ponty Posted December 6, 2012 Share Posted December 6, 2012 I have a guitar that has developed what could be a progressive problem. The guitar is not a Gibson, but rather one of those, err..Martins. The photo shows clearly the problem. A gap has appeared between the heel and the body. 12th fret action has also got higher.Anyone had this happen? What did you do? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichG Posted December 6, 2012 Share Posted December 6, 2012 What model? How old?. Last year my HD28 went back to the factory for a bridge reglue and a neck reset. It did not do what you show, but it seemingly went "bad" overnight. I bought it new in 1991 so the repairs were no charge. I don't know the cause. Could have been too much dry air. I have started to pay more attention to humidity now. Rich Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j45nick Posted December 6, 2012 Share Posted December 6, 2012 Yikes! Looks like your 000-28 to me. It almost sounds like the neck joint glue has failed. I've never had this happen, so I don't know. I would be tempted to back off on the string tension and see if the gap closes back up. If it does, I would say you have a bit of a problem that may need professional attention. Wonder if that high BDA humidity has anything to do with it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drathbun Posted December 6, 2012 Share Posted December 6, 2012 Do you know if this guitar has a dovetail or a mortise and tenon joint? A dovetail should never do this. A dovetail, properly set, should hold solid even without glue. This gap should never appear. However, a M/T joint IS held by glue and if that glue bond breaks, it may separate. If it is a bolt-on neck, just tighten the bolt. ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ponty Posted December 6, 2012 Author Share Posted December 6, 2012 Yikes! Looks like your 000-28 to me. It almost sounds like the neck joint glue has failed. I've never had this happen, so I don't know. I would be tempted to back off on the string tension and see if the gap closes back up. If it does, I would say you have a bit of a problem that may need professional attention. Wonder if that high BDA humidity has anything to do with it? Yes Nick, this is my 000-28. The humidity in Bermuda could well have helped it on its way, although 10 years of its 14 year life were in the UK. Strangely, my Gibsons have held up extremely well in 20 years. I am going to NYC next week and will take it for evaluation ? repair. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zombywoof Posted December 6, 2012 Share Posted December 6, 2012 I believe the Martin 28 Series has the Dovetail neck joint and not the mortise and tenon joint. I have run across this problem quite a bit but usually on old mail order guitars. I have never found a way to properly fix the problem other than a neck reset. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j45nick Posted December 6, 2012 Share Posted December 6, 2012 I believe the Martin 28 Series has the Dovetail neck joint and not the mortise and tenon joint. I have run across this problem quite a bit but usually on old mail order guitars. I have never found a way to properly fix the problem other than a neck reset. As far as I can tell, this guitar would have a dovetail neck joint, similar to the Gibson joint. I haven't seen this problem before, but I pretty much stand by my original comments, as I don't know what else it could be. The neck has pretty clearly shifted position. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ponty Posted December 6, 2012 Author Share Posted December 6, 2012 I will let you know what happens in NYC. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
retrorod Posted December 6, 2012 Share Posted December 6, 2012 I would send it back to Nazareth, PA. with a quickness.....Ya Thats what I would do. Or possibly ,fix it myself (would be faster). Good luck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
merseybeat1963 Posted December 6, 2012 Share Posted December 6, 2012 I will let you know what happens in NYC. Where you goin to show it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ponty Posted December 7, 2012 Author Share Posted December 7, 2012 Amazingly, there are only 2 authorised Martin repair shops. A guy in the Village, and Sam Ash. So, as I will be 2mins from Sam Ash, thats where its going. I called them, and they said they would ship it to CFM for me for the shipping fee. So, I will see what really happens. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j45nick Posted December 7, 2012 Share Posted December 7, 2012 Amazingly, there are only 2 authorised Martin repair shops. A guy in the Village, and Sam Ash. So, as I will be 2mins from Sam Ash, thats where its going. I called them, and they said they would ship it to CFM for me for the shipping fee. So, I will see what really happens. Good luck, and I mean that sincerely, as I have no idea what to expect. I take it you are the original owner? From what I've read elsewhere, Martin seems have a pretty good policy on neck warranty issues. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salfromchatham Posted December 7, 2012 Share Posted December 7, 2012 If you didn't buy it tthrough the Sam Ash Dealer... I would just ship it to Martin Direct. I would call their customer service, and have your serial number ready. They are real good. The middleman will just cause you more time without the guitar - unless you are going through a klout-wielding dealer that you puchased it from. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichG Posted December 7, 2012 Share Posted December 7, 2012 When my HD28 needed help last year I went to Mandolin Bros where I bought it in 1991. I didn't care if it cost to get it fixed, I just didn't want to go through the shipping hassle. They told me they would ship it. Bottom line Martin did about $1000 worth of work for free and Mandolin Bros charged me less than it would have cost to ship. Only down side was it took Martin about 2-3 months. Rich Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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