Golden Eagle sagging top question

[ksdaddy]

I bought a Golden Eagle and due to personal reasons I decided to flip it. The new owner sent me the photo showing the sagging top. I was completely negligent in my handling of the guitar and didn't see the sag. He's getting his money back and I will be getting the guitar back. I am working with the store that sold it to me in the first place and I have also received inquiries from a couple guys who would like to buy it 'as-is' but we haven't discussed price with any seriousness.

 

I emailed this pic to Heritage and received this response:

 

If you would like to return the GE for inspection please do so. There is normally a slight sinking look under the bridge. Not to worry as there have been many built that look like they are sagging but in reality it was just the way the carver carved the top. 11 /52 GHS strings are recommended.

I would be interested in hearing what you guys have to say, since you're around Heritages a lot and are knowledgeable. I know X braced archtop do tend to flatten out but how far is too far and what can be done to fix it?

Talk to me guys....

[Vanschoyck]

The picture doesn't look alarming to me. I have a half dozen arch tops and they look like that. Does it set up and play well? If I suspected sagging I'd be checking the action every day to see if it was falling or if it was stable. If it's stable it's probably not a problem.

 

I'm wondering if the person you sold it to ever owned an arch top before. I would definitely want to confirm if there was a problem before selling it again, because you may be giving an "as is" discount for no reason.

[StephenK]

I agree with Dave. I don't see an issue either. Play and enjoy. Peace, Stephen

[Jim W]

There's quite a bit of the bridge studs showing, so the bridge is pretty high. Could be a sign, maybe not. can you lay a straightedge on the top and see how the gap under it looks in the bridge area?

[Genericmusic]

The picture doesn't look alarming to me. I have a half dozen arch tops and they look like that. Does it set up and play well? If I suspected sagging I'd be checking the action every day to see if it was falling or if it was stable. If it's stable it's probably not a problem.

 

I'm wondering if the person you sold it to ever owned an arch top before. I would definitely want to confirm if there was a problem before selling it again, because you may be giving an "as is" discount for no reason.

This

[brentrocks]

sounds like buyers remorse to me?

[ksdaddy]

Could be buyers remorse. I am not fighting the return regardless. It's only money.

 

I should have it back in hand on Tuesday, at which point I will go inside with a mirror. I've banged my head against the wall since Thursday over this and my brain is worth more than that.

 

The bridge is set very tall and my first reaction was that I was happy as a clam it had such a good neck set.

 

Tuesday much will be learned.

[Vanschoyck]

I hope you update us when you find out what's going on. I have an L5 that has a similar bridge set up, up high like that. With that guitar it's the neck angle that's the issue, if you can call it an issue. I know for some it's a total deal kill and at some point it would be too high and be a problem.

[Steiner]

The natural aging is the headstock comes up relative to the body. The result is a lower bridge. I don't see a problem with the top. Mine looks much the same.

[Ned]

Yep. I have two x-braced heritage arch tops and they look the same, including high bridges. I like the high bridge for a couple of reasons - break angle is important for driving the top and not ever needing a neck reset is great too. That is a healthy guitar that need not be sold "as is." You are an honorable person for taking it back.

 

I bet she plays great.

[Speedyeast]

I don't know. I have owned quite a few archtops. That bridge looks high, to me, to the point that it is starting to tip towards the neck, no? It's so high that it may, indeed, be a sign of a sagging arch. What do the braces look like?

[ksdaddy]

I got the guitar back today. The first thing I did was go inside with a mirror and light. No damage. None. No cracks in the braces, no failed glue joints, nothing. I then removed the strings...unrelated. When I got it, one of the Grover Imperials had been replaced with a new one (identical to the originals but visibly "newer"). The other 5 were included so I figured I'd swap out the other 5 so they match better. At that time I oiled the board. I'm not one to oil a board unless I suspect it NEEDS it. With ebony it's hard to tell unless it has gotten to the point of actually cracking. I slathered a fair amount of oil on it and walked away long enough for a pit stop and refill my coffee, and when I got back the oil was GONE. Red flag right there. I also looked at the spruce grain in the light and also felt it, and it does have that ripply corduroy look and feel to it.

 

Could this guitar just be dried out?

 

The humidity is about 35% in the house and I have one of those Humistat things I never use, plus I can grab a Dampit when I run to the music store.

[Vanschoyck]

I try to keep mine between 40 at the low end, to about 50 percent.

[Speedyeast]

ksdaddy

 

If the braces are intact, then based upon the photo I'd be inclined to believe that the top is okay. Again, the bridge looks high, to me...but I have owned archtops with bridges that high. (I like a medium-to-high action.) Does the guitar play without fretting out or buzzing?

 

The Golden Eagle is a heck of a guitar...nothing to sneeze at. I know that I have always wanted one. That's a pretty finish, too.

 

I agree that you should get a luthier to look at the guitar and evaluate it for you.

[ksdaddy]

I wanted to post an update on the Heritage. It's going to a new home at a good price for the buyer. Also, here is a copy/paste of a post I put on another forum, just to put closure to it:

 

I just wanted to follow up and let everyone know that the Music Go Round Store in Wilkes-Barre, PA and I did come to an arrangement that we could both live with. Once the store knew I was unhappy with the original sale they were very proactive in making sure I was a happy customer. This is only the 2nd guitar I've purchased from them so I can't openly endorse or recommend them but I certainly have no bad feelings and wouldn't hesitate to deal with them again.