car, or a top that was cut off the guitar for replacement. I've seen the bridge wang that far in those conditions, but not in what would be normal RH perimeters. Maybe the wings of the bridge are flexible enough to bend up like that, and the top is doing the pushing. But I still wonder if the bridge is not seasoned and is winging up and taking the top with it.

Try to get a hold of that builder again. If this problem does not self correct you may have to get an in person opinion. If you really like the guitar and it does not self correct it may need to have the bridge taken off a reglued or even remade and glued on under good RH conditions.

There is a school of thought that advocates a flat bridge and when things are going right in the shop and RH and wood seasoning is correct the bridge will bend with the top under tension a tiny bit. Usually there is no issue with this method if done well. The problem with that method is that the bridge could decide to move this way as yours has if the bridge were cut on the slab and the it had not been fully seasoned. It could still move and warp. You can check to see if the grain of the bridge is vertically cut or flat sawn. It might give a clue to the problem.

But don't get too worried, there's likely a solution and patience may see it self correct. After you acclimate it slowly, putting it back under tension will help pull the arch up, or rather back to flat. Not that Ilm try to countermand Anders good advice, but if it were me I might even consider putting the strings on and keeping them tuned a step lower just to pull of on the top while it re adjusts.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 9 2014 4:37:09