Hi All;
I have a MIK acoustic labeled as MT 104, cant find any data on it but no suprise, and it has a large bulge behind the bridge causing it to roll forward. I am trying to humidify it right now hoping that will remedy the situation. Does anyone have any other ideas or any info on this model #? I am wondering if the guitar is effed I'll try to sister another brace beside the original with a little clamp pressure to see if I can massage it back into place. Right now the action is so high at 12 I have a helluva time playing it. I'd hate to dump it. It's had a long life and is well loved and abused, including having the neck snapped by a fat chick using it to break her fall in a drunken stupor, but if I need to get a new one to help my kids learn then so be it.
Help!!
Re: Help!!
MT' models are copies of Martin acoustics - take it to a luthier immediately to save the bridge.Old Pirate wrote:Hi All;
I have a MIK acoustic labeled as MT 104, cant find any data on it but no suprise, and it has a large bulge behind the bridge causing it to roll forward. I am trying to humidify it right now hoping that will remedy the situation. Does anyone have any other ideas or any info on this model #? I am wondering if the guitar is effed I'll try to sister another brace beside the original with a little clamp pressure to see if I can massage it back into place. Right now the action is so high at 12 I have a helluva time playing it. I'd hate to dump it. It's had a long life and is well loved and abused, including having the neck snapped by a fat chick using it to break her fall in a drunken stupor, but if I need to get a new one to help my kids learn then so be it.
I started ElDegas.com many years ago to help celebrate and inform about El Degas instruments. It all started with a used Ric 4000 bass copy I bought in circa 2000.
El Degas stable as of 03/2022: 42
(13 bass, 26 electric, 3 acoustic)
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- Barry
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Re: Help!!
Har, oldpirate!
Sorry to hear about your soundboard swelling. I'm going through the same thing with a recent obtained 1982 MIJ 12 string Vantage.
It's always sad to see this happen and there can be more than one cause of course, but it usually is triggered by exposure to less than optimum relative humidity conditions. (ideally around 40%).
Too little moisture and the bracing or the bridge plate can dry out and pull away from the soundboard. String tension then pulls the bridge up and rotates it towards the neck, raising the action. Too much moisture and the wood swells everywhere, and pushes the top, back, and sides outwards. The end result is similar, with a bulging soundboard, lifted bridge, and weakened structure.
Sometimes you can get lucky by gently re-hydrating the wood and "encouraging" it by use of clamps or weight to settle back down. It depends how much damage has been done initially. Alternatively, you can investigate something called the Bridge Doctor http://www.jldguitar.net/warped_tops/fixtop.html. Many have had some success with it and I haven't completely dismissed it yet for my own problem.
Good luck!
Sorry to hear about your soundboard swelling. I'm going through the same thing with a recent obtained 1982 MIJ 12 string Vantage.
It's always sad to see this happen and there can be more than one cause of course, but it usually is triggered by exposure to less than optimum relative humidity conditions. (ideally around 40%).
Too little moisture and the bracing or the bridge plate can dry out and pull away from the soundboard. String tension then pulls the bridge up and rotates it towards the neck, raising the action. Too much moisture and the wood swells everywhere, and pushes the top, back, and sides outwards. The end result is similar, with a bulging soundboard, lifted bridge, and weakened structure.
Sometimes you can get lucky by gently re-hydrating the wood and "encouraging" it by use of clamps or weight to settle back down. It depends how much damage has been done initially. Alternatively, you can investigate something called the Bridge Doctor http://www.jldguitar.net/warped_tops/fixtop.html. Many have had some success with it and I haven't completely dismissed it yet for my own problem.
Good luck!
"A little song, a little dance. A little seltzer down your pants." --Chuckles the Clown
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Re: Help!!
Thanks Guys;
Looks like it's a bridge plate replacement for this old girl. I'm massaging it right now but she's rolled over so bad. I'll let you know how it all turns out.
Looks like it's a bridge plate replacement for this old girl. I'm massaging it right now but she's rolled over so bad. I'll let you know how it all turns out.
- Barry
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Re: Help!!
A bridge plate replacement could improve things but be aware that you'll still need to address the initial swelling/deformation of the sound board. If the current plate is chewed up or deformed by all means change it, otherwise I don't think you'll see too much improvement. A new plate will stabilize the top and certainly prevent worsening of the problem, I'm just not confident that the "dome" will disappear as a result.
"A little song, a little dance. A little seltzer down your pants." --Chuckles the Clown
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Re: Help!!
Yah I didn't figure it would so I have slowly brought the top down with clamps and have replaced the main brace that runs behind the bridge plate with one that hasn't had 35+ years of string force on it. Once I release it that should be the tell. I'll keep the humidity up in the case and hopefully I can resurrect it for a day to day basher and not Townshend it in frustration. Thanks for the input.
Re: Help!!
Best of luck!
I started ElDegas.com many years ago to help celebrate and inform about El Degas instruments. It all started with a used Ric 4000 bass copy I bought in circa 2000.
El Degas stable as of 03/2022: 42
(13 bass, 26 electric, 3 acoustic)
El Degas stable as of 03/2022: 42

- Barry
- Posts: 1045
- Joined: Thu Feb 05, 2009 10:31 pm
- Location: St. Catharines, Ontario Canada
- Contact:
Re: Help!!
+1
"A little song, a little dance. A little seltzer down your pants." --Chuckles the Clown
M U S I C : https://getback.barryeames.com
G U I T A R S : https://legend.barryeames.com/

M U S I C : https://getback.barryeames.com
G U I T A R S : https://legend.barryeames.com/
