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When I was wrapping up my LMI Dred Kit a few months back, I made a mistake and drilled through the bridge pin holes with out a backing bard. This caused tear out on the EIR Bridge plate. I tried to fix by capping with another piece of bridge plate material and made the bridge plate too thick. This causes issues with the bridge pins seating correctly. I need to remove the bridge plate, but am a bit worried about doing so. I am concerned that I may cause more damage by trying to remove the existing plate. I have tried to work a small plane but came to the conclusion that it would take for ever to plane this off or down to a manageable thickness.

Any advice? Can anyone recommend a good repair person in the Cary / Raleigh, North Carolina area.

Thanks, Greg

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Greg Hatcher
North Carolina

Is the finish applied already? If not that should be easy.
What kind of glue?

Look at this: http://frets.com/FRETSPages/Luthier/Technique/Guitar/Structural/NewBridgePlate/newbrplt1.html

Alain: Thanks. I might can give that a try.

The guitar is finished. The bridge plate was done with either titebond or LMI white - can't recall. I have an access port at the end block that might help with this.

Greg

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Greg Hatcher
North Carolina

The biggest challenge is to not damage the finish with heat. The rest is pretty easy. Titebond or LMI should release with heat.
I made a curved chisel for that purpose with an old file.

Hi Greg maybe some others can comment on this but I have seen a small thin strip of hardwood maybe 1/2" thick across the area and glue.

richard

Stew Mac has a bridge plate repair kit that may be worth looking into.
James

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James W Bolan
Nashville Tennessee

Darren Riley may be able to help. He is located in Raleigh off of capital.

Here is his site: www.darrenriley.com

too much heat can also open up the top plate seam . dont ask me how I know this Jody

http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Tools/Speci ... Saver.html

Buy this tool. It's called the bridge saver. It works awesome.
I like to make the plugs out of ebony, that way you have the benefit of the lightweight spruce or maple bridge patch, and the hardness and durability of ebony.
I'm thinking about making this a standard thing on my new acoustic builds.

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Old growth, shmold growth!

I like the bridge plate saver tool that theguitarwhisperer suggested although I have never used it. It looks like a great idea and seems less risky to me than removing the plate on a finished guitar when one has never done it prior.

May have to get me one of these - great suggestion guitarwhisperer!

I own the Stew Mac bridge plate repair kit and it works very well.