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| bridge plate repair http://mowrystrings.luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10101&t=16385 |
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| Author: | phil [ Thu Mar 13, 2008 8:17 am ] |
| Post subject: | bridge plate repair |
so i've got an old yamaha steel string that needs bridge plate attention. a repair guy recommended it 11 years ago, and now i think it's about time. i know that i could melt the old one off and replace it, but i'm inclined to keep this simpler if possible. have any of you used the stewmac 'plate mate?' i'd make my own because they want a fortune for a tiny piece of metal. but i'm wondering how it would affect tone and the performance of the highlander that's under the saddle (amazing pickup, by the way). i'm also wondering about gluing a smaller piece of maple right over the eir that's there. have any of you tried either of these options? any opinions? thanks in advance, phil |
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| Author: | Laurent Brondel [ Thu Mar 13, 2008 8:49 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: bridge plate repair |
You haven't said what the problem is with the bridgeplate. Holes are worn out? Fastest way (on a Yamaha…) would be to glue a little ebony overlay and redrill/ream the bridge pin holes. |
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| Author: | Michael Dale Payne [ Thu Mar 13, 2008 8:49 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: bridge plate repair |
Take a look at Stewmac's Bridge saver I think this is a better way to go. http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Tools/Special_tools_for:_Bridges/BridgeSaver.html |
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| Author: | Dave Anderson [ Thu Mar 13, 2008 10:07 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: bridge plate repair |
I have used the Stew-Mac bridge saver tool also and I recommend it 100%. It's a very good tool for repairing the bridge plate imo. I have also glued a small patch of rw or maple and re-drilled. Any pics ?? |
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| Author: | David Collins [ Thu Mar 13, 2008 10:26 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: bridge plate repair |
Here's a discussion on bridge plate damage and bridge pins from the past. http://www.luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10102&t=15024 As Laurent said, it helps to know specifically what the damage is. If it's pin wear, then all the above suggestions are good. If you're talking about cracking, slippage, warped top, that's when you need to consider pulling and replacing the plate. |
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| Author: | Laurent Brondel [ Thu Mar 13, 2008 10:34 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: bridge plate repair |
MichaelP wrote: Take a look at Stewmac's Bridge saver I think this is a better way to go. Michael, not to argue a fine point… But $150 to fix a Yamaha that is probably worth half, if that… |
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| Author: | Colin S [ Thu Mar 13, 2008 10:43 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: bridge plate repair |
On all of my guitars I fit a small 1mm thick bone plate onto the bridge plate, similar to the Stew Mac brass one. Use the bridge to get string placing, drill and slot the bone for the ball ends. It can be held in place simply by the ball ends or if you decide you like the sound (generally tends to brighten the guitar) can be held in with a touch of glue. I first tried this on a 30s Martin that had a damaged bridge plate, and decided I liked it. It also makes sense to me as the strings run over a bone nut, bone saddle past bone pins, then against a bone plate. Colin |
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| Author: | phil [ Thu Mar 13, 2008 12:23 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: bridge plate repair |
sorry i didn't describe the problem in more detail. it's just worn from time. the holes are huge and connected from missing slivers of wood in between them. from what i can tell, though, there is no crack that runs through the whole thing. and there's no more bulge behind the bridge than you'd expect to see in a 20 year old guitar. the bone suggestion is exactly the sort of thing that i imagined might come up here - a possible solution that i had never heard of before. anyone out there who's tried the plate mate? remember, it's just a yamaha. phil |
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| Author: | David Collins [ Thu Mar 13, 2008 1:41 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: bridge plate repair |
The plate mate is a fine quick fix. On the other hand, it's very simple to glue a maple, rosewood, ebony, or bone plate cap on as well. |
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