#1
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Palpable "Ripple" in a guitar top - What can it be?
Hi All,
I have a guitar that has a "palpable" ripple in the top, just off the bridge on the on the low E side. When you run your fingers across it, you can definitely feel it. You can also see it, but it is impossible to photograph, otherwise, I would include a photo. The guitar is less than a year old and has always been properly humidified; between 45-55%. In addition, this section of the top moves quite a bit. If the guitar is in its case, at 51%, but I take it out and it is in a room at 46%, the "flex" in this area will move within a couple of hours. It never fully leaves, but it does move quickly. Kept in the same environment, my other guitars do not "behave" this way. So, I am curious what might be causing this situation. Any thoughts you might have would be appreciated. Thanks in advance!
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Hope. Love. Music. Collings|Bourgeois |
#2
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What sort of guitar is it? The J-45 I have from 2009 has the nitro finish, and over time has also developed the rippling effect a bit.
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DD Gibson J-45 TV (LR Baggs Lyric) Gibson J-45 Legend Gibson J-50 (K&K Pure Mini) Martin D-35 (Trance Audio M) Gibson J-35 Vintage (Trance Audio M) Martin 1937 D-28 Authentic "Aged" |
#3
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Thanks for asking. The guitar is going back to the builder, so I prefer to keep them nameless for now. That said, the guitar does have a nitro finish, but I don't think that is it. The "ripple" is rather wide and moves quite a bit.
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Hope. Love. Music. Collings|Bourgeois |
#4
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Hey K, you can always bring it by for a look. Between Pops, Joe, and Third Coast I'm sure we can give you some advice.
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#5
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Thanks, Paul! I will swing by...I never need an excuse to come see you guys!
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Hope. Love. Music. Collings|Bourgeois |
#6
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Bridge torque bump - normally normal.
However if in doubt have it inspected hands on - impossible to do it here definitively.
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Derek Coombs Youtube -> Website -> Music -> Tabs Guitars by Mark Blanchard, Albert&Mueller, Paul Woolson, Collings, Composite Acoustics, and Derek Coombs "Reality is that which when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away." Woods hands pick by eye and ear
Made to one with pride and love To be that we hold so dear A voice from heavens above Last edited by rick-slo; 03-12-2015 at 08:29 AM. |
#7
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Palpable? Can you not see a blemish/bearclaw/anything of the sort?
If so, I'd suspect the finish has something to do with it.
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Lynn B. |
#8
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Was there any sort of pebble tossed or wind to blow?
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#9
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Hi Kori,
I have a Gibson Advanced Jumbo Luthier's Choice from 2002 (red spruce over BRW), a wonderful sounding guitar, but during the winter when humidity tends to be on the lower side, the top develops a noticeable ripple in one location. My interpretation is that the woods around the guitar are contracting, squeezing the top wood and creating this distortion. The top has never cracked. I do keep humidity between 30-60%. I bet the folks at Tobias Music will provide you very good advice. Best of luck with this, Glenn
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My You Tube Channel |
#10
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Quote:
No blemish of any kind. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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Hope. Love. Music. Collings|Bourgeois |
#11
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I've got one too on my slope shouldered Eastman E10SS. I took it to a reputable tech who inspected it and said I've got nothing to worry about. The guitar sounds great!
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The Velcro Lunchbox http://www.reverbnation.com/museric?...eader_icon_nav https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxt...-_xka6GsUr9v4Q https://soundcloud.com/museric-1 Breedlove American C25/SSe Delgado Candelas Jumbo Eastman AC420 Eastman E10D Eastman E10SS Fender (MIM) Stratocaster |
#12
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I have a Cordoba C9 Parlor classical that has a mild case of this just behind the bridge. Personally, I'm not worried about it. The guitar seems otherwise in great nick and sounds really good.
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#13
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Sounds like a normal bulge in a lightly built guitar, probably with a Martin style bracing layout.
If you look at the pattern, the two diagonal bars coming off the x's touch on the treble side, leaving an open area behind the low E string where one often finds a bit of a bilge, to lesser of greater extent, in that particular design. That it changes with humidity indicates a lightly built top. If the playing geometry is witching comfortable range, I wouldn't worry overmuch. Without having seen it of course... |
#14
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A belly behind the bridge is normal with many acoustic guitars, especially ones with more or less Martin/Gibson style X-bracing. That typically takes the form of a smooth arc behind the bridge. A ripple, or what I think of as a ripple, near the back corner of the bridge is often the result of a loose X-brace. Not a difficult repair, but it should be repaired.
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#15
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Take the tension off the strings, and watch it go away.
Guitar tops distort under string tension, and with a good nitro finish, the distortion is easily visible. Humidity variations also distort the top, but my guess is what you're seeing is from string tension, and is completely normal.
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Rodger Knox, PE 1917 Martin 0-28 1956 Gibson J-50 et al |