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Advice needed!
http://w-ww.luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10102&t=14129		 Page 1 of 1
Author:  Prefect [ Thu Oct 18, 2007 2:48 am ]
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Ok, this is my first post, and my first guitar so forgive me if I make some silly mistake regarding what and where to post.

I live in a dry part of Spain, and usually humidity is not a problem here. But when it was time for me to glue braces on my soundboard and back, we had lots of humid weather. I did not have the patience to wait for it all to dry up, and with the dehumidifier running full speed I glued the braces at a humidity between 55 and 65. Now when the humidity in my workshop is back at 45 the back and top are dead straight and not arching the way they were when I made them.
I have learned my lessen, never glue the top and back at high humidity, but what do I do now. Should I trash the top and back and make new ones? Plane the braces off and glue new braces to the top and back?

If i continue using the now flat top and back how will this affect my guitar, will it ever handle humidity changes without drastically alter my action? And what are the changes of the top spitting from the tension?

I hope somebody in this forum has made the same mistake as me, and made some experiences that I can benefit from.

Thanks, Robert
Author:  WaddyThomson [ Thu Oct 18, 2007 3:06 am ]
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Welcome to the Forum, Robert.  Glad you dropped in.  Your question is highly pertinent, and we have had others with similar situations.  I, too, am a beginner, but from what I have learned here, I think you should probably plane/chisel the braces off and glue new ones at proper humidity levels.  No need to trash the plates.

I wouldn't act on my recommendation, but wait for others with more experience to chime in on this thread.  Someone will, before long.  This is a great place to learn from people who know the mistakes and the correct recovery methods.  As I am finding out, a big part of the learning process of guitar construction.
Author:  JJ Donohue [ Thu Oct 18, 2007 3:10 am ]
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Planing braces off was one of my first lessons!

Welcome to our little corner of the world, Robert.
Author:  BTucker [ Thu Oct 18, 2007 1:35 pm ]
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Robert,


I had the same problem on my first build.  It was bad enough to arch the back plate backwards.  Taking the braces off was no big deal, but I did learn a valuable lesson, as apparently many of us have .  I will not brace a plate until the wood has had time to stabilize in my shop, which is humidity controlled.  That is the great thing about this forum...you can learn from experiences of others, both good and bad.
Author:  Prefect [ Fri Oct 19, 2007 8:49 pm ]
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I have been out of town for 2 days, and was realy impressed with the great respons to my post when I got back.


Thanks


One follow up question, is it nesessary to remove the bridge plate? It is made from rosewood, and I am afraid to damage the top if I try to chisel or plane it off: All braces are glued with titebond original.


Robert
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