Official Luthiers Forum!

All the guitars I've built so far (eleven) have had the top dome up a couple of millimeters over the first year or so. Is this normal? I was suspecting the problem was due to humidity during the summer months but they don't seem to go down in the drier winter months so I'm not sure that is the cause. I must admit, I'm not aware that anyone that has one of my guitars has done a good job of keeping it in ideal relative humidity conditions.

In all the guitars to date, I've used the standard Martin "X" bracing pattern. I scallop them a little but much less than what it appears most people do based on the pictures I've seen here. So I don't think I've lightened them up too much.

Of course, with the doming comes higher action. So far, I've been able to get the action lowered again by reducing the height of the saddle. On one of the guitars, I'm at the limit of what I can do with the saddle and the next step would be to reset the neck. With the guitar I am building now, I intend to start off with a fairly tall saddle in anticipation of needing to lower it later on. Do others do this?

Again, I'm not sure if it's a construction problem or a maintenance problem and would be interested in opinions. I am also interested in recommendations for bracing patterns that are less prone to having the top dome up over time.

Thanks,
Pat

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There are three kinds of people:

Those that make things happen,
those that watch things happen,
and those that wondered what happened.

yes this is normal.

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John Hall
blues creek guitars
Authorized CF Martin Repair
Co President of ASIA
You Don't know what you don't know until you know it

How high is your saddle off from the top?
How thick is the bridge ?

Go to the behind the bridgeplate brace post here on the OLF and
you'll find some great advise !

Mike

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Mike Collins

I make my bridges between 8 to 10 mm thick. I leave 3 mm of bridge wood under the saddle. I don't believe that much doming is occurring right around the bridge but out more to the sides. Therefore, I don't see what a brace right behind the bridge plate would do to mitigate against this.

Pat

_________________
There are three kinds of people:

Those that make things happen,
those that watch things happen,
and those that wondered what happened.

Here's a quote from Somogyi