D-35 with a translucent top?
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davenumber2
Member
Maybe it's been refinished and the top was sanded took much before finishing? I'd be worried about the stability of that top.
wileypickett
Enlightened Member
This guitar has been discussed before, though I can't find the link right now.
If the top was sanded it would have to have been done with the neck and bridge removed. It's impossible to sand around those obstacles that cleanly.
But the biggest mystery, as noted in the previous discussion, is that the angled braces in the lower bout don't line up. It's as if half the bookmatched top is from a different guitar. Just doesn't figure!
If the top was sanded it would have to have been done with the neck and bridge removed. It's impossible to sand around those obstacles that cleanly.
But the biggest mystery, as noted in the previous discussion, is that the angled braces in the lower bout don't line up. It's as if half the bookmatched top is from a different guitar. Just doesn't figure!
I can't find that previous thread either, and I can't recall what was said. But is it possible they are simply grain patterns in the wood and have nothing to do with the bracing?
walrus
walrus
SFIV1967
Venerated Member
This guitar was already discussed twice:
The original thread was from October already but we had no explanation for the misalignent between the two halfs of the top.
And no, I did not research or find an answer... But looking at it right now I belief the answer is simply "considerable runout" ! And I mean this seriously. The maybe flatter than 45deg grain pattern on one side moves the internal bracing pattern down and on the other side moves it up when viewed from outside. So the bracing would be in the middle of what you actually see now. @AcornHouse what do you think about my theory?
Still very unusal to see something like this.
Ralf
The original thread was from October already but we had no explanation for the misalignent between the two halfs of the top.
And no, I did not research or find an answer... But looking at it right now I belief the answer is simply "considerable runout" ! And I mean this seriously. The maybe flatter than 45deg grain pattern on one side moves the internal bracing pattern down and on the other side moves it up when viewed from outside. So the bracing would be in the middle of what you actually see now. @AcornHouse what do you think about my theory?
Still very unusal to see something like this.
Ralf
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Guildedagain
Enlightened Member
Skeletor's back ;[]
Besides that, they're all translucent, all NT guitars like all the NT Guild guitars ever made, as well as other Translucent colors, such as Blue, Red, etc, trans/lucent meaning "see through" it's a see through finish. Basically any time you can still see the wood grain.
But in colors, they're affectionately known as Trans, like Trans Red where no one would ever call an NT guitar trans it would be redundant.
Besides that, they're all translucent, all NT guitars like all the NT Guild guitars ever made, as well as other Translucent colors, such as Blue, Red, etc, trans/lucent meaning "see through" it's a see through finish. Basically any time you can still see the wood grain.
But in colors, they're affectionately known as Trans, like Trans Red where no one would ever call an NT guitar trans it would be redundant.
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BradHK
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I also have no answer for the bracing “lines” being different from left to right. The grain patterns do look like the two sides are book matched. However, the lighter lines in the top look like what I would expect from a sanded down and refinished top. The top above the braces would be more stiff so the old darker finish is removed more from these areas compared to the wood between the braces which give more. This would create the lighter areas above the braces. However, this theory makes me more confused with the whole left right not matching.
At the very least, thanks Ralf for finding those threads! You need to do a seminar on "LTG Thread Finding"!
walrus
walrus
Yup. Thanks, Ralf. I would really love to know what this is all about. Not buying the runout theory, Ralf. 
davenumber2
Member
I messaged the seller on Reverb about the issues we are discussing. All he said was “All original from the manufacturer. That’s the bracing pattern used at that time.”
Mingus
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I've never seen anything like that before, but it kind of reminds me of telegraphing. I've seen that on classical guitars where there is lighter bracing below the bridge. But something like that makes the top physically wavy. Not discolored.
Perhaps, and I cringe thinking about this, there was some kind of telegraphing going on due to humidity issues and the top was sanded flat again making just the areas with the braces later, as the most would need to be taken off those areas. That would be the wildest of scenarios, something that I've never seen before. Also something that you would want to avoid like the plague!
Perhaps, and I cringe thinking about this, there was some kind of telegraphing going on due to humidity issues and the top was sanded flat again making just the areas with the braces later, as the most would need to be taken off those areas. That would be the wildest of scenarios, something that I've never seen before. Also something that you would want to avoid like the plague!
Guildedagain
Enlightened Member
Flattop guitar can be a bit of a misnomer, in fact I hear no belly no tone.
SFIV1967
Venerated Member
You don't have to, but think about it: Assuming you sand the soft top and apply pressure the grain lines will transfer the pressure and will stay stiff where the brace is, so that means on the surface of the top the "shadow" of the brace is at a very different shifted position now! I used a "thick top" for demonstration in the drawing below. The runout direction is from neck to lower bout of the top, not from left to right.Not buying the runout theory, Ralf.
Now with a bookmatched top you have the effect in the other way for the other side. Bingo. That's why I said the real bracing is in the middle between the two top lines. I bet if you measure it inside and outside that's what it is.
If you would have no runout it would look like in the second drawing below.
Ralf
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Guildedagain
Enlightened Member
This doesn't look like a case for reasonable explanations.
SFIV1967
Venerated Member
You are very welcome to come up with a better explanation...
Guildedagain
Enlightened Member
Strange lighting/shadows, possible reflections, whatever it is folks have been losing sleep over this one for a couple years now, mostly assuming things, "doubting the structural integrity" of a guitar from an armchair thousand miles away - several times over now - but the guitar itself seems to be fine, apparently unaware of its own condition.
Pretty much in every thread someone is worried about this guitar, which is simple enough not to buy.
Also simple were you interested is to request a normal picture taken without all the funky lighting, might be a night/day difference, just my guess.
Pretty much in every thread someone is worried about this guitar, which is simple enough not to buy.
Also simple were you interested is to request a normal picture taken without all the funky lighting, might be a night/day difference, just my guess.
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adorshki
Reverential Member
Cancer?
Br1ck
Senior Member
I don't think it is bracing at all, but unusual bearclaw patterning. Look at the clear patch on the upper bass bout, then the smaller clear space on the treble side, just like you would get as the irregularities change with the wood being sliced open. Same with the large cross brace looking pattern. You see this on pervectly bookmatched, but not perfectly quarter sawn maple mandolin backs. The wide figureing on one side moves up or down on the matched piece. I think it is just a very unusual piece of spruce.
I just bought a very bear claw SCGC D P/W. There is little in the opposite half to suggest it was a bookmatch. Even that next slice of wood changed dramatically. when it was split to make the top.
I just bought a very bear claw SCGC D P/W. There is little in the opposite half to suggest it was a bookmatch. Even that next slice of wood changed dramatically. when it was split to make the top.
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Guildedagain
Enlightened Member
I'd asked the seller to send me a picture of the top taken without any artificial lighting.