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In for repair I have a 1972 Martin D18. The pick guard has shrunk a little and has curled up but not to bad yet. He wants me to pull the pick guard and re-glue it. My thoughts are that I should seal the top with shellac so if it shrinks again it will not try to pull the cracks back apart. He is afraid if I seal the top it will change the tone/sound of the guitar. Any comments would be welcome. Thanks

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Say what you do, Do what you say.

I can't imagine how simply sealing the area under the pickguard could have any effect on the sound if you're using something sensible like shellac. Nothing special about the pg on a 72 D-18. I'd suggest he have you put on a new one for ease of sticking it on and removal. Give the customer the original. He might even go for one of the vintage types instead of that dull black. Just my .02.

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now known around here as Pat Foster
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http://www.patfosterguitars.com

Tell him that the ebb and flow of the pacific tide will have about the
same, or perhaps a bit greater effect on the tone as your proposed repair
would.

Your method is the right one - finish under the guard and reattach with
adhesive - if you want to preserve the guitar against future damage. I
would personally tell the customer that I would reglue it directly to the
wood if he so desired, though it would come with no warranty. Then
emphasize that this will guarantee top cracks in the future which will
require structural repairs. Though in my opinion those future repairs will
have no significant effect on tone if done properly, it is at least a
legitimately debatable issue. Arguments that they could effect tone
certainly have a better leg to stand on than concerns about finish under
the pickguard.

Then tell him, "Geez, it's a '72 Martin. What on earth do you have to lose
anyway?".

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Eschew obfuscation, espouse elucidation.

[QUOTE=burbank] Nothing special about the pg on a 72 D-18. I'd suggest
he have you put on a new one for ease of sticking it on and removal. Give
the customer the original. He might even go for one of the vintage types
instead of that dull black. Just my .02.[/QUOTE]

Right. I forgot this is a 70's black pickguard. Just replace it with a new one if
you don't want it to pull loose every couple years from shrinkage.

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Eschew obfuscation, espouse elucidation.

Hi Dave,
do what David said. I am still laughing from his post
Don't forget to bring up the issue that the old glue will sound different than the new glue and you can show him with a simple rig I came up with for "the tone worried" I keep a plasma light bulb (the kind you touch with your finger and the electricity inside jumps to your finger, very Dr. Frankenstein looking device)and I hold it over the area and tell him it has a plasma build up that I can discharge for him. 9 times out of 10 the customer is laughing out loud and it takes the edge off of stuff like this.
Best, Evan

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http://www.NewYorkGuitarRepair.com

Thanks guys, But I wanted to double check.
[QUOTE=David Collins]
Then tell him, "Geez, it's a '72 Martin. What on earth do you have to lose
anyway?". [/QUOTE]
Funny David, This guys wife playes a Mossman, and they both call the Mossman the "good guitar".

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Say what you do, Do what you say.

Just to be contentious, here (my insomnia leaves me with nothing better to do ), I had a 1970 D-18 for many years that was a GREAT sounding guitar. Everyone who ever played it or heard it agreed. Maybe an anomaly, I don't know...

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Todd Rose
Ithaca, NY

https://www.dreamingrosesecobnb.com/todds-art-music

https://www.facebook.com/ToddRoseGuitars/

My 1976 D28-12 is a very rich sounding guitar. I replaced the pickguard and fixed the cracks using the Frank Ford tutorial. I used a Greven dark tortoise. It is the only way to go in my book. I'm no expert, but even I can recognize good advice and Quality product. My $.02.mt

The 70's Martins are even better when you put the bridge in the right place.


Really though, yes there are some great sounding 70's Martins out there. In
general quality control was way down, and from construction quality to tone
it was certainly not their greatest era. That's not to say there aren't still a
good number of nice ones out there.

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Eschew obfuscation, espouse elucidation.