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Hi all,

I have a Heritage 516 that has a metal bridge mounted to the arched top, I would like to replace it with a wooden bridge. Is there a was to remove the metal pieces that are inserted into the guitar's top that the bridge sits on?

Thanks

Can you post a pic? Are you sure that the bridge is actually attached to the top with those metal pieces? If so, maybe you can build the new bridge around the metal.

I have to wonder what your goals are here. Yes, the bushings can be pulled quite easily, but there would be no functional benefit of going to a floating bridge. You could certainly replace roller bridge (which was a terrible choice by Heritage) with a wood saddle resting on the existing posts. Or you could pull the posts and use wooden base, but that would mostly be just an aesthetic difference on that guitar compared to a wooden saddle on mounted posts.

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Eschew obfuscation, espouse elucidation.

Thanks for the info, I didn't know if just placing a wooden bridge on the metal studs would give me the sound I am looking for and will the intonation be correct, but it is worth a shot.

The bushings have a lip that sits slightly above the surface of the top so you can't use a wooden saddle. How do you remove the bushings? I pulled gently and they didn't budge, I don't know if they are screwed in, glued in or pressed in and I don't want to damage the top by doing something stuoid.

Again, thanks for your help and ideas.

I'm with David on this one. If I were you, I would leave the posts and inserts alone and mount a wooden bridge on them. The post inserts are most likely pressed in and can be removed without too much trouble, but unless you have done this type of repair/mod before, I suggest you find a good guitar repair shop in your area to pull the inserts, as it can be a bit tricky, and I would not want to be the one responsible for telling you how to do it and then, if you mess up, damaging the top.

Cal

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Remember, there are no stupid questions, only stupid answers!

Thanks, my goal is to get rid of that roller metal bridge and get more of a woody tone.

As you might have guessed by now, I am NOT a luthier and will not do work on my guitars that I am not comfortable doing. My first thought was the intonation would way off by just replacing the bridge, but that certainly is a no harm no foul experiment and if it doesn't work, then it goes to the shop.

Thanks for your help,

Bill

Bill-
Sometimes it makes sense to sell the guitar and buy another with the features you want. I think Heritage make some boxes with wooden bridges, though I don't know anything about the details (or price). Your guitar is expensive enough that you don't want to mess it up (or have a less-than-expert 'repair guy' mess it up), that's for sure.

Cheers
John

Thanks for the suggestion John,

BUT, I like many others have never found the right guitar for one reason or another. I have decided to attack my problem of finding the right one by creating it.

At this stage, I am more than willing to put money in an instrument and change the things I don't like about it. The basic stock guitar is good as is and has a very good acoustic sound, however plugged in it is a bit brittle sounding and changing the bridge, a new pickup and having someone reshape the neck is the direction I am headed.

It wouldn't surprise me that this is the reason many of you started building and working on guitars, because you couldn't find an off the wall model that suited you:) and the fact that you like working with your hands.

Thanks again,

Bill