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Post by BlackAngusYoung on Feb 16, 2011 13:54:42 GMT -5
Hi All, The bridge on my friend's 12-string is lifting at the bottom/centre. I don't think it looks too bad yet. As far as I know, it hasn't been played or looked at in a while... just been stored in a hard case but she wanted me to clean and string it.   Is this something I can glue for her? Should I loosen the strings now or squirt some glue in there as is and then loosen them? Thanks as always! FYI, it's a Fender worth around $500 I think. |
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Post by roadtonever on Feb 16, 2011 14:09:46 GMT -5
I had a simmilar problem with a Chinese made Tanglewood acoustic. My local luthier explained that such things occur when the bridge is glued on to the finish rather than to bare wood.
So you'd need to pull the bridge off completely and scrape off the finish to prevent from coming loose again.
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Post by sumgai on Feb 16, 2011 21:50:08 GMT -5
BAY, RTN has it correct, gluing the bridge onto the finish instead of directly onto the wood is a Romper Room No-No. To do the job correctly, you'll need to remove it the rest of the way off the axe, clean off the finish (at least you have guide lines now....) and reassemble with hide glue and clamps. If you take any shortcuts, she won't be your friend much longer, and that's the gospel truth. BTW, one should Google around the web to learn how players feel about Fender acoustic guitars, and the value thereof. No more need be said, eh?  HTH sumgai |
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Post by 4real on Feb 17, 2011 2:48:47 GMT -5
Thats a shame, but such things can be common on a 12 string.
To fix it properly...or at least adequately...you'd need to take the strings off completely and work out a way of clamping through the sound hole very tightly...and so as to make direct contact with the top and bridge while reaching over the struts inside.
An easier option might be to rig up some bolts that will fit through some of the string holes, with a large washer inside and on the top and a butterfly nut to take the pressure.
Yes, you should take it off, scoring carefully around the bridge so as to not mark the top and glue securely and neatly (being ready to immediately clean up the squeeze out) with epoxy perhaps. You could try scoring the finish under the bridge if you can instead of lifting the whole thing off as this is a big commitment.
Obviously if things are glued to the finish, they are only as strong as the finish itself.
...
You might want to see and feel in the guitar to find out why it is doing this to the bridge also. Really, the strings should anchor to a 'bridge plate' under the top and put very little pressure on the bridge itself...normally you'd find the whole top trying to lift and a bridge glued to the finish should not lift (even if this is the cheaper way of doing it)...
There might be something you can rig up to fit inside the guitar to ensure that the strings anchor to that and the top rather than the bridge itself...
good luck...
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Post by BlackAngusYoung on Feb 17, 2011 17:35:54 GMT -5
If you take any shortcuts, she won't be your friend much longer, and that's the gospel truth. And she's a waitress next door... she has ample opportunity to get me back. I'll just tell her I didn't want to mess with it. I think it's been stored for a while and she was planning to give it to her grandson all shiny. I wonder if he's into fixing as well as playing guitars. It still makes a great gift.  The last guitar I strung up and waxed for this lady was a Sigma by Martin. It sounded nice but it had cracks all over the top. That made me nervous enough... I think I'll leave her bridge alone. Thanks everyone for the insight. |
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Post by cynical1 on Feb 17, 2011 19:51:42 GMT -5
Coward...
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