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Joined:
March 2010
Posts: 370
Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba CANADA | Much to my disappointment (I think eeeek was the exact noise I made...), when I picked up my Ovation 1756 12 string yesterday, I noticed the telltale depression of a newly formed crack in the top between the soundhole and the bridge.
This has always been one of my biggest fears with woodtop guitars and never having had this problem before, I was wondering what the usual progression of this kind of problem is? If the top does have to be replaced at some point in the future, what sort of $$$ am I looking at? Snow White has been with me for a long time now and I do have a sentimental attachment.
The crack appears to be from the bottom up (ie. there is no crack in the finish... yet), just a line and a depression following that line.
How serious is this? I see people on the forum talking about cracked tops in older guitars like they are inevitable. Is there anything I can do to prevent it from getting worse? Is a top replacement by Mother the only conclusion?
Also, what is the significance of the top cracking (presumably...) from the bottom up, rather than the usual finish crack appears then continues at a later date through the top?
Thanks in advance for any words of advice.
:eek: :confused: :( |
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Joined:
September 2006
Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | by Avatar4550:
Much to my disappointment (I think eeeek was the exact noise I made...), when I picked up my Ovation 1756 12 string yesterday, I noticed the telltale depression of a newly formed crack in the top between the soundhole and the bridge. :eek: :confused: :(
Is it really dry in your house? |
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Joined:
May 2008
Posts: 1565
Location: Indiana | Sounds like it.
Keep it humidified and in the case for a week or two and it should flatten back out. Then you can have it cleated. |
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Joined:
March 2010
Posts: 370
Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba CANADA | This is the first winter I have kept all my guitars out on stands (in an effort to play them more...) and it also coincides with what I suspect is some new process the gas utility is using to remove more water from the gas before it actually enters the house. There is a condenser on the furnace that removes the water from the gas and pumps it out at regular intervals. This used to run constantly and now, hardly at all.
Every year up until now the problem has been excess humidity (I am talking EXCESS!!). I have had two dehumidifiers running 24/7 for the past few winters (one, 24/7 in the studio area all year round...) and have never managed to drop the humidity much below 35%. A somewhat dry, but acceptible level for guitars where I have never had any problems before. This level was necessary for other critical storage considerations in the house.
I guess it is one of those things, where by the time you notice it is too dry, the damage has been done.
Any thoughts on what a top replacement by Mother might run? |
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Joined:
November 2006
Posts: 3969
| Is it a crack (off-center), or a separation of the joint line between the two pieces of the top? If the latter, simply re-humidifying the guitar should close the gap without any further damage.
I'm glad I live in Florida, no humidity problems here even in winter. |
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Joined:
December 2009
Posts: 686
Location: Route 66, just east of the Cadillac Ranch | Originally posted by Avatar4550:
Any thoughts on what a top replacement by Mother might run? I've heard that they replace the top and bowl as an assembly. I had a neck replaced and it ran $600.00 including return shipping (2009). I suspect a top/bowl would be no less than that. The work that they did was quite impressive. Keep us posted.
Nick |
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Joined:
March 2010
Posts: 370
Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba CANADA | Thanks for the replies...
G8r, unfortunately the crack is off-centre about halfway between the centre of the bridge and the top of the bridge. I put my hand into the soundhole but couldn't actually feel the crack, so it is still quite tight. I put a jury-rigged humidifier into the case (a sponge in a pill bottle with holes in the lid...), till I can get a real one from the music store. Hopefully applying a bit of humidity will at least slow the process of separation down a bit.
The irony in this is, a month and a half from now Winnipeg will be facing the worst flooding in it's history and humidity is unlikely to be in short supply. I will probably have to dismantle my studio and move it to higher ground just in case the worst actually happens...
:( :( :( |
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Joined:
May 2008
Posts: 1565
Location: Indiana | Aggressively humidifying will level the crack enough to have the top repaired.
Have a look at this extreme example. (Warning... Taylor content...)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=43sbE9n7zv4&feature=related |
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Joined:
November 2006
Posts: 3969
| Originally posted by Avatar4550:
...unfortunately the crack is off-centre about halfway between the centre of the bridge and the top of the bridge. Sux. Before taking the drastic and expensive step of replacing the top (which, as has been stated, involves putting your neck onto a new top/bowl), take Jonmark's advice. Once the top is properly humidified the split will probably close up, especially if it's not so big that hasn't affected the finish. Then any competent luthier should be able to cleat it easily. |
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Joined:
March 2005
Posts: 12761
Location: Boise, Idaho | While watching the Taylor video (which was quite informative) I couldn't help thinking that if John had a Taylor, he'd have cracks in both the back and front.
I live in a very dry climate and the guitars stay out all year in the basement. The humidifier never runs until winter. Once the furnace kicks in it dries out the air. I would imagine that the furnace has been kicking in a lot in Winnipeg. Get a guage to check the humidity in the room where your guitars are and buy a humidifier if it gets below 45% or so. |
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Joined:
March 2010
Posts: 370
Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba CANADA | Life always finds a new and more entertaining way of kicking you in the nads...
Last spring BOTH of the dehumidifiers I had here died. Not surprising really, as both had been running more less full on/ 24 hours a day for YEARS. In preparation for winter (where the humidity always seemed to get worse, isn't that weird...), I bought two brand new ones for around $350 each. With the recent inexplicable changes in climate here, neither has been on once yet this winter. One hasn't even made it out of the box yet.
I guess I will have to bite the bullet and go get a humidifier (no de- this time). Someone here has a sig-line that says "... if you want to make G-D laugh, tell him your plans...". I think there's a good laugh in this somewhere... I could have bought a guitar with that money?
:( ;) |
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Joined:
December 2009
Posts: 686
Location: Route 66, just east of the Cadillac Ranch | JS,
I'm a big proponent of humidifying guitars in dry climates, but I never would have thought that humidifying a guitar could close a crack as bad as the one in the video. Thanks for sharing.
Nick |
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Joined:
November 2009
Posts: 177
Location: Milford, MI | I keep my guitar's in a humidity controlled room. Between 50 to 53%. They were all fine yesterday. I went to get one to play today and noticed my 1866 had a crack in the top.
Not a finish crack but all the way through the top! From the back of the bridge to the binding. The top was perfect until today. Not even a pick swirl.
It has needed a neck reset, (action is not real high, but too high with no shims under the saddle) I'm not sure if it is worth sending back to the MS to be repaired.
I will have to think about this. |
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Cracks In Wood Top O's
