Guild DV-4 Swollen bout?

[ehmaho]

I have just bought a DV-4 (Westerly Rhode Island.) The lower bout is not absolutely flat but has a swelling down from the bridge (which seems perfectly symmetrical).I was wondering whether the DV-4 was made that way and if not will rehydrating it fix it.I took pictures of it but you cant see the swelling in the photographs.
Also are the nut and saddle made of bone on the DV-4 because they look like nubone to me?
What is the difference between the DV-4 and the DV-6? I know the latest DV-6 are rosewood back and sides and the Westerly are mahogany ,so whats the difference between the mahogany DV-6 and the DV-4 ?
I cant get any information on the DV-4 or Westerly DV-6 online

 

[killdeer43]

Try this link for your DV questions. Both the DV4 and DV6 are there.

http://westerlyguildguitars.com/guitars.html

Is the swelling you refer to concave or convex?

Pics would be helpful, :rugby:
Joe

 

[AcornHouse]

The DV-4 has standard X-bracing, while the DV-6 has shaved braces. I assume that means scalloped.

Bowing below the bridge is common and can indicate normal settling of the wood, or, if too extreme, a failure of the bracing to hold against the string pull. It's not a matter of hydration. Lighter string gauge or the use of the JLD Bridge Doctor can help mild to medium cases. Severe cases will need a larger bridge patch or other brace work (and maybe a neck reset.)

If you can't get it to show up in a pic, it's probably just the wood settling. Either do nothing or switch to a lighter string gauge.

I doubt they're bone. My D4 and F4ce are both plastic, and these are lowere range guitars.

Thats my 2¢ worth.

 

[ehmaho]

The swelling is convex.
I havent got the guitar with me at the moment,but when i get it back ill have another go at taking pictures of the bowing.

 

[adorshki]

The swelling is convex.
I havent got the guitar with me at the moment,but when i get it back ill have another go at taking pictures of the bowing.

What AcornHouse said, it's probably normal. All my guitars show it to a very slight degree such that you can only see it when the light's on it at the right angle.
If it's handrubbed finish that may be why it's hard to photograph, you're not getting any reflection to highlight the sides of the "bump". But that also tends to confirm it's normal, simply that it is so hard to photograph.
As far as I know Westerly never used bone, it was a plastic called Micarta. Probably because it's just extremely consistent material, and cost of production fallout is negligible.
DV4's are 'hog back/sides.

 

[Ridgemont]

Bellying in the lower bout of a guitar is normal with age. The tension from the strings will do this. But, if bellying is sever, this could be indicative of the balance between the string tension and the opposite force from the braces/bridge plate/bridge being no longer in balance. So you will want to check the following:

1. Is the bridge lifting?
2. Is the bridge plate loose?
3. Is there a loose brace?

My current D25 had a lifting bridge and sever bellying. My luthier said that because of the bridge only being pulled from the front, it was causing excessive bellying in the lower bout. (BTW, Guild is notorious for bad bridge glue jobs…at least during the Westerly era). The bridge was reglued and in turn, the bellying reduced significantly. It is still there since it is an older guitar, but not noticeable unless you look for it.

 

[ehmaho]

Here are some pictures of the bellying.
Is this normal or should i be worried? Since i just bought this guitar only a couple of weeks ago i am wondering whether to return it or is there no need?
The bridge isn't lifting, nor are there any loose braces.The action is pretty high here though.

 

[ehmaho]

Here are some pictures of the guitar. Its my first American made Guild.It needs a new set of strings which i have just bought and will be putting on tonight.

 

[charliea]

That's normal. Flat top guitars aren't really flat. There's a radius to the top, just as there is to the fingerboard, even before string tension is applied. With string tension, there will just about always be a little more.

 

[SouthernSounds]

That's a beauty. And those are some great looking pictures: loved the first and the third pic on post #8!

Congrats on the new acquisition!

All the best,
B.

 

[adorshki]

Yeah that looks normal to me too. Can't see the action height in the photo, but it was given in 64ths by Guild: 5.5-6.5/64ths on bass E and 4.5-5.5 on treble E. (to best of my memory, might be off by 1/128th, LOL!)
Quite a few folks think the 6/64ths is "high", but it's perfect to me, since I have a bit of a heavy-handed technique, and it also allows hammer-ons and roll-offs to ring a bit more cleanly when playing scales.

 

[ehmaho]

Can't see the action height in the photo.

The action is over 3.5mm which i believe translates to 9/64".Ill have it set up and bring it down to something playable for me about 1.8 mm.Anyway i'm glad there is no problem with the guitar.

 

[adorshki]

The action is over 3.5mm which i believe translates to 9/64".Ill have it set up and bring it down to something playable for me about 1.8 mm.Anyway i'm glad there is no problem with the guitar.

Measureed from bottom of string to top of 12th fret, just to make sure that's understood. For sure, that's a bit too high at 3.5mm or 9/64ths.. LOL!

 

[Ridgemont]

The bellying looks normal and is a good thing. The action sounds higher than it looks. Al is right, measure from the bottom of the string to the top of the fret. I like Personally, I like my low E to be 3/32".

 

[chazmo]

All normal, but humidity is a big concern for proper guitar maintenance (don't let anyone convince you otherwise). I've experienced first-hand the nasties associated with negligent care (my own, that is).

Not sure what the humidity levels are in your place in Wales, ehmaho, but you want to keep the guitar averaging around 50%RH. It is possible/likely that if you stabilize the guitar's environment you will notice a change in the belly.

Like we've said already, nothing to worry about here from the pictures, but you know what they say about an ounce of prevention...

 

[SFIV1967]

Nice guitar and nice pictures !!!

Have a look here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GS6GqjP-zMY

http://www.fretnotguitarrepair.com/repair/acoustic-guitar/action.php

Ralf