I was recently gifted a Larrivee L-9 that has the classic cracked center seam below the bridge due to lack of humidity.  The crack appears to be fairly recent and I think clean. The guitar sounds ok, but not as good as I expected. I'm trying to figure out if fixing the crack would help improve the sound significantly.  I assume it would, but don't know what to expect  Any experience with this situation?

Thanks for any input.

Take care

 I would normally need pics but you gave us a very good assessment. I have a positive view on center seam cracks. As long as they are at the actual seam, they aren't actual cracks in the wood, but rather a joint separation. If the wood can be closed and repaired cleanly, they should have little influence on the sound, if at all. If the drying was severe, a gap may be left behind and cleats will be needed, which will usually have a moderate affect on the sound, but won't ruin a guitar. Your luthier may give you the option of trying with or without cleats, but if you go without you may need to have the repair done again if it were to open back up.

 When drying is that bad, you will sometimes get compromised braces, warping, and other ill effects that need to be addressed for the guitar to perform optimally. This may even require extreme humidity for a short time in order to force the woods back into form. Regardless of other potential issues, you'll want to fix the crack soon as exposed wood oxidizes and makes glue-ups less successful the longer you wait. An 09 has enough value that there's no question it should be fixed.

Thanks Bowie for talking the time to reply.

Yes I would have it repaired ASAP...I know this is several months later...did you get it fixed?

Quote from: nobodeuno on November 13, 2026, 03:17:27 PMYes I would have it repaired ASAP...I know this is several months later...did you get it fixed?

Hi,
I got the split repaired. The tech did a really good job on it. Visually you can't tell there was a crack, but you feel a slight finish bump. I can't really hear a change in tone. I'm happy i got it repaired.

If the wood can be closed and repaired cleanly, they should have little influence on the sound, if at all. If the drying was severe, a gap may be left behind and cleats will be needed

Thanks for checking back, still curious if it needed a cleat or was your guy able to fix without one? Glad it still sounds ok, so I'm guessing no cleat.

Bowie did an excellent assessment in a post above, but just to add, anything that adds any weight or mass at all to the soundboard will negatively affect it's tone. Except for the glue used to join your two pieces back together which I would guess was very very negligible . . .