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A friend has a Martin DX guitar. The poor thing was left out in the heat and the top warped a lot. It has the classic bulge behind the bridge and dip in front of it. The bulge and dip are probably about 3/8". I don't know how it stays together. It doesn't sound very good.
Is there a good way to fix this?
Does this model have a bolt on neck with a glued on fingerboard extension?
I'm thinking the top has to come off and be replaced. If it is a bolt on neck, I might have him do the work while I supervise and set up for him.
He doesn't have much money and is a nice young guy with a good heart that leads worship at my church. He plays for the High School and Jr. High groups, so I don't mind helping him.

(Sometimes I wish I could say no easier. )

   SteveS38929.5729513889

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"An adventure is only an inconvenience rightly considered. An inconvenience is an adventure wrongly considered." G. K. Chesterton.

Probably the most economical and least invasive fix for this would be to install a JLD bridge system. I have installed several of these on entry to mid priced acoustics that have the same symptoms you described.

Here you go Steve, this is what Mark is talking about.

Stew Mac has them for only $22.50 if your friend doesn't mind a screw going through the bridge into the top. The other version is $52.75. Heres the link: JLD Bridge Doctor

Either way is probably cheaper and less work than re-topping the guitar.JBreault38929.4475

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Joe Breault
Merrimack, NH
Perpetual novice

The JDL bridge Doctor seems a bit easier than replacing the top.

It has to dampen the top. How does it sound after installation?

This is a pretty big warp that was induced at one point in time when left in a hot care. It is hard to believe that this device would fix it. I don't mean to be insulting, but I have to ask - are you sure this will work for the largest bulge and dip I have ever seen?

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"An adventure is only an inconvenience rightly considered. An inconvenience is an adventure wrongly considered." G. K. Chesterton.

Steve, go to the music store and play some Breedlove guitars. They all come with this system installed. That should give you some sort of idea as to how a guitar with the system soiunds.

Do you have pictures of the guitar?

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Joe Breault
Merrimack, NH
Perpetual novice

Joe,
No, I do not have a picture.
Breedlove guitars are designed around that system. I'm thinking it would not be a fair comparison because of that.
I've never played a Breedlove. Sounds like a good excuse.

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"An adventure is only an inconvenience rightly considered. An inconvenience is an adventure wrongly considered." G. K. Chesterton.

Steve, the tension the JLD system places on the bridge usually takes a few days to correct the bridge alignment and lower the buldge. For the worst case I would probably go back and increase the tension a little more over a few days. As far as dampening the top..., the guitars on which I have installed these came into the shop with bulged tops so I really didn't have a true before bulge/after bulge point of comparison.It definitely adds volume and sustain to a top already suffering from these symptoms. MarkW38929.4998148148

I know of several bluegrassers that have had these installed in new Martins to make them louder. I don't know that it really works, but they swear that it does.

Al

I've installed a JLD on a couple guitars that would otherwise have died, and were not worth enough to re-top. Works perfectly for that, and completely saves the top, but in each case, I found the tone quiet nasely and muted afterwards. Not louder by a long shot...

In this case, you could also try to reverse the heat process. Warm the top from within(use your imagination and what's at hand), and make up some cauls and clamps that will press the top not only flat, but slightly to the opposite of what you have now.

The is a glued-in M&T. There's a bolt there, but it's mostly an assembly aid. Remove the bolt, and steam out the neck as you would a Martin dovetailed neck.

Perhaps a neck reset, on its own, would be enough to make it payable again? Photos?

Its probably still under warranty, isn't it?

Will not pass warranty disclaimer. As Steve stated obvious excessive heat damage