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Anyone remember this one? I was going through an old book shelf and came across this one. I think I got this at LMI in around 1990. I love the bit about removing the bridge and I will vouch for it, it works

Not seeing the image

Stupid Google photo's..... Now maybe perhaps?

Perfect!

Without heat?

Yup, just crack that sucker right off.

Cool!

I'm assuming this works well only if it's hide glue, does it?

I don't think I'd have the guts to try it...

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Alain Moisan
Former full time builder of Acoustics, Classicals and Flamencos.
(Now building just for fun!)

it works with all glues I use the heating blanket on post 2008 Martins

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John Hall
blues creek guitars
Authorized CF Martin Repair
Co President of ASIA
You Don't know what you don't know until you know it

Not seeing any pics...

Strange, I tried cutting and pasting the URL's again.

Saw part of the relevant page.

Done this a lot of times. The first time I saw JL do this I was pretty surprised. Chisel was not super sharp, just pointy.

Don't try this on guitars with runout, but otherwise, it works a treat! Sometimes.

I try to use heat these days instead...

Yup I will use heat today too but on a few exceptions when the bridge is really lifted up I'll just get the one inch chisel out. It's an interesting book. That was about the time I started doing repairs and with no training or apprenticeship I just bought old junkers at tag sales and what not to work on. After a while people thought that I knew what I was doing so they started paying me to do it. I can remember the first few 'real' bridge resets I did using that method was a bit nerve racking. After that confidence builds up. But books like this one were the only thing around. I just Googled Wagner's name and came up with this neat little bit about him, talk about back in the day.

https://www.namm.org/library/oral-history/lester-wagner

David Collins did a video of removing a bridge in one blow with a hammer. It was a joke, but not readily apparent. He just hit the side of the bridge and it went flying across the room, and the removal was perfect, if I recall.

Ed

I did that once on a guitar that was going to be retopped. It dented the bridge a bit but otherwise worked just fine.

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Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"

I love that David Collins video. My guess is he was just as surprised as everyone else that he didn't destroy the top

After taking the setup class from Dave Collins I'm a bit in awe of his luthier skill set. I was pretty surprised when it worked for me too, I was pretty much expecting a crunched top or some ridiculous tear out.

_________________
Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"