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I have a customer with a problem we rarely see here in Minnesota. He lives in Belize most of the time and he recently brought in his rather nice Martin that had suffered severely from over humidification. All the back braces were loose, many of the top braces were loose, etc etc. We can dry it out and repair the damage, but then it goes back to Belize (don't even ask how he came to my shop in Minneapolis!!). He has asked that we finish the inside of the body to reduce the absorption of moisture. I am not sure I want to do this and not at all sure if it will really help. Any thoughts on this remedy? Any other thoughts on how to keep this guitar from swelling up like a baloon as soon as it goes back?

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Not being sure what the interior finish would do to the sound I think I would repair it then hunt up a couple of those reusable dessicant containers to keep in the case. I don't know if they are common in the music world but a machine tool or gun supply outlet should have them. The kind that change color when saturated and can be dried out in the oven and reused should be just the ticket. Just an aside. Mr. Hoffman graciously let me wander around his shop well over 25 years ago and though I have yet to build a complete instrument I still remember that great experience. I'm now retired and the chips are gonna fly.
Charlie, I believe water vapor will slowly penetrate any lacquer finish, so the best you could hope for is to slow down the effect. If the instrument lives in a tropical climate all the time that isn't going to do much good. Besides, what would you do? Pour a pint of McFadden's finest in there and slosh it around? He should just get one of those carbon fiber guitars, or resign himself to having this rebuilt every few years 'til it falls apart. Better, he should get a Blueridge, play it for a year, and give it to some deserving Belizean kid and replace it.
Heat is the killer of wooden guitars as all glue gives up in heat. Moisture will swell up a guitar but I have never found one that was hurt!!

Ron

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