Need Help...

[Ben-Had]

on the best way to address these reinforcement strips on this 1973 Martin D-18. They appear to be "longer" now.

Also, an speculation on what would cause the water (?) stains in the lower bout of this guitar. The brace in that location is loose as well (will be fixing it tonight).

PS - I vacuumed out the "dead moth" that was back there before I took the pic.

Also, an speculation on what would cause the water (?) stains in the lower bout of this guitar. The brace in that location is loose as well (will be fixing it tonight).

PS - I vacuumed out the "dead moth" that was back there before I took the pic.

Looks like moth pee.

-tommy

[tippie53]

I use duco cement to put them back. If they expand real bad you may have to trim some off with a razor blade

[tippie53]

the stains look like an attempt to work glue under that brace

[Darryl Young]

What are the strips made of that they could expand along their length?

[Ben-Had]

I use duco cement to put them back. If they expand real bad you may have to trim some off with a razor blade

That's what I was thinking but I was thinking titebond or fish glue. Thanks.

[Ben-Had]

Also, an speculation on what would cause the water (?) stains in the lower bout of this guitar. The brace in that location is loose as well (will be fixing it tonight).

PS - I vacuumed out the "dead moth" that was back there before I took the pic.

Looks like moth pee.

-tommy

The moth wasn't that big:)

[Ben-Had]

What are the strips made of that they could expand along their length?

Fabric. I think they call it ribbon.

[Dan Bombliss]

If that's the neck end of the guitar, with the water stains, I think it could be possible someone had done a neck reset and the steam built up standing water. I've seen that before. Seems more plausible to me as to why the water stains would be consistent on the back and the side of the guitar. Steam?

-Dan

[tippie53]

That isn't the neck end but you can see the tail block. Those marks are most likely from a loose brace and they worked water and glue under the joint to reset the last brace.
The ribbon is a linen and was glued on with HHG up to about 1963 then switched to tite bond. They even used a brown self adhesive tape for a while. Wet your finger and see if the glue reactivates. There are many methods to redo these. Duco or HHG will usually work