Dip in the bass side of the top... is this an issue?

[slowlearner]

Just finished a couple of T-bird basses and in the serious design phase of a new bass. Was tracing my old Cort Earth 100 dreadnought when I noticed this...


A 1.3mm dip on the bass side of the top next to the bridge.

I figured it has something to do with the humping behind the bridge...


I know a little bridge humping is not an issue particularly. I won't pretend this guitar has lived the easiest life. I've always played it hard, strung it up with 13s (or more) and done any manner of weird tunings for slide playing on it. I left it in a hot car once about 10 years back and the top split, but Jeff Mallia sorted that for me and it's been stable. I also know it's a cheap guitar, but it's pretty awesome for what it is. It's all real wood and it's the loudest dreadnought I've ever come across... probably from being flogged for the first year... and there's some sentimental attachment too.

Soo, is this serious, or should I quit worrying?

[woodrat]

Pete...is it very dry where you are at the moment...? Could be a reaction to low RH....do you have a wood fire too that would (no pun intended) exacerbate it (the low RH problem). Where we are we have had low RH for about a week or more with mainly dry westerlies....Great lutherie weather actually as long as it does not drop below 40%...
Could be totally off the beam but I would rather be able to tick that one off the list of possibilities...

[slowlearner]

yeah maybe. it's windy and cold. we don't have a fire, but we do heat the house with reverse cycle air con. that removes moisture from the air. hmmm, might be time to stick it in it's case with some potato peelings again...

[woodrat]

...Yes I would try putting it in its case for a while and see if that makes any difference to the dip....people love to have their pride any joy out on display but that can be dangerous in winter if in a heated house and especially when the dry westerlies blow like they are now....like humans guitars like to stay hydrated....