Acoustic Bridge problem

[TRex]

Hey guys,
Well I don't know what to say, but my old first guitar is...falling apart it seems. This is the guitar I first learned on, given to me by my uncle when I was too small to remember. It's a 1995? Lotus L-85. It

The bridge is coming off of the top slowly but surely. Most likely due to old cheap glue not keeping hold.

How much should this cost me to fix at a shop? Is it a hard fix?

Sorry I have nearly no experience working on acoustics besides truss rod adjustments, string changes, and cleaning.

 

[DrNewcenstein]

Re: Acoustic Bridge problem

Whilst it's pulled up like that, squirt some wood glue under it, then let the strings down. Lay some book-like objects on it to press it down, then come back in a couple of days.

 

[TRex]

Re: Acoustic Bridge problem

Whilst it's pulled up like that, squirt some wood glue under it, then let the strings down. Lay some book-like objects on it to press it down, then come back in a couple of days.

Is it really that easy?

Sent from my SM-G900T using Tapatalk

 

[Boogie Bill]

Re: Acoustic Bridge problem

No it isn't. Doing it that way will probably not be sufficient, long term.

At the very least, you will need three long-arm c-clamps to clamp the bridge down, applying pressure from both top AND bottom, using spacer blocks.

You can run into problems with some of these inexpensive guitars. They sometimes use weird glues that make repairs difficult.

You probably should have the bridge removed, and all of the old glue removed, rather than just squirting glue in the crack.

Remove the strings immediately and keep tension off until you get it repaired, or you can have bigger problems down the road.

It's typically not a real expensive repair, but if the guitar is worth it...it's worth doing right. Otherwise, keep it as a wall hanging, or donate it to the R&R HOF when you get famous.

Good luck.

Bill

 

[Ashurbanipal]

Re: Acoustic Bridge problem

You'll need a clamp like this. There's tonnes of tutorials out there for fixing unglued bridges.

 

[kramersteen]

Re: Acoustic Bridge problem

Whilst it's pulled up like that, squirt some wood glue under it, then let the strings down. Lay some book-like objects on it to press it down, then come back in a couple of days.

der-shep

 

[treyhaislip]

Re: Acoustic Bridge problem

Whilst it's pulled up like that, squirt some wood glue under it, then let the strings down. Lay some book-like objects on it to press it down, then come back in a couple of days.

This would definitely be a super quick fix but I don't recommend it–will produce mixed results depending on how high or low you like your action set.

No it isn't. Doing it that way will probably not be sufficient, long term.

At the very least, you will need three long-arm c-clamps to clamp the bridge down, applying pressure from both top AND bottom, using spacer blocks.

You can run into problems with some of these inexpensive guitars. They sometimes use weird glues that make repairs difficult.

You probably should have the bridge removed, and all of the old glue removed, rather than just squirting glue in the crack.

Remove the strings immediately and keep tension off until you get it repaired, or you can have bigger problems down the road.

It's typically not a real expensive repair, but if the guitar is worth it...it's worth doing right. Otherwise, keep it as a wall hanging, or donate it to the R&R HOF when you get famous.

Good luck.

Bill

Absolutely this!

You'll need a clamp like this. There's tonnes of tutorials out there for fixing unglued bridges.

Great info here!

 

[ehdwuld]

Re: Acoustic Bridge problem

Can't imagine a good shop charging more than $50 to do this

*(Sent from my durned phone!)*

 

[TRex]

Re: Acoustic Bridge problem

No it isn't. Doing it that way will probably not be sufficient, long term.

At the very least, you will need three long-arm c-clamps to clamp the bridge down, applying pressure from both top AND bottom, using spacer blocks.

You can run into problems with some of these inexpensive guitars. They sometimes use weird glues that make repairs difficult.

You probably should have the bridge removed, and all of the old glue removed, rather than just squirting glue in the crack.

Remove the strings immediately and keep tension off until you get it repaired, or you can have bigger problems down the road.

It's typically not a real expensive repair, but if the guitar is worth it...it's worth doing right. Otherwise, keep it as a wall hanging, or donate it to the R&R HOF when you get famous.

Good luck.

Bill

Knew that sounded too easy [emoji14] Thanks

The strings are on, but with NO tension.

You'll need a clamp like this. There's tonnes of tutorials out there for fixing unglued bridges.

I found a few after looking when I wasn't super sleeply. Looks like the removal of the bridge and glue is the hardest part.

This would definitely be a super quick fix but I don't recommend it–will produce mixed results depending on how high or low you like your action set.

Absolutely this!

Great info here!

I like a middle action, but now it's a super high action due to the bridge tilting

Can't imagine a good shop charging more than $50 to do this

*(Sent from my durned phone!)*

If it's around there I'll just let them do it. I'm not planning on doing this again anytime, so the experience and equipment might not be worth it.

I'm going to see if I can call up my friends down at the shop and see an idea of what to buy.

 

[Bludave]

Re: Acoustic Bridge problem

Is it really that easy?

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No it's not....... Get it professionally repaired. If this guitar has sentimental value it will be worth it. I would say a good repair tech would charge 100, to 150 to reglue it back on. If you don't do it properly glue will start to drip into the pin holes and it will be a huge PIA to clean it all out. To repair this properly you need to steam off the bridge, sand both surfaces smooth, then apply the glue to both sides, reattach the bridge ,then clamp it & wipe off all the excess glue. What I will usually do is apply small pieces of scotch tap over the hole cut to just fit, then clamp it and leave it sit for a day or two.

But even though this is a cheap guitar, brides lift over time just from string tension. It could have been caused because of low Humidity causing the top to sink. The bridge under those circumstances is the weak point so it gives and starts to lift. It could have been worse the top could have cracked. Considere yourself lucky, but take it to a good tech and see what it will cost.

 

[TRex]

Re: Acoustic Bridge problem

No it's not....... Get it professionally repaired. If this guitar has sentimental value it will be worth it. I would say a good repair tech would charge 100, to 150 to reglue it back on. If you don't do it properly glue will start to drip into the pin holes and it will be a huge PIA to clean it all out. To repair this properly you need to steam off the bridge, sand both surfaces smooth, then apply the glue to both sides, reattach the bridge ,then clamp it & wipe off all the excess glue. What I will usually do is apply small pieces of scotch tap over the hole cut to just fit, then clamp it and leave it sit for a day or two.

But even though this is a cheap guitar, brides lift over time just from string tension. It could have been caused because of low Humidity causing the top to sink. The bridge under those circumstances is the weak point so it gives and starts to lift. It could have been worse the top could have cracked. Considere yourself lucky, but take it to a good tech and see what it will cost.

$100-150? That sounds really steep honestly..

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[ehdwuld]

Re: Acoustic Bridge problem

$100-150? That sounds really steep honestly..

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you won't know until you take it in
and that's probably the best thing to do

don't get you sticker shock from internet conjecture

 

[TRex]

Re: Acoustic Bridge problem

you won't know until you take it in
and that's probably the best thing to do

don't get you sticker shock from internet conjecture

I'm going to take it Monday after practice if nothing else gets in my way. Hopefully it's too expensive, or I might be out a acoustic for a while :/

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[ehdwuld]

Re: Acoustic Bridge problem

on the bright side
if its REEAALLY expensive
you have reason for getting a New One

and the inexpensive ones are much better than they used to be

 

[TRex]

Re: Acoustic Bridge problem

on the bright side
if its REEAALLY expensive
you have reason for getting a New One

and the inexpensive ones are much better than they used to be

I guess that's a good thing. Always kinda wished I have a singlecut model.

I does sound a bit nicer to me than my friends MIC fender, so idk.

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[ehdwuld]

Re: Acoustic Bridge problem

the raised action may have something to do with the better projection

almost everything sounds better than a Fender acoustic