Am I really doing this?

@TheHorse (218889)

Walnut Creek, California

December 1, 2019 12:53pm CST

I love my Martin D-18 acoustic guitar. It has great sound, is fairly easy to play, and has incredible quilted mahogany wood on the back and sides. But it turns out that it was made (in approximately 2016) during an era when Martin was experimenting with a new wood glue for attaching the "binding" to the guitar. This glue turned out not to hold very well, and many Martin guitars from this era have issues with the binding coming up, especially at the waist, where the tension on the binding is the greatest. I already glued down some binding that came up, and decided to add some glue on the other side, where the binding hasn't come up yet, but is threatening to. I haven't taken the blue tape off yet--I'll be sure to provide a follow-up. I love refinishing loudspeakrs, but I never thought I'd be working on guitars. What are you up to on this rainy and cool Sunday?

16 people like this

13 responses

@CarolDM (203422)

• Nashville, Tennessee

1 Dec 19

Sunshine and 60s here but very windy. Not much. Too bad about the glue Martin used.

2 people like this

@TheHorse (218889)

• Walnut Creek, California

1 Dec 19

I wonder why they went with a new glue during that time period.

2 people like this

@TheHorse (218889)

• Walnut Creek, California

1 Dec 19

@CarolDM Probably so. Should I take the tape off and see what kind of mess I've made?

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@CarolDM (203422)

• Nashville, Tennessee

1 Dec 19

@TheHorse To save money I am sure.

1 person likes this

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@LindaOHio (178701)

• United States

1 Dec 19

Good luck with your repairs. I'm MyLotting and watching the Cleveland Browns vs. the Pittsburgh Steelers.

2 people like this

@TheHorse (218889)

• Walnut Creek, California

1 Dec 19

Close game. Who are you rooting for?

2 people like this

@LindaOHio (178701)

• United States

1 Dec 19

@TheHorse My Cleveland Browns -- and they lost...again.

1 person likes this

@TheHorse (218889)

• Walnut Creek, California

1 Dec 19

@LindaOHio So did my 49ers. But it was a good game. They could meet agian...

1 person likes this

@wolfgirl569 (106323)

• Marion, Ohio

1 Dec 19

Hope it works well. I got the yard decorated.

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@wolfgirl569 (106323)

• Marion, Ohio

2 Dec 19

@TheHorse I shared a pic in a later post.

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@TheHorse (218889)

• Walnut Creek, California

2 Dec 19

@wolfgirl569 Ah, I'll look for it.

@TheHorse (218889)

• Walnut Creek, California

1 Dec 19

What did you do?

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@NJChicaa (119633)

• United States

1 Dec 19

Just myLotting and watching the Jets game

2 people like this

@TheHorse (218889)

• Walnut Creek, California

1 Dec 19

You've inspired me. I'm going to check the game for today and then turn on the TV. I'm jamming (music) with a friend today at about 2 PM. I think the 49ers play this evening.

2 people like this

@kobesbuddy (78882)

• East Tawas, Michigan

1 Dec 19

I know your frustration, but I don't own a guitar. My issues are with a Bach trumpet, that I purchased brand new about 10 years ago. For some darn reason, it has tarnished and discolored! The store where I purchased it, has gone out of business:(

1 person likes this

@TheHorse (218889)

• Walnut Creek, California

1 Dec 19

I would think that there is a paste you could use to restore the original beauty of the instrument. I would call a local instrument store and chat with them. They want your business.

1 person likes this

@kobesbuddy (78882)

• East Tawas, Michigan

1 Dec 19

@TheHorse Anything would be an improvement, to this gray-tarnished appearance. It was $1,600 brand new and that's not a joke! I paid them off in a year.

1 person likes this

@TheHorse (218889)

• Walnut Creek, California

1 Dec 19

@kobesbuddy I'm not a brass expert. Does it still play well?

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@cperry2 (5608)

• Newport, Oregon

1 Dec 19

Sitting and watching my daughter and granddaughter making saleable ornaments for a craft fair. My Granddaughter has turned sixteen and is showing her hormones and attitude regularly. I am so glad to see them working peacefully together on something.

1 person likes this

@TheHorse (218889)

• Walnut Creek, California

1 Dec 19

Focus is good for raging hormones.

1 person likes this

@TheHorse (218889)

• Walnut Creek, California

2 Dec 19

@cperry2 It something we all experience in one way or another. Does discussion help?

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@cperry2 (5608)

• Newport, Oregon

2 Dec 19

@TheHorse That it is. Sometimes it isn't enough though. But they will do okay.

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@BarBaraPrz (47314)

• St. Catharines, Ontario

2 Dec 19

So, you're diversifying...

1 person likes this

@TheHorse (218889)

• Walnut Creek, California

2 Dec 19

Exactly. Gluing things together is gluing things together. You just have to find the appropriate method and be diligent.

1 person likes this

@FourWalls (68043)

• United States

2 Dec 19

NOT gluing my Martin back together, that's for sure! Hope it comes out well for you. You'd think that Martin, with their reputation for great craftsmanship, wouldn't have experimented like that.

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@TheHorse (218889)

• Walnut Creek, California

2 Dec 19

Maybe I'll learn more about the story. My repair went OK. All is well. For now.

1 person likes this

@LadyDuck (471541)

• Switzerland

2 Dec 19

In my opinion as they made a mistake with their glue, they should take care of repair all those sold during that time with no fees for those who bought. That is what I expect from serious companies.

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@LadyDuck (471541)

• Switzerland

3 Dec 19

@TheHorse They are responsible, they must offer a free solution.

@TheHorse (218889)

• Walnut Creek, California

2 Dec 19

You're right. I should check in with the Company. They've been helpful when I've called them, but that was before I knew about the bad glue issue.

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@JESSY3236 (19949)

• United States

3 Dec 19

I hope the guitar stays glued. Sunday I was going to a Christmas parade, but decided not to. My mother brought some clothes over to donate. I tried some on too. I got two packages (some food for Lily and a shirt) Sunday.

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@TheHorse (218889)

• Walnut Creek, California

5 Dec 19

Sounds good. Will you help her with the donation process?

1 person likes this

@JESSY3236 (19949)

• United States

9 Dec 19

@TheHorse I had wash the clothes. They stunk like oil. I put them in a trash bag. All I have to do now is label the bag. They pick up the bag when they come.

@andriaperry (116936)

• Anniston, Alabama

2 Dec 19

All sunshine and wind here. I did nothing.

1 person likes this

@TheHorse (218889)

• Walnut Creek, California

2 Dec 19

Nothing sounds good! I mean...DOING nothing sounds good...

1 person likes this

@TheHorse (218889)

• Walnut Creek, California

3 Dec 19

@andriaperry I'm doing nothing useful right now and enjoying it. I did work a bit on my book, though.

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@andriaperry (116936)

• Anniston, Alabama

2 Dec 19

@TheHorse Tes nothing sounds good, to good to be a true nothing.

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@Dyvette16 (4301)

• United States

1 Dec 19

Hope you can repair it This Sunday I am just relaxing and washing clothes for the week

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@TheHorse (218889)

• Walnut Creek, California

2 Dec 19

@Dyvette16 I am always happy when a repair does not result in a "sh*t storm," as my friends and I call it.

1 person likes this

@TheHorse (218889)

• Walnut Creek, California

1 Dec 19

Heh. I am doing the dishes "right now." I took the tape off and things look good.

1 person likes this

@Dyvette16 (4301)

• United States

1 Dec 19

@TheHorse great to hear !

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• Bangladesh

10 Dec 19

Good to hear that you're working on your guitar. And on a beautiful rainy and cool sunday, you gotta have to have a guitar in your hand. If I were you, I would have been playing "Have You Ever Seen The Rain" by CCR.