|
|
Joined:
January 2006
Posts: 2120
Location: Chicago | I am watching my favorite '74 1117 Legend go through a sad change in its 35th year of life: three new long and deep cracks beyond the bridge. Also the bridge itself is tipping toward the neck with a slight "valley" between it and the sound hole, a slight "bulge" beyond the bridge. A wave of trouble. I'm afraid it's headed for a whole lotta trouble.
WHY? WHY?
Possible contributing factors:
1) I've increased my string gauge in recent years (13 18 24 32 42 53)
2) the Mothership replaced the bridge 18 mos ago.
3) I've been playing much more in the last 3 years
4) I do percussive stuff on the old top
ADVICE? Can a top be reinforced, or should I bite the bullet and replace it? |
|
| |
|
Joined:
September 2006
Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | Whoa... Sorry to hear that you old friend is going through this change-of-life.
I do not know what could have caused that, but the heavier strings might have contributed.
Or the humid air coming off of the Lake?
I bought a 1617 that already has that problem...
I probably over-paid, but the guitar sounded so nice that I bought it anyway...
Is yours starting to look like this?
Is your bridge still firmly attached? Just tilting with the top?
On my guitar it still sounds Great, but it is getting Osteoporosis (soft bones) in it's braces.
I would say, hang-on to it so long as it is still playable and nice sounding...
but shop around for a similar model to go along with it. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2006
Posts: 6992
Location: Jet City | Ouch, sorry to hear it.
Have you checked to see if all the braces are intact? I just found one comin off on my '70 1117.
BTW, after I got it fixed it became the loudest guitar in the group.
Also I'd shoot a note to mothership if they just worked on it that recently and see what they say. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
April 2006
Posts: 2491
Location: Copenhagen Denmark | But , is n`t the " Bulge " normal on an old guitar , those I know , even say that it makes the git. sound better..
Like Arthur`s git. ,my 1617 has it too , it has had it for some yrs. , I`m not concerned , mine`s also got a bunch of finish -cracks , sounds good , better than that swish new CFM J -40 that I tried yesterday :)
Vic
..ya could take it to a luthier , just to make sure .. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 15654
Location: SoCal | Are these things that you just noticed? Give John or Kim a call Monday morning.
If these are things that happened overnite, I'd loosen the strings immediately.
Good luck...... |
|
| |
|
Joined:
November 2003
Posts: 11039
Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | This may be fixable without having to replace the top but, you'd need to get it in to know. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2006
Posts: 2120
Location: Chicago | Yeah, I noticed this bulge-plus-cracks just today. I mean, it has probably been developing for awhile. The bridge is firmly attached but it makes for weird action: buzz at the nut and high at fret 12.
I think I will consult with Mr. Budny. Always good for ailing "O"s....
And yes, Old Man A, it looks like that.... If it does not progress I suppose it is OK. But if the cracks keep growing (and they are fresh) I dunno....
Backup, yes: I'm having a snazzy pickup system installed in my 1581 Adamas reissue....
But will it have the same snap crackle and pop??? |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 15654
Location: SoCal | I feel for you...... |
|
| |
|
Joined:
April 2006
Posts: 2491
Location: Copenhagen Denmark | Gregg , are they just finish -cracks or through the top -cracks ??
Vic
..Trussrod over-adjusted maybe ..??.. :) |
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2006
Posts: 2120
Location: Chicago | Through-the-top cracks, as far as I can tell! Hey, you might be right about the truss! |
|
| |
The end of an axe? Advice please
