yikes, a crack!!

[stonecry]

Hello.  I just found a small hair-line crack running horizontal on the bridge of my OM-Larri I've had for less than a year.  It starts from the right egde of the saddle and runs to the right end of the bridge.  I've never noticed it before.  It's not deep at all but I can feel it when I run my finger over it.
My guitar is not (should not be) dehydrated because it stays in a room with a humidifyer.
Is this serious
Can this become a major hassle? Any help appreciated.

[tadol]

It could be - it sounds like the saddle may be a little too tight, one possibility being too much humidification. I would try taking the strings loose, and try pulling the saddle out. It should be very gently snug, but not tight. It could also be the saddle is very tall, and took a hit, or ? ? ?

A few pics would help as well, but you won't be able to post them until you get 10 posts under your belt. You may also want to contact your dealer for an evaluation. If that's not an option, unclrob is one of the boards great resources -

Tad

[stonecry]

Hi tadol.  thanks for the help.
The saddle doesn't seem too tall and it for sure has never been banged there. 
I humidify at about 45-48 RH and just started about a month ago when our heaters turned on.
I think even if I did take a pic you wouldn't really see it well since it's soo hair line.  I can only see it if I turn it toward the light a certain way. But I feel it.
I suppose cracks just keep on growing so it will need to be repaired.

[BenF]

I would loosen the strings and check how tight the saddle is as soon as possible. I had a similar issue with one of my guitars, and had to remove the saddle carefully with plyers. Thankfully it seemed to have a bulge rather than be too fat, so it took a small chip out of the bridge when I got it out, but I reckon if I hadn't noticed it it would have split over time. I sanded the saddle with some 200 grit and then 400 grit sandpaper, and reinstalled it.

Mine is fine now. You might find that the split is very shallow, as the saddle may only be tight at a specific point. If this is the case, you might be able to fix it in 10 minutes.

[stonecry]

ok, I loosened the strings and checked the tightness of the nut.  It doesn't seem too tight.  I could lift the out of the bridge with my fingers (comfortable snug).

So what next   I guess I'll take it to the dealers though it doesn't seem to be a factory defect problem.

What is usually done to fix a small surface crack on the bridge of a fairly new guitar??  Do they have to tear the bridge off,,,or can they just apply a little glue on it and sand it??  It seems to be a fairly shallow crack.

The only other reason I can figure out why it cracked is maybe my playing stlye lately.  I've been learning a Joe Robinson song, (Midnight in Nashville) that requires a little rythmical slapping the strings.  But this should be normal, I'm not beating the guitar to death,,,,could that have started the crack?  Darn my new guitar
 

[tadol]

Guessing is not gonna get us anywhere here. First, you need to make sure it is a crack, and not something else. You don't have enough posts to put up pics, and they may not be high enough res to really evaluate the situation.

I'd really recommend a good tech or luthier take a very close look at it and give you some advice. What you describe is a little odd, and doesn't seem like a little slapping would cause it, but someone who really knows needs to look at the saddle, and the direction of the grain vs. the direction of the crack. IF it is a crack - thats part of the problem.

In the meantime - stop beating up your new guitar, and work on a little holiday cheer -    

Tad

[stonecry]

thanks Tad.  i did just that.  I called the local Luthier.  he'll check it on friday. 
He suggested it might just be a simple surface crack as a result of Ebony being a little on the brittle side.

The direction of the crack goes along the direction of the grain so I'm hoping it's not a big deal.
thanks for the advice.

[stonecry]

kind of a yawner post but just to say I took my larrivee to the Luthier, a real good one that was the guitar tech for Gary Moore,,, about my cracked bridge.
Turned out I guess that there was no real reason for the crack; just wood being wood.

[Michael T]

Did he repair it and how? Or, did he order a new one to replace it with (would have been my choice).

[stonecry]

Hi Michael. 
Well, he decided just to put a little glue in the crack since he said it appears it's only a shallow surface crack.  He said it didn't drink up much glue at all.
He is the repair guy for all Larivee's here in Austria and he told me it's not worth replacing the whole bridge 'yet'.  He told me if the cracks per chance reopens then he'd put in a new bridge.
I hope that was good advice.  I honestly had no clue as to what to do and kind of wanted to avoid replacing the bridge if it wasn't major.  I'm new at all this stuff.
 

[Danny]

  A little superglue was my thought when I first saw this. It can even be blended into the bridge in a way that it's not seen. At least I have repaired some pretty shabby bridges that way and they turned out fine.
   I'm glad to see it's been fixed without much fuss.

[unclrob]

A little wood glue will do the job.



DANNY   STUPID GLUE NEVER>>>>>>>>>>>

[Danny]

A little wood glue will do the job.



DANNY   STUPID GLUE NEVER>>>>>>>>>>>

Sorry uncrob, even Matthew Larrivee has told me to use it on some things. And I've seen it in Dan Erlewines ''tips'' and repair guide as well.
                In one case a friend was in a hurry and leaving town. He had a busted up bridge, so I mixed ebony saw dust with the glue and filled all the cracks and gaps, after drying and micromeshing it. I then polished it all out and it was hard to see the repairs. It worked fine.
            As well as on some others.  I have about 10 different types of super glue and experiment with them all. Some are good for ''finish" fills etc. I know you hate it though.

                        Especially on frets....Right?

[Michael T]

Hi Michael. 
Well, he decided just to put a little glue in the crack since he said it appears it's only a shallow surface crack.  He said it didn't drink up much glue at all.
He is the repair guy for all Larivee's here in Austria and he told me it's not worth replacing the whole bridge 'yet'.  He told me if the cracks per chance reopens then he'd put in a new bridge.
I hope that was good advice.  I honestly had no clue as to what to do and kind of wanted to avoid replacing the bridge if it wasn't major.  I'm new at all this stuff.
 

Sounds like a good tech, glad it worked out well with little down time 

[stonecry]

  A little superglue was my thought when I first saw this. It can even be blended into the bridge in a way that it's not seen. At least I have repaired some pretty shabby bridges that way and they turned out fine.
   I'm glad to see it's been fixed without much fuss.

yeah, he did just that; blended it in using very little glue, polished it a bit and you can't see anything.
He said if I encountered any more troubles he would just order a bridge for me. 

[Danny]

yeah, he did just that; blended it in using very little glue, polished it a bit and you can't see anything.
He said if I encountered any more troubles he would just order a bridge for me. 

After you make two more posts you can put up pictures. I'd like to see a few of your guitar and the repair. If you feel to.    Thanks

[SMan]

The good news is that bridges are easily replacable.  Glad yours was quickly repaired. 

[gregor]

Yes stonecry, i think Andrew is a good luthier. He did a lot of work for me too...

Greatings from vienna,

Greg

[stonecry]

thanks everyone. 
I'll try to post soon a pic of the bridge.  to me he blended it fine so no one would notice.
NIce to meet you Greg, a local fellow Larrivee player I suppose.

[gregor]

You´re right stonecry! You can send me a PN if you like to meet or jam a little 

Greg