Official Luthiers Forum!

This is an eight year old Tacoma jumbo. The top seems to be caving in around the rim. A straight edge shows it to be concave from the binding to an inch or two towards the sound hole at the waist on both the bass and treble sides, almost like the world's most subtle recurve. I noticed it because of a craze in the finish that you can see in the piture. The wood itself is not cracked.

Any idea what's going on? Guitar has a lifetime warranty; any reason to think that this would not be a valid warranty claim? How do you imagine they'd fix it? Seems like you'd have to remove the top and replace it. I suppose they could try just refinishing it since there's not a playability issue, but whatever's causing this isn't going to get better. The craze has grown from about two inches long to about six inches long over a couple of years.

hard to say with just two pics, if the whole top is sinking in , it could be a moisture / humidity related problem. is the guitar still playable ?? I would say just take it back to where you bought it . Jody

Lots of good guitars dip a little there, as a result of torque on the top. Can't tell from the photos if it is beyond normal. The checking indicates a too thick and too rigid finish. I would make sure the ends of the X and upper finger braces are not loose.

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Howard Klepper
http://www.klepperguitars.com

When all else fails, clean the shop.

Yeah, it sounds like a leg of the X might be loose...just as Howard said. Can you get a mirror in there, a thin probe, and check that glue joint?

Steve

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From Nacogdoches...the oldest town in Texas.

http://www.stephenkinnaird.com