Resolved!! - Strange Autonomous Creaking from Martin Authentic

[darylcrisp]

soundclip please(honest)

d

[jrdavis]

Long Jon,

Very good.

[pgilmor]

Originally Posted by RayCJ

Assuming the guitar's finish is not displaying the raised phrase "Play Me", I would try spraying some approved guitar polish where the neck and fretboard meet the body.

Ray

I would never use guitar polish; only holy water and a soft cloth will do.

[sbpark]

Originally Posted by pgilmor

I would never use guitar polish; only holy water and a soft cloth will do.

I'd use fire in this case.

[WindChaser]

Thanks for all the suggestions and laughs everyone =] To answer a few questions that I could recall at the moment: 1) I did not install an end piece 2) my temperature reading machine displays the same temperature as my home alarm thermometer, but I understand it could still be inaccurate. 3) the bridge pins appear to be snug, but I didn't think about the nut being the cause. 4) yes, it is a torrified top. 5) as the for the sound clip, it would be very difficult to pick up on my phone mic because the creak is very quiet. Also, not knowing when it will creak my arm may get too tired, haha.

I'm thinking I better take it to a luthier.

[RayCJ]

Originally Posted by sbpark

Dont bring it down into the basement. Problem solved, and you're welcome!

No, no, no... Buy another. One for upstairs and one for downstairs.

[OddManOut]

The following would be extreme situations, and I would think a humidity sensitivity more likely, but a good idea to rule them out.

I'd get the strings off, put your hand in the box and feel the top and back braces to see if any are loose. Tap around the box with your finger (top and back) and listen for rattle. Get an inspection mirror in there to look for separations.

Look for grain line cracks around he top back and sides, including parallel to the fingerboard extension.

Check the bridge and neck joint for separations. Check the binding for the same. Check the tuners to see if they are loose. Look for cracks at the base of the head stock.

What is the state of the truss rod? does tightening or loosening it a tiny amount either create the same creaking or cause it to stop?

Taking it to a good (!) luthier is a good idea.

[WindChaser]

Originally Posted by OddManOut

The following would be extreme situations, and I would think a humidity sensitivity more likely, but a good idea to rule them out.

I'd get the strings off, put your hand in the box and feel the top and back braces to see if and are loose. Tap around the box with your finger (top and back) and listen for rattle. Get an inspection mirror in there to look for separations.

Look for grain line cracks around he top back and sides, including parallel to the fingerboard extension.

Check the bridge and neck joint for separations. Check the binding for the same. Check the tuners to see if they are loose. Look for cracks at the base of the head stock.

What is the state of the truss rod? does tightening or loosening it a tiny amount either create the same creaking or cause it to stop?

Taking it to a good (!) luthier is a good idea.

those are excellent suggestions; thank you! Btw, my guitar has a t-bar instead of a truss rod.

[OddManOut]

Originally Posted by WindChaser

those are excellent suggestions; thank you! Btw, my guitar has a t-bar instead of a truss rod.

My pleasure. I hope you rule them all out.

A T bar, eh? Is that something that can settle in? I have no experience with them.

[catdaddy]

Originally Posted by WindChaser

Thanks for all the suggestions and laughs everyone =] To answer a few questions that I could recall at the moment: 1) I did not install an end piece 2) my temperature reading machine displays the same temperature as my home alarm thermometer, but I understand it could still be inaccurate. 3) the bridge pins appear to be snug, but I didn't think about the nut being the cause. 4) yes, it is a torrified top. 5) as the for the sound clip, it would be very difficult to pick up on my phone mic because the creak is very quiet. Also, not knowing when it will creak my arm may get too tired, haha.

I'm thinking I better take it to a luthier.

The reason I asked if it has a torrefied top was because my Bourgeois AT Mahogany dread (torrefied top) makes 'creaking' noises when exposed to changes in temperature or humidity. I've owned a lot of guitars over the years but this Bourgeois is the first guitar I've ever had that has done this (and the first guitar I've owned with a torrefied top). Is it more than coincidence that both your guitar and mine are behaving in this manner and both have torrefied tops?

I've speculated that perhaps the difference in the way torrefied wood expands and contracts versus non-torrefied wood causes changes in how the top 'fits' into its place when surrounded by wood that is not torrefied. It may be possible that the difference in the rate of expansion and contraction of the two causes the creaking sound. As a consequence I've wondered if Dana Bourgeois has moved on to making his torrefied guitars with all torrefied wood (not just the top) to avoid this situation.

[WindChaser]

Originally Posted by catdaddy

The reason I asked if it has a torrefied top was because my Bourgeois AT Mahogany dread (torrefied top) makes 'creaking' noises when exposed to changes in temperature or humidity. I've owned a lot of guitars over the years but this Bourgeois is the first guitar I've ever had that has done this (and the first guitar I've owned with a torrefied top). Is it more than coincidence that both your guitar and mine are behaving in this manner and both have torrefied tops?

I've speculated that perhaps the difference in the way torrefied wood expands and contracts versus non-torrefied wood causes changes in how the top 'fits' into its place when surrounded by wood that is not torrefied. It may be possible that the difference in the rate of expansion and contraction of the two causes the creaking sound. As a consequence I've wondered if Dana Bourgeois has moved on to making his torrefied guitars with all torrefied wood (not just the top) to avoid this situation.

I see. The torrified top definitely could be the culprit since it's happening to the both of us. As long as the creaking doesn't lead to any damage, I'm okay with it.

Aaron

[MuddyDitch]

Try humidifying with holy water.

[OddManOut]

Originally Posted by WindChaser

I see. The torrified top definitely could be the culprit since it's happening to the both of us. As long as the creaking doesn't lead to any damage, I'm okay with it.

Aaron

This is very interesting. Will you keep us updated as to what you and/or your luthier discover or rule out?

[WindChaser]

Originally Posted by OddManOut

This is very interesting. Will you keep us updated as to what you and/or your luthier discover or rule out?

Will do. Im hoping to see him this morning.

[Mr. Scott]

Originally Posted by catdaddy

Does it have a torrefied top?

Terrified I would have thought!