my first steel string acoustic!

[beginnersmind]

Well i read all the raves here about el Degas so went ahead and got one off ebay. It turns out to be a lovely guitar. Solid spruce top and solid mahogany sides and back. I melt when I hear others play it (not so much when I play it yet!) and I am quite pleased. Except that it was apparently stored in a too damp pace and the top has swelled making the action high. My tech said give it a month and light strings and it may calm down on it's own. (I hope so) the rest of it is in fantastic condition (no cracks, splits, or dents and the varnish is nice and shiny). It still even has the "made in Japan" sticker on the headstock. The seller said they bought it new in 1973 and that it hasn't been played since 1980. It was purchased at "Olde Towne Music" in Washington township NJ (they have a website). The store still exists and I hope to get around to contacting them for any info they might have about el Degas. I posted pictures on Shutterfly. myguitarpictures.shutterfly.com any info or comments from any of you would be appreciated. I am enjoying it even with the high action. Also, if the top doesn't subside, how much does that sort of thing generally cost to have a luthier fix?

[charles]

Enjoy the guitar - hope if serves you well.

if the top doesn't subside, how much does that sort of thing generally cost to have a luthier fix?

I'd suggest you ask a few luthiers for quotes, if you have to cross that bridge. Prices will probably vary.

[Barry]

Hi beginnersmind, and welcome! That's a beautiful guitar and in unbelievably good condition! You got one of the "good" ones alright, that's the very best quality wood, and the craftsmanship and detail are outstanding! Back and sides appear likely to be Jacaranda (a largely South American rosewood) almost unheard of now except perhaps for trim details and such.

In your pictures, I couldn't see much of the bridge problem that you describe. It doesn't look like a severe problem though. If it had been stored as long as you say in high humidity and under tension, that would definitely cause problems. The tech gave you good advice; I use 10's on mine but mainly because of creeping arthritis which makes it hard to deal with heavier gauge strings. But it has benefits for the guitar.

Generally speaking. It's always wise to start with the simple solutions first. If the suspicion is that it's saturated wood, it might be worthwhile to take a reading inside the guitar with hygrometer to confirm it. The other thing I might suggest is to place a weight on the bridge as it is drying to make sure the sound board flattens out. A large book should do OK.

I assume that you have checked the neck for straightness? Even a few 64ths of a inch out can make the action terrible. If the bridge does not respond you are left with a few other options; the simplest being sanding down the saddle a bit (can't take too much off though). The final resort is removal and adjustment of the bridge and/or a reworking of the bracing under the sound board...very labour intensive = $$$$!
Good luck and I hope she settles down.

[beginnersmind]

thanks for the replies! The luthier said the neck was fine so the issue is the body swelling. Again, I will give it time to settle down before doing anything. In the meantime I was searching the web to try and get an idea of cost for flattening out the top (just in case) and came across a device called the "JLD bridge system" It is a gadget that goes inside the guitar, grabs the bridge from inside and pulls it down. There are two styles priced $30 -$60 and apparently installs in about 15 minuites. Stewart MacDonald carries them. Anyone familiar with these?

[Barry]

Nope.
Sounds interesting though...lots cheaper than a luthier, if it works.