Is neat internal workmanship worth the time and effort?

[maxr]

I've taken to sticking my phone through the soundholes of a few guitars and viewing the photos, and the results are interesting. Some inexpensive Eastern factory guitars are much better finished internally than the 'big names', but I'm not convinced that makes any difference to the sound. Some older 'name' acoustics, including some Guilds, are pretty rough and ready looking inside (bracing straight off the saw etc.) , but still sound great. What do you think?

 

[davismanLV]

Doubt it has any major effect on the sound or tone. What it does show is a level of neatness and care taken in the factory. That's the only thing it indicates, to me.

 

[fronobulax]

There was a recent thread about something similar, but I can't find it quickly.

The answer depends upon your personality. Some people like things (that are not normally visible) nice and tidy and will devalue items that are not. Those people sometimes try and claim that the mess indicates a wrong attitude on the part of the builder and thus call into question the overall quality of the build. Others feel that if it wasn't supposed to be visible then it doesn't matter.

If the interior clutter effected the sound then I'm sure more builders would be cleaning up inside.

You can probably explain what you see by following the money. If a more precise cut costs less to cut and assemble or just the right amount of glue is cheaper or easier to apply then a side effect of the more efficient process will be cleanliness.

 

[Stuball48]

Agree with Tom, may not make a big difference in sound but if I look inside a guitar and it looks like a rat's nest - I, immediately, think, "where else did the builder hurry through?"

Doubt it has any major effect on the sound or tone. What it does show is a level of neatness and care taken in the factory. That's the only thing it indicates, to me.

 

[plaidseason]

I think the level of expectation has risen for what's acceptable in a factory guitar. Both of the DCE1s I've owned had noticeable glue squeeze out. My F44 does not. All of my relatively inexpensive Godin guitars are neat inside.

Retro styled guitars, like Collings' Waterloo line, intentionally leave glue squeeze out, and leave out grain filler to add to the vintage factory guitar vibe.

 

[fronobulax]

I, immediately, think, "where else did the builder hurry through?"

That may say more about your personality and assumptions you make than it does about the process that was actually used to build the guitar.

 

[Stuball48]

That may say more about your personality and assumptions you make than it does about the process that was actually used to build the guitar.

Agree but as long as I have a choice, I will go with builders who don't take shortcuts in building the guitars I buy.

 

[GAD]

As someone with an overactive attention to detail, I'd expect someone of a similar bent to be appalled at glue drips even where they can't be seen. By the same token, I wouldn't expect that level of detail in a production line instrument.

 

[fronobulax]

Agree but as long as I have a choice, I will go with builders who don't take shortcuts in building the guitars I buy.

Once again, you my make my point by assuming the untidiness is due to some kind of short cut and that the short cut by definition results in an inferior product. You are allowed to do that

 

[Uke]

I had an uncle who was a master cabinet maker. His life was a complete mess with regard to family, relationships, person tidiness, home maintenance . . . . . But his cabinet work was pristine, inside and out. In his spare time he built experimental airplanes (I remember one he constructed the wings to in his dining/family room) -- he was pretty meticulous about that hobby, for sure. What's that old saying, "a messy desk is an indication of genius". I once had an Alvarez Yaris acoustic that was so clean inside it was a little unsettling.

 

[kostask]

Look inside the old, US made Harmony guitars whenever you get a chance. There is probably more wood surface on the sides covered by glue runs (yes, it is hide glue) than not in most of their guitars. I guess they were far more concerned with glue voids than cleanliness. Doesn't seem to affect their tone much, and they were doing that for decades.

 

[Br1ck]

I have to laugh, because I probably never inspected the inside of any guitar I owned for the first twenty five years of my playing experience. Even as late as 2014, I bought my 00 15 12 fret knowing nothing of how it's braced, to say nothing of how clean it is inside. It is pretty far down the list of my desires for a guitar. Still, I do admire good workmanship when I see it, you know, mitered corners and all. Beautiful work.

 

[Guilderland21]

Don't have a strong opinion on this topic but it did remind me:

A few days after I bought my D-140 I noticed what turned out to be a piece of fine-grit sandpaper, about 4x6", stuck to the lower bout next to the tailblock. It was stuck on there pretty good, or wedged in a joint, but I was able to pull it out cleanly the first time I changed the strings.

 

[GGJaguar]

a piece of fine-grit sandpaper, about 4x6", stuck to the lower bout next to the tailblock.

How did they miss that?

 

[Guilderland21]

How did they miss that?

That's what I wondered! But other than being blue, it was pretty unobtrusive - laid flat against the bout, didn't buzz or the guitar was played or rustle when it was shaken, was only visible through the soundhole at a particular angle. No other complaints about the quality control on this instrument, either.

Maybe it got in there at some point in the (apparently 4+, based on the serial number) years between when it was built and when I bought it (evidently new), but in some ways I'd find that even more surprising.