Question about my D55e

[kostask]

If you can find a trusted luthier, it is possible that the checking on the back may be improved, or even cleared up with Quala-Renu, a lacquer re-amalgamator. It can work really well in some situations, but it is very dependent on the amount of checking, its depth, and the age of the lacquer. Remember, I said a TRUSTED luthier, the guy who did this doesn't qualify. I have seen it work, and work well in some cases, and not so well in others.

The only real alternative is to refinish the guitar, which is expensive (especially if you want the sunburst retained), or to sell the guitar.

 

[wileypickett]

Now I took a close up of the back. Would this also be considered finish checking? It's an odd pattern if so but has a weird crow foot pattern to it and is not consistent with the front

The natural off-gassing that occurs over time will cause the finish to thin. I suspect what you're seeing is the grain of the wood that was used for the back, unusual perhaps because of the angle at which the original slab was cut.

You could have the back re-lacquered if it bugs you or if you think there's any danger of moisture seeping in. (Unlike with tops, lacquering the backs of a guitar will have no impact on its sound.) You could try passing a rag with a bit of Naptha on it over the back to see if it dries evenly, or if the grain holds the Naptha longer.

And of course, see what your luthier says next time you visit.

 

[Neal]

oh that's right, I remember now. That is a great gift. I had mis-remembered your F20 went to a store, but I think you gifted that to a friend etc. that beat up old F20 you saved.

Also gave away Gloppy.

 

[Phoenix 602]

Hi Phoenix.

That's not a natural finish checking pattern on the back. Well, let's just say it's nothing I've ever seen before. It almost looks like someone dragged a wire brush or something on it. It's a very weird herringbone pattern that scratched the surface. I'm trying to figure out how it was created. So weird.

In any case, I bet that would buff out (seriously).

Agreed, very weird pattern on the back because it lays rt on top of the dark grain only I think.

 

[Phoenix 602]

The natural off-gassing that occurs over time will cause the finish to thin. I suspect what you're seeing is the grain of the wood that was used for the back, unusual perhaps because of the angle at which the original slab was cut.

You could have the back re-lacquered if it bugs you or if you think there's any danger of moisture seeping in. (Unlike with tops, lacquering the backs of a guitar will have no impact on its sound.) You could try passing a rag with a bit of Naptha on it over the back to see if it dries evenly, or if the grain holds the Naptha longer.

And of course, see what your luthier says next time you visit.

See what your luthier says next time you visit. mr funny man, huh. Lol

 

[Phoenix 602]

I've never seen anything like those photos. My examples of temperature-related finish checking show in wildly-varying directions, sometimes parallel to the grain, but mostly across the grain in wavy patterns.

Also, I think of temperature-related finish checking as being due to a cold instrument being opened up in a warm room. In your climate, the most-likely scenario I can think of would be coming from an icy-cool air-conditioned home/office/car into a warm room. And then opening the case while the guitar was

It works both ways. Hot to cold or cold to hot. Especially something with the similiar characteristics of glass. You guys saw the pics I originally posted on here and the finish did not look like that. On the top the checking runs across the whole tol but it was hard to show that in a picture so I showed the worse parts. I'm not 100% sure how it happened but I am 100% sure that it happened in the luthiers care.

 

[Phoenix 602]

Also gave away Gloppy.

Gloppy? Is that what you named one of your guitars? If so can I ask why "gloppy"?

 

[davismanLV]

Gloppy? Is that what you named one of your guitars? If so can I ask why "gloppy"?

Gloppy is legendary around here!! Neal did a rescue, I'm pretty sure of a D35, and I'm sure he still has photos. If I knew how to search better I'd find the Legend of Gloppy!! Someone will find it for us.....

 

[geoguy]

Here you go . . .

The Legend of Gloppy

 

[Phoenix 602]

Tell you what Id trust my guitar in your hands Neal rather than the luthier I was referred to. I've had a couple oldies but goodies that I would have paid for your refinishing services. An old '32 regal semi hollow, a 50'a jumbo Kay, a 14 string Colombian guitar of some sort,(smaller than a mandolin with the neck of a 7string bass guitar), a Kramer stratacoustic, and Blueridge that I rattled canned. Smh. Wish I had them back regardless. Great finish and im digging the satin look. Pretty awesome story on Gloppy tho except one thing, theres no ending? The suspense is killing me Neal, I need to know how it ended? You gave it away? Was it for charity, an old buddy, or what?

 

[Phoenix 602]

What I could use is an orginal period correct truss rod cover if anybody knows where I can find one? They had no orginal ones on Ebay, nothing from Guild website either.

 

[Neal]

Gloppy was given to a young songwriter I knew who had the worst-sounding acoustic I had ever heard. Ever.

He had too much talent to be playing a piece of crap. Gloppy was a significant improvement.

 

[chazmo]

Neal, I think you need to write a song about Gloppy.

 

[JohnW63]

My first though would be to borrow the tune from Billy Joel , " Always a woman to me" and make it "Will always be Gloppy to me".

 

[GF60]

@Phoenix 602...I just read this entire thread. What a roller coast ride! But the bottom line is you have a guitar that plays well now. I would keep it and not do anything about the finish checking.

Hear's my anecdote-I own a GF60 maple. It is 34 years old and in pretty good shape. Several years ago I was sitting in my comfy chair playing it. I put it down, leaning it against the seat of the chair, to mess with some song lyrics on my iPad. Our 3 beagles suddenly became very interested in some noise that happened outside. There was a flurry of activity for them to reach the pet door quickly. One of them decided that the fastest way was to jump over my legs, right into the top of my guitar...Leaving 2 long scratches on the bass side of the sound hole. I was upset for about 5 minutes! I thought, Now I don't need to be so careful with it! I don't mistreat it, but it does have some character now. Give me a minute and I'll post a picture.

 

[davismanLV]

That would upset me too!! What a beautiful guitar, tho!! GF60 maple.... yum!!

 

[chazmo]

Beagle-claw!

 

[Phoenix 602]

@Phoenix 602...I just read this entire thread. What a roller coast ride! But the bottom line is you have a guitar that plays well now. I would keep it and not do anything about the finish checking.

Hear's my anecdote-I own a GF60 maple. It is 34 years old and in pretty good shape. Several years ago I was sitting in my comfy chair playing it. I put it down, leaning it against the seat of the chair, to mess with some song lyrics on my iPad. Our 3 beagles suddenly became very interested in some noise that happened outside. There was a flurry of activity for them to reach the pet door quickly. One of them decided that the fastest way was to jump over my legs, right into the top of my guitar...Leaving 2 long scratches on the bass side of the sound hole. I was upset for about 5 minutes! I thought, Now I don't need to be so careful with it! I don't mistreat it, but it does have some character now. Give me a minute and I'll post a picture.

I suppose your right. However, I think I'd be upset for more than 5 mins. Lol. Point taken though.

 

[D30Man]

Gloppy is legendary around here!! Neal did a rescue, I'm pretty sure of a D35, and I'm sure he still has photos. If I knew how to search better I'd find the Legend of Gloppy!! Someone will find it for us.....

He did Tom. I'll never forget it. Straight up brought it back from the gloomy depths. It was a D-35 and "glop" was in full force on that one if memory serves.

 

[D30Man]

Truss Rod Covers

Get a custom truss cover for your guitar handmade in California by Thalia!

www.thaliacapos.com

Phoenix - The site above is a pretty solid group. I have ordered a few TRC's from them as well as ebony bridge pins, phone cases etc.. The owner is a Guild guy and there are several options here. I know these aren't the original and not sure about period correct, but let's face it, with your guitar I think we can throw convention out the window..