 | bahilton says:
2/21/2013 10:19:35 AM
Hi Liz and all. Actually, this is my Weiss that I just bought a couple of months ago. In response, I don't think I've heard of a Weiss that didn't have bracing and cracks repaired at some point. Then again, I haven't seen 'em all... I can tell you the guitar was not dropped. I'm not sure why the seam opened, I do humidify it. We have had some crazy temperature changes lately here in Maine, maybe it's just not cut out for this region.
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 | Liz Williams says:
2/21/2013 11:18:00 AM
bahilton, I'm glad to know the seller is someone trustworthy and sorry if my earlier post offended. ! I'm with you on the cracks and brace repairs due to humidity: Those are typical of an older guitar.
Here's where we differ: In my experience, cracks that cross the grain are in a different category. and come from an injury to the guitar. I'm referring to the repaired crack on the bottom of the guitar to the left of the end pin, the one that meanders back and forth across the grain.
I'm assuming the crack and the repair happened before you got the guitar, which is why you don't mention it. But as a buyer, when I see a picture with a repaired crack the seller isn't talking about, I wonder why. In particular, I want to be sure the crack has been professionally repaired and won't be opening up anytime soon, no matter how it got there or under whose watch. If that's not the case, I still want to know so I can negotiate a fair price. Since the guitar is in your hands, you can reassure me, even if you didn't commission the repair. I can't push on it and look inside to check the repair, but you, the seller, can tell me how it feels, how it's holding up, why it didn't put you off when you bought it, what the guy you bought it from said about it, etc.
It would also help me to know the back seam crack is new, possibly a result of temperature extremes in Maine, rather than a consequence of a poorly repaired end-pin crack or a luthier who was sloppy. (I have a friend in New Mexico who's Santa Cruz guitar just keeps cracking, despite humidifying, etc. It does seem to be true that some guitars just don't do well some climates.)
That's what's behind my earlier post. For me, when the description doesn't tell the story I see in the pictures, it puts me off the seller and I move on. Others may not be this hyper-vigilant and they can weigh in here so I can learn a better approach. I really can be a maniac, as this story shows:
I got a 1930s Oahu Jumbo on ebay that is full of cracks, some repaired well, some repaired badly. In the pictures, the guitar looked like it's been through several bar fights. In the description, there was mention of typical wear and tear and great tone. The wear and tear *was* typical, but only for a guitar that had been badly used. But, there was something about the guitar I liked, so the seller and I had a frank, open conversation about all of the cracks and dents, and he adjusted the price accordingly. I love that guitar and the seller was happy with the price.
And finally, here's a link to a repair luthier Frank Ford's repair of a crack from an end pin that was driven in too far into a Martin. As you can see, his repair made the guitar stronger.
frets.com/FretsPages/Luthier/T...rack.html
Thanks for listening bahilton.
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| bahilton says:
2/21/2013 11:37:40 AM
Thanks for the great insight Liz. I certainly do want to be straight forward with my description, your advice is of great help. I bought the guitar off another forum member, he was fantastic with providing pictures and info, even multiple pix of the inside bracing! The back seam crack is new, all the others were repaired before he bought it and look solid.
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