Question(s) about top cracks

[Nigel Wickwire]

Is lack of humidity considered the number one cause of top cracks?

When looking at used guitars, I always consider the crack alongside the neck to be the most hated of all top cracks. Are top cracks along the neck any more or less scary than cracks, say down by the bridge? Are cracks next to the neck harder to fix than elsewhere in the top?

Not my git, by the way. Just one I saw on eBay.

~nw

 

[West R Lee]

That particular crack isn't caused by the top being dry. It's due to the neck pulling the top in. One of those reasons I prefer light gauge strings. But I'd say yes, lack of humidity is probably the largest contributor to top cracks.

West

 

[GardMan]

According to Frank Ford, one cause of the fingerboard/neck crack is excessive heat, that either loosens the neck block/braces or lets them slip. Then, the neck will start to cave the top in, cracking the top as it goes. If the top segment has shifted at all, the neck must be pulled back into position before the crack and braces are repaired. There are a couple examples at Frets.com: not so bad; worse. Some luthiers might insist on removing the neck for the repair... Ford simply (?!) clamps and pulls the neck back into alignment.

Personally, I think that the fingerboard cracks are more likely to cause serious problems, and would avoid them if there has been any shift at all (seen as a scarp in the soundhole and/or rosette). In contrast, a simple top or back crack, or a split tailblock, are simple repairs and much less serious issues. That's just my opinion, for what it is worth.

BTW... my D-44 came with an old top crack and a split end block... readily repaired. I was more concerned when, a few months later I cleaned years of accumulated polish residue from alongside the fingerboard extension, and found a crack there, as well. Fortunately, it doesn't extend all the way the soundhole...stopping at one of the braces inside. My luthier/tech worked whatever glue in that he could (not much, he said, because the crack wouldn't move). So far now, it's just wait and watch.

 

[killdeer43]

Cracks? What cracks?

Some would say that cracks add to the character of the guitar. :roll:

Joe

 

[killdeer43]

And further to my earlier comment, David, we are both real 'characters' after our shared experience. :wink:
As I've also said before, it's all good.

Learning to live while living to learn,
Joe

 

[Nigel Wickwire]

That particular crack isn't caused by the top being dry. It's due to the neck pulling the top in. One of those reasons I prefer light gauge strings. But I'd say yes, lack of humidity is probably the largest contributor to top cracks.

West

Thanks, West. I was curious as to the cause of this one.

Personally, I think that the fingerboard cracks are more likely to cause serious problems, and would avoid them if there has been any shift at all (seen as a scarp in the soundhole and/or rosette). In contrast, a simple top or back crack, or a split tailblock, are simple repairs and much less serious issues. That's just my opinion, for what it is worth.

Thanks as always, for sharing your experience, G-man. I would tend to agree that the fingerboard cracks are the spookiest. As far as your D-44, if kept at the proper temp and humidity, you might (hopefully) have a long wait ahead on movement of that crack.

Joe and I were able to work things out like gentlemen, but frankly it was a terrible experience for both of us

Little Songs and Joe, thanks for sharing your story. Hopefully, we'll all learn from it and here's hoping you never have another unpleasant Guild transaction

Cheers,

~nw

 

[killdeer43]

Joe and I were able to work things out like gentlemen, but frankly it was a terrible experience for both of us

Little Songs and Joe, thanks for sharing your story. Hopefully, we'll all learn from it and here's hoping you never have another unpleasant Guild transaction

Thanks for the sentiments, David and Nigel.

In the overall scheme of the cosmos, however, I won't agree that the experience was either "terrible" or "unpleasant." After all, those are just words.

I'll stay off the soapbox to keep it short and say that the fact that David and I communicated throughout the experience means more to me than the object of our discussions.
Lack of communication, on the other hand, might have changed things considerably. :wink:

But that's just me,
Joe

 

[plaidseason]

Is lack of humidity considered the number one cause of top cracks?

When looking at used guitars, I always consider the crack alongside the neck to be the most hated of all top cracks. Are top cracks along the neck any more or less scary than cracks, say down by the bridge? Are cracks next to the neck harder to fix than elsewhere in the top?

Not my git, by the way. Just one I saw on eBay.

~nw

MY DV4 has a crack along the neck, but because Guild put that strange reenforcement around the sound hole, the crack is in effect already cleated. I'm still not particularly thrilled about it, but it doesn't seem be causing any playability issues.

-Chris

 

[GardMan]

MY DV4 has a crack along the neck, but because Guild put that strange reenforcement around the sound hole, the crack is in effect already cleated. I'm still not particularly thrilled about it, but it doesn't seem be causing any playability issues.
-Chris

Even with the brace "cleating" the crack, I'd still take that to someone and have that crack glued... I wouldn't want it to start to creep. Better to be safe! Just my $0.02. Dave

 

[plaidseason]

MY DV4 has a crack along the neck, but because Guild put that strange reenforcement around the sound hole, the crack is in effect already cleated. I'm still not particularly thrilled about it, but it doesn't seem be causing any playability issues.
-Chris

Even with the brace "cleating" the crack, I'd still take that to someone and have that crack glued... I wouldn't want it to start to creep. Better to be safe! Just my $0.02. Dave

Oh I've had my luthier look at it - I'm too much of a paranoid guitar owner to have not done that!

It's not just the brace, there is also that thin square of spruce that goes around and extends from the soundhole, with the grain perpendicular to the top.

-Chris