Martin lacquer questions

[mart]

I've got a two-year-old D28, and I'm a bit worried about two problems with the lacquer.

Firstly, there are some cracks in the lacquer on the top that extend from the corners of the bridge. I first noticed them about two months ago (just after I'd drilled out the end-pin to fit a jack socket), and they're growing - the longest of them was about an inch when I first noticed it, and is now about 4-5 inches. They are hardly noticeable - you can't feel them, you can't see any depression or ridge in the lacquer, and you can only see them by holding the guitar to the light at exactly the right angle.

Do I need to worry about them? If so, is there anything I can do about them?
And is it likely that they were caused by drilling out the end-pin hole?

Secondly, there is a small (3mm) chip in the lacquer on the edge, over the binding, just at the point where my right forearm rests on the guitar. And the white binding now has a grey tinge to it for a few inches either side of the chip, which I guess is due to sweat getting in and under the lacquer. Is there anything I can easily do to stop this getting worse?

[KKJale]

Drilling the endpin should absolutely have nothing to do with it.

Martin had a terrible batch of finishes that went badly wrong, but that was four or five years ago. I saw a bunch of them at a luthier friend's place - a certified Martin repairer. You may have a strong case for repair under warranty. Are you the original owner?

The chip is the binding can easily be drop-filled by a good tech, though the existing discoloration will remain.

[mart]

Thanks. Overall the finish looks fine, so I'd be surprised if this were from the bad batch. Sadly I'm not the original purchaser, so I'm guessing I don't have any kind of warranty cover (especially having taken a power tool to it! )

[richardhomer]

Drilling the endpin should absolutely have nothing to do with it.

Martin had a terrible batch of finishes that went badly wrong, but that was four or five years ago. I saw a bunch of them at a luthier friend's place - a certified Martin repairer. You may have a strong case for repair under warranty. Are you the original owner?

The chip is the binding can easily be drop-filled by a good tech, though the existing discoloration will remain.

That's a great name you've got there!

He was a big influence on Knark Mopfler. And Cleric Apton...