Possible crack in my Larry???!!! Please help confirm/disconfirm

[jankymutt]

Hi All,  I just noticed some lines on the top of my guitar that I'm worried might be cracks.  Here are some pics.  I don't have a photo editing software to draw arrows but the long black lines that are significantly darker are what I'm concerened with.

I live in Boston, but I built a sponge humidifier and was pretty religious about checking the case humidity this winter. I could never get the case humidity above 41, but I thought that would be adequate. Please tell me it's just the grain of the spruce.  I top has really darkened in the last few months so perhaps I overlooked these lines before.

http://community.webshots.com/photo/502137382/2724844260044362136VEVvZA

http://community.webshots.com/photo/502137382/2307167890044362136iljQUF

http://community.webshots.com/photo/502137382/2703676250044362136oHlaoY

http://community.webshots.com/photo/502137382/2799859450044362136Rjwycw

http://community.webshots.com/photo/502137382/2602951400044362136BpfZbO

[jankymutt]

[Blue in VT]

I can't see the pics...... :huh:

Blue

[Ratishna]

Hard to tell from the photos.  Can you feel it with your fingernail.

And did you want to introduce us to all your party friends?


E. Shoaf

[jankymutt]

Hard to tell from the photos. Can you feel it with your fingernail.

I definately can't feel it with my fingernail. 

And did you want to introduce us to all your party friends?

I tried to attach the photos using the [img] functions but I must be doing it incorrectly.  I really don't care who looks at my pictures; I'm worried about my Larrivee!!   :EM>

[Tycho]

Tell you what; we'll arrange to get your guitar checked out if you invite us to your next pyjama party.

Sorry, couldn't resist.  :WNK>

[jankymutt]

Tell you what; we'll arrange to get your guitar checked out if you invite us to your next pyjama party.

Sorry, couldn't resist. :WNK>

LOL, you guys are funny.  Thanks for the GUITAR help!!   :WNK>

[NewStrings]

Personally, I don't think it's cracks or checking.  The lines are not straight for starters... most cracks I have viewed seem to go in more of a straight line.  Also the location of the crack is not typical from the ones I have seen.  Most are where they join the 2 peices together.  It's hard to tell from the pictures of course.  But here is what I would:  Find the biggest magnifying glass I could and look at under bright light to get a real good close up view.  And certainly, if  you can't feel anything when you pass your finger or nail across the line, then I don't think it's a real crack.  Probably just the top starting to darken along the grain of the wood. 

NewStrings

[hempomatic]

They don't look like cracks, and if you can't feel them, they probably aren't, so relax.  Just looks the the beginning stages of the top darkening to me. 

The redhead is cute.

ken

[solarbean]

I doubt they are cracks if you can't feel them with the fingernail.

Another sanity check is to reflect light across the surface of the guitar where the crack is. Look at the bright spot at an oblique angle. See if there is a dark line where the suspected crack is. If it really is a crack and it is causing an indentation or separation in the wood, the finish will cave in or separate along the crack. Light will not be reflected in the same way along that crack.

Now about the blonde... what type of beer does she prefer? Is that a summer ale?

[Fstpicker]

I definitely don't see any cracks on your pictures. The lines are simply prominent wood grain lines that are darkening as it ages. As has been already stated, the cracks I've ever seen were in a straight line, and didn't follow the wavy grain pattern like I see on your pictures.

I also enjoyed your College pics. Your girl friends sure are pretty! Good catch!

Jeff

[jankymutt]

Thanks for the help...I feel much better now  :GRN>

I also enjoyed your College pics. Your girl friends sure are pretty! Good catch!

Now about the blonde... what type of beer does she prefer? Is that a summer ale?

I've met a lot of great people in Boston, although some of the most beautiful women I've met are Canadians (mostly Vancouver).

[om4me]

I agree with others that it doesn't appear to be cracking.  However, it's difficult to determine with certainty based on digicam shots.  If I were really concerned, I would bring the guitar to a good luthier or repairman to look over.  In the worst case scenario, the repairman could offer suggestions to mitigate further damage if indeed cracks had occured.   Just my two cents.

[poki]

just curious, have you tried feeling the unfinished wood in same area on the inside of the soundboard with your fingernail and or look with a mirror and flashlight? you might be able to distinguish what the lines are easier by feeling the bare wood if they're there at all...maybe.
good luck

[poki]

just curious, have you tried feeling the unfinished wood in same area on the inside of the soundboard with your fingernail and or look with a mirror and flashlight? you might be able to distinguish what the lines are easier by feeling the bare wood if they're there at all...maybe.
good luck

[rwnyc]

I trust the good judgment of everyone who replied, but I'd consider having a luthier look at it.  I hear good things about the work that The Music Emporium in Lexington does (www.themusicemporium.com) - I bought a Larrivee from them, they are good people, if you want a trustworthy shop to take a look at it.  They'd have some thoughts on whether you might want to do anything different about humidification, too.

[Ratishna]

Music Emporium is one of the best acoustic shops in New England, and a fine destination for any visitors to Boston area.  I bought one of my Larrivees from them back in 1996 when Eric Schoenberg (www.OM28.com) still worked there.  Talk about a finger-picking son of a gun!

E. Shoaf