brundaddy Posted March 1, 2009 Share Posted March 1, 2009 I am a ******. I left my acoustic near a drafty window for a week while I went out of town... yep, the top cracked. The crack runs with the grain of the wood, from 1/2 inch behind the bridge all the way to the binding near the strap button. It's cracked all the way through the top. I'm getting a humidifier 1st thing tomorow (I know, too little too late) but WHAT, if anything, can I do in the way of first aid??? Please help! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sfden1 Posted March 1, 2009 Share Posted March 1, 2009 Humidifying it is a good first step, but do take it to a good repairman and get it fixed. And, the sooner the better, don't put it off. Un-attended cracks will only get worse. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clayville Posted March 1, 2009 Share Posted March 1, 2009 I'm not sure if this sort of approach is standard procedure or not -- I'm no luthier, just a guy who once let a flat-top get dry enough to develop a small open crack from the soundhole to the bottom of the neck. The local authorized Gibson repair guy at the time put the guitar in a big plastic bag with a humidifying sponge contraption he had made. Basically a plasic travel soap-dish with a sponge inside and holes for the wet air to escape. He left it in the bag for three days, checking the dampness of the sponge. Once the guitar was humidified again, the crack closed on it's own and he glued and clamped a small (dime-sized), thin diamond-shaped spruce cleat inside, spanning the crack to hold things structurally. He may have injected glue into the crack too, but in any event, there have been no problems since and there was no impact on the sound that I noticed. I'd take it to a pro, even though what he did for me wasn't all that complex. Best of luck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ksdaddy Posted March 1, 2009 Share Posted March 1, 2009 Clayville nailed it. I just went through the process with an old Ovation. God ony knows how long the crack was there but it had been unattended for many years, stuffed in the case and in storage. Being an Ovation I simplified the process and just tossed a wet (not dripping) flannel rag inside the soundhole, then put the guitar back in the case and made sure it was stored on it's back. I checked it every day. At first you could slide a credit card into the crack and over a few days it closed up fairly well. I cleated it twice. I also closed up a seam on an old LG1 a few weeks back but I didn't have to humidify it; I think my house's humidity is fairly high anyway because the guitar was here to get the bridge reattached and a couple braces reglued.... I noted the open seam and made the comment that they shoud bring it back to me in the spring when there's lots of humidity in the air anyway. Lo and behold, after it was here for a few days the crack closed on it's own. It must have been wicked dry where it was. Wood cracks. Nobody wants it to happen to their own guitar but it does happen. Sometimes cracks can be knitted back together with almost no sign. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gitfidl Posted March 2, 2009 Share Posted March 2, 2009 Wow. This is new thing for me. I have never had a crack in a guitar. Where do you guys live (how dry is it?) I live in San Diego which is near an ocean .. but has dry periods. I think the humidity is about 50% (52% right now) .. not Chicago or Mississippi valley and not desert. Mostly I do not leave guitars in hot cars (otherwise I do not do much) am I doing something wrong? (the comment about the open window was kind of stark). In San Diego there is a nightly "marine layer" of clouds that bring in moisture (which can be a devil) and I do not go away and leave anything open -- theft would be the danger. In the fall we have very dry "Santa Ana" winds (fire season --and cats hate it -- static electricity). In mid winter we have rains. Other than that temp is about 85 degrees and moderate humidity. What precautions should I be taking if any? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Taylor Player Posted March 2, 2009 Share Posted March 2, 2009 Consider yourself lucky Gitfidl.... San Diego has a near perfect enviornment for guitars which is probably one of the reasons Taylor builds their guitars in El Cahon near you. I hear the Taylor factory keeps about a perfect 45% humidity in it's factory. (I took the tour when I was there a few years ago and it was a very fun and informative time! Plus you get to see all of Taylors wood supply!) The humidity in your area probably does not fluctuate much from there. Your great if you can keep your guitars between 40% to 60% all the time with 45% t0 55% being optimal. In Minnesota where I live humidity dives down to the low 20% thoroughout my house during the winter heating season which is from October through March/April most years. During the summer my house is normally in the 40 to 50% range but that is the only time I keep my guitars out on stands. During the winter, I humidify all the time in the case and keep my babies in the 45% to 55% range. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brundaddy Posted March 2, 2009 Author Share Posted March 2, 2009 Thanks fellas... the sponge concept is what I had in mind & I'm glad to hear a few people talk me through how to do it. Much appreciated!! (& this will probably help some other dummies like me) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GotTheSilver Posted March 2, 2009 Share Posted March 2, 2009 Thanks fellas... the sponge concept is what I had in mind & I'm glad to hear a few people talk me through how to do it. Much appreciated!! (& this will probably help some other dummies like me) Hey, it's not just dummies who need help with this. Humidity is very important for acoustic guitars and it does not hurt to have a reminder every now and then. I used to live in New York, where it gets very dry in the winter. To make things worse, I was constantly travelling on business. By the time I got home, the dampit I put in my Taylor was bone dry. Eventually, the neck became loose. I think the wood in the neck joint shrank. I could move the neck forward and backward. I tried hard to re-humidify it, but it did no good. The repair guy had to put a shim in it. Luckily it was covered by warranty. Taylor is very big on preaching on the importance of keeping an acoustic guitar properly humidified, and I was very impressed that they would cover this under warranty even though I really don't think there was any defect in the guitar from the factory. Now I live in Houston, Texas, which does not get nearly as dry so it is easier to keep things properly humidified. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brundaddy Posted March 2, 2009 Author Share Posted March 2, 2009 Yea I moved to Michigan from New Orleans so it's a rude awakening with the dryness... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brundaddy Posted March 2, 2009 Author Share Posted March 2, 2009 Yea I moved to Michigan from New Orleans so it's a rude awakening with the dryness... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Mick Posted March 3, 2009 Share Posted March 3, 2009 Try Colorado Dry dry dry I just moved to NC so it's a new game. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clayville Posted March 3, 2009 Share Posted March 3, 2009 Taylor is very big on preaching on the importance of keeping an acoustic guitar properly humidified' date=' and I was very impressed that they would cover this under warranty even though I really don't think there was any defect in the guitar from the factory. [/quote'] They have some really good maintenance videos and Tech Sheets on humidity issues available on their site -- what to look for, what to do, etc. that are well worth checking out for anyone not fully-versed on this issue, booth "too dry" and "too wet". Prevention is preferable to repair... http://www.taylorguitars.com/see-hear/default.aspx?id=1004 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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