2025-104 - Under the Bridge
Years ago, I was given a 12-string acoustic guitar with a few problems. It has been at the back of the cupboard after was obvious it would not tune up properly.
I took it out a couple of weeks ago and am hoping to bring it back to playable condition. The neck looks good, the body looks good except for a high action, the body has a belly bulge, and the bridge has started to pull away (these issues are related).
Today, I managed to remove the bridge ... and the problem is obvious! If the bridge had been attached properly there would be no lacquer under the bridge and the entire undersurface of the bridge would have been bonded to the top with glue. Obviously, both of those requirements have not been followed - and it is a 12-string too! It's a wonder that the bridge held on at all!
Looking at the photo, I'm not really sure what we are looking at on the surface of the guitar. There appears to at least be an opaque white layer between what looks like wood grain and the real wood underneath.
I'm looking forward to a well glued bridge, most of the belly bulge has gone and the action is much, much lower.
2025-104 - Under the Bridge
Years ago, I was given a 12-string acoustic guitar with a few problems. It has been at the back of the cupboard after was obvious it would not tune up properly.
I took it out a couple of weeks ago and am hoping to bring it back to playable condition. The neck looks good, the body looks good except for a high action, the body has a belly bulge, and the bridge has started to pull away (these issues are related).
Today, I managed to remove the bridge ... and the problem is obvious! If the bridge had been attached properly there would be no lacquer under the bridge and the entire undersurface of the bridge would have been bonded to the top with glue. Obviously, both of those requirements have not been followed - and it is a 12-string too! It's a wonder that the bridge held on at all!
Looking at the photo, I'm not really sure what we are looking at on the surface of the guitar. There appears to at least be an opaque white layer between what looks like wood grain and the real wood underneath.
I'm looking forward to a well glued bridge, most of the belly bulge has gone and the action is much, much lower.