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Maybe I'll get some joy here.
Someone brought one in, bridge 3/4 detached and a bit cupped
Looks like the bridge was glued to the finish, which is still sound (so far as I can see under the bridge - 1980's, polyester?)
Guesses as to the glue they used?

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The name catgut is confusing. There are two explanations for the mix up.

Catgut is an abbreviation of the word cattle gut. Gut strings are made from sheep or goat intestines, in the past even from horse, mule or donkey intestines.

Otherwise it could be from the word kitgut or kitstring. Kit meant fiddle, not kitten.

My guess would be some sort of pva glue. Can you see if it melted the finish underneath or I is it mostly intact?

CA is often the glue used to glue directly to polyester. That's what Rick Turner used/uses.

Whatever glue is on there now should be completely removed as should the finish. Once you have have good wood to wood then a wood working glue (HHG, Titebond) should work fine

I understand the sentiment, but this is probably a "pro bono" job (I used to own one) and would like to keep this in it's pristine original condition.
Besides, the top is best quality ply, and the finish may be helping holding it together.

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The name catgut is confusing. There are two explanations for the mix up.

Catgut is an abbreviation of the word cattle gut. Gut strings are made from sheep or goat intestines, in the past even from horse, mule or donkey intestines.

Otherwise it could be from the word kitgut or kitstring. Kit meant fiddle, not kitten.

I am a hobby repair person and probably the second most common repair I do is reglued bridges. I have a whole gallery of pictures of bad factory glue jobs - here is a Fender acoustic and yes, that is finish



Paint stripper and a little chiseling



This is what Fender thought was the right amount of glue



This guitar isn't worth much, but if its worth fixing its worth fixing right.

Freeman, couldn't agree more. Doesn't matter what type of guitar it is or how much it's worth, there is only one way to do a repair and that is the right way.

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Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"

No choice now I've got the bridge off.
Found the bridge was put on with a gob of clue in the front to middle of the bridge, and it lifted the finish off with it. What I was seeing was the finish behind the said gob at the rear.
About 1/4-3/8" clear of glue all the way from the wings around the back.
Fortunately, the varnish has only pulled up some tiny fibres of the top wood with it, and those are in the middle of the bridge area.

_________________
The name catgut is confusing. There are two explanations for the mix up.

Catgut is an abbreviation of the word cattle gut. Gut strings are made from sheep or goat intestines, in the past even from horse, mule or donkey intestines.

Otherwise it could be from the word kitgut or kitstring. Kit meant fiddle, not kitten.

Looks like it came up pretty clean - nice! Can't believe that bridge held on when it was glued so poorly.

_________________
Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"

Lucky

_________________
The name catgut is confusing. There are two explanations for the mix up.

Catgut is an abbreviation of the word cattle gut. Gut strings are made from sheep or goat intestines, in the past even from horse, mule or donkey intestines.

Otherwise it could be from the word kitgut or kitstring. Kit meant fiddle, not kitten.