Martin D28 Kit, 32 years old

[glenb]

Hello, I recently acquired a 32 year Martin D28 kit. Still new in the box, with the shredded newspaper. It sat in a closet for all those years. I am going to make this my first attempt at building a kit. I understand this will be challenging. I have slowly been getting supplies, reading, watching instructional videos etc. This kit at the time, came with the spruce top mated togather already, sound hole cut and rosettes slot cut out already.

My question is, it appears the the wood has dried out for lack of terms. The sides are still holding their shape. No splits or cracks or warps, just maybe somewhere short of being "brittle". I have the wood now in a room with a humidity about 65%, to aid the wood untill I decide what to do next.
I understand I could get replacement woods. But I am inclined to complete this one, as it is my first. I am patience. I would welcome any suggestions, ideas, a hunch whatever to primp, prepare, the wood for a completion.

Reguardless, I will get a valuable learning experience, even if it disintegrates into dust, or is pretty decent sounding guitar. Thanks in advance.

[Trinity]

I fellow came in and gave me on old Martin " kit " like this awhile back. I was very surprised to see that the top was knife cut like veneer rather than sawn as it would be today. The top exhibits what is called lath checking on the " loose " side of the wood. The loose side is the side of the wood facing the knife when it is cut off the larger piece. The causes a weakening of the wood across the grain. You could make a top from it an I would guess the bass response would be great. The down side is that it would be susceptible to cracking easy from humidity stress or physical damage. The rosewood back and sides are sawn and of a nice quality. I look forward to using them on a guitar some day.
I wonder if Martin used tops like this on there guitars?

[Kitchen Guitars]

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