Originally Posted by
evenkeel
Wingsdads comments re: "beater duty" seem spot on. The guitar certainly has had some knocks so I'm thinking there could be other internal issues.
I meant nothing 'disparaging' by that comment, by the way. I really love how my super-shallow bowl solid-top has opened up in 8 years, and I'd put it to an A/B test with any solid spruce topped, thinner body/lam b/s guitar. It's just that they're so durable compared to more climate-sensitive wood guitars, they tend to get used for 'risky' situations.
If you go back, tap on the top a bit, all around, with the tip of your index finger. You'll hear it right away if a brace has come loose. That top crack might not be the worst thing, if it looked like crazing. Cracks in that area, if not huge, can be cleated successfully from inside by any decent luthier or bravehearted owner. I've got a Guild that had a whopper. It's held up fine for 8 years, but with a lot of TLC, at that, though.
^^
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