bridge replacement on an acoustic

casper leblanc

Hello my compadres!

First of an update to whom it may concern: girlfriend and future son are doing very well! Future dad is getting very anxious and nervous. Future dad's new job is great!

And now down to business: as some of you know I'm in love with my 1978 Guild D-25CH. Last weekend I changed to strings and I noticed that they have carved about 2mm into the wood of the bridge.

So my question is: how easy is it to have a bridge replaced on an old acoustic? And when do get it replaved? At what point is it not really playable anymore?

thanks

Novawind

A: Not easy at all. I would only let a professional luthier do it, and even then I probably wouldn't try with a vintage guitar if it's worth a lot. If it's more sentimental than antique value, then I'd say go for it. Might cost you a bit for labor (60-80 euros?) and the bridge itself would be relatively inexpensive (15-20 euros?).

who's_pearljam?

Cheers man!
I'm glad everything is going well!

Even the guitar! I think you're ok for a while on that. The wood does wear out where the strings come out of the hole in the body. I've even filed it grooves a bit to make it smoother. You don't want the grooves wearing down to the spruce top, though, but that takes a long time. Are the grooves going across the top of the bridge, parallel to the strings?

Try posting a close up picture of it, with the macro, and I can give you a better idea, though.

The bridge is replaceable. I can do it, but it's not a great beginner job. You don't want to tackle that!

casper leblanc

Thanks Novawind. And yeah, it's more sentimental (as far as that goes anyway) than antique value.

And I wouldn't do it myself anyway.

Heya Bob!

How are you doing?

Here's a close-up:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v282/pearlwax/IMG_3657.jpg

This is probably not that big a deal, but I was just wondering if the strings would still be good and tight in there, if they wouldn't shift or move or anything.

who's_pearljam?

casper leblanc wrote:

Thanks Novawind. And yeah, it's more sentimental (as far as that goes anyway) than antique value.

And I wouldn't do it myself anyway.

Heya Bob!

How are you doing?

Here's a close-up:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v282/pearlwax/IMG_3657.jpg

This is probably not that big a deal, but I was just wondering if the strings would still be good and tight in there, if they wouldn't shift or move or anything.

I'm doing great! I was in New York the other night with Dreamin and Handsbound and Kinga, and I was thinking of ya!

That wear looks par for the course, and I wouldn't worry about it yet. You can even file or slightly sand down the slot to make it smooth, but, on the other hand,,,



No worries!
You have some time to play lullabies for your new one.