little cracks on guitar

Subject: little cracks
From: MAG
Date: 28 Jan 07 - 12:15 PM

Below the bridge my guitar has all these little short cracks thatlook almost like tiny dents along the grain of the wood. The finishnis all rough.

My house is very dry in winter. Have I just let it get too dry, or is it something else?

Subject: RE: little cracks
From: GUEST,DrWord
Date: 28 Jan 07 - 12:36 PM

it's almost certainly the finish. your humidity problem [lack, that is] may be contributing. but by ALL MEANS go to frets.com for answers to all things guitar repair. also try a few keyword searches in the threads archive.
close inspection will reveal whether it's in the finish or the wood. Is it a solid or laminate top?
Is in near your pickguard (if you have one)-- do you need a bigger one?
more detail will help other 'catters give you the information you need. check out frets. ell us how you are making out.

cheers
dennis

Subject: RE: little cracks
From: MAG
Date: 28 Jan 07 - 01:04 PM

finish and wood, solid top, not a pickgard problrm.

Thanks for the tip; I'm off.

Subject: RE: little cracks
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 28 Jan 07 - 06:15 PM

Bad taste alert.....

I thought this was going to be about something else...

Subject: RE: little cracks on guitar
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 29 Jan 07 - 03:41 AM

Well, I did until a mudelf fixed the title....

Subject: RE: little cracks on guitar
From: redsnapper
Date: 29 Jan 07 - 08:16 AM

This does sound like a dryness problem and, if your house is as dry as you mention in the winter, it would be wise to invest a few $/£ in a humidifier (available at any decent guitar shop).

I would tend to have the guitar inspected by a repairman

Subject: RE: little cracks on guitar
From: Midchuck
Date: 29 Jan 07 - 11:31 AM

Bridge, you're as bad as me, and that's disgraceful.

My first thought was the Dixie Chicks...

P.

Subject: RE: little cracks on guitar
From: Bee-dubya-ell
Date: 29 Jan 07 - 04:16 PM

What brand of guitar is it? Some, especially Gibsons, are prone to finish cracks and checks even when reasonable care is taken.

Subject: RE: little cracks on guitar
From: MAG
Date: 31 Jan 07 - 09:28 PM

It's a handmade Canadian guitar. I've got two, and the other one is OK.

Well, not totally OK; I had it rebuilt after a major mishap, but the finish is OK.

The only person I trust it with is the dealer I bought it from, and that requires a two-day vacation.

hmmm ...

Subject: RE: little cracks on guitar
From: eastky
Date: 01 Feb 07 - 12:56 AM

some of the best sounding guitars I have heard had lots of cracks and crazes inthe finish. If it sounds good leave it alone.

Subject: RE: little cracks on guitar
From: MAG
Date: 01 Feb 07 - 09:36 PM

Thanks for the advice, all. Finances preclude getting it checked out; it does sound really fine; I may try the humidity thing if I can figure out something I can manage.

Subject: RE: little cracks on guitar
From: Songster Bob
Date: 02 Feb 07 - 10:55 AM

The simplest humidifier is a sponge in a box. I've seen commercial ones that were simply plastic boxes with holes in the top and a sponge within. Wet it, shake out the excess, and put it in the guitar case where it can share the atmosphere with the guitar. It's better in the main part of the case instead of the picks & capo & strings compartment, but even that would help. You can probably make one if you can find a plastic box of some sort, and there are so many things that come in plastic these days you should be able to find something.

Be sure to shake out the excess, though. A leaky sponge in the case may lead to mold, if the interior plush lining gets wet.

The fancier humidifiers are sponge-filled plastic tubes of one sort or another that go into the guitar (with a clip so's they don't fall all the way in). If you have some old pieces of hose (garden hoses are rather large, but would work -- medical tubing is perfect), you can try stuffing thin-sliced sponge into one and sealing the ends. Don't forget the holes in the tube! Air has to circulate, to get the water into the case's atmosphere.

Bob

Subject: RE: little cracks on guitar
From: Cool Beans
Date: 02 Feb 07 - 12:32 PM

My 1962 Martin D-28 has had little cracks on its surface for years. It keeps sounding beter and better, so I just ignore the cracks.