Damaged Top?

[TheEdge]

I was taking pictures of my Martin tonight as the light was hitting it nicely, and I noticed the following marks behind the bridge. I noticed them before, but never really payed much attention because they just looked like scuff marks on the satin finish. You can only see them if you look from the front back, and not otherwise. It got me thinking, I have had humidy problems with the slight raise behind the bridge, and a dip in front, are these scuffs due to that and are they a sign of worse structural problems to come, or just merely finish blemishes? Any help would be great, thanks guys!

 

 

[technik]

I dont see anything wrong with the guitar...

[kwakatak]

The focus is a bit off so I'm not too sure what they could be. Maybe cracks in the finish? Has it ever been exposed to sudden changes in temperature, like bringing it inside after being out in the cold?

 

Hopefully somebody with more experience will chime in. Sorry I couldn't be more helpful but at least you get a free bump!

[TheEdge]

No no quick changes. Just for clarification for others, im looking at the little round white blemishes, not the little lines from the satin finish that look like cracks. thanks again!

[slider]

those white blemishes look like moteling in the wood. looks natural from the pic.

my martin spruce top has a reflective up turn in the grain that looks like a scuff from a certain angle.

 

wood is unique. it has all kinds of character marks. some would call them imperfections.

 

Ive seen white marks like that on furniture when hot water gets on it. but I doubt that is your situation.

 

relax.

[nylon rock]

May be "finish checking."

 

Don't know much about it, but that's what I would think it would look like if I did see it.

 

I believe finish checking is when the top finish expands or contracts at a different rate than the wood underneath it. Dimples of delamination take place until the stress is relieved to the point where the stress can be held without further delamination. It is less than stress cracks, but more than no damage at all.

 

I suppose you could type in finish checking in a Search and see what comes up.

[slider]

finish checking shows crackulatures. is that a word? it's a network of fine cracks that form in the finish from too quick an expansion between wood and finish.

what you are seeing , I think, is a natural mark in the wood. perhaps, enhanced by the finish.

[lkbong]

I'm not sure about the finish, I tend to agree with slider. What looks weird to me is the bridge pins. It looks like the strings are taut, but the pins aren't pushed all the way down to the bridge.

Are they too big for the string holes? Just curious.

[fingerstyleman]

 

Originally posted by lkbong I'm not sure about the finish, I tend to agree with slider. What looks weird to me is the bridge pins. It looks like the strings are taut, but the pins aren't pushed all the way down to the bridge. Are they too big for the string holes? Just curious.

 

 

They do seem to be sat up a little don't they.

 

But if they are at tension it really isn't an issue. Though I do prefer my Brass pins pushed right in.

[TheEdge]

Thanks for the insight on what it might be guys. Regarding the pins, that is as far as they go in and they are tight. It was like that when I bought it, I was under the impression this was just simply the style of pin seating Martin used for the model.

[WilsonMak]

Originally posted by TheEdge Thanks for the insight on what it might be guys. Regarding the pins, that is as far as they go in and they are tight. It was like that when I bought it, I was under the impression this was just simply the style of pin seating Martin used for the model.

 

that is correct edge. those pins are ok.