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Someone gave my brother this old beat up “Kay” guitar with no bridge , dried out top with hump where bridge was, demolished bridge plate, and separated finger board. I’m only worried that area where bridge was located is too far gone to be repaired. Not worried about time or anything. Any ideas??


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The bridge area doesn't look too bad. Many of the cracks will be hidden by a new pickguard, so with proper gluing and cleating they should be structurally O.K. A new fretboard might be a nice upgrade to go with the new bridge and bridge plate. Knowing where to stop can be a problem with these old beaters.

I'm of the opinion that *anything can be saved. It's all a matter of cost.

Maybe it doesn’t show so well but the top at the bridge is very very dried out and the wood is lifted into a ridge where it should be flat. I’m figuring that if I can replace the bridge plate, by making it a bit oversized that it would allow flattening of the top and a new bridge installed. Thanks


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How does the neck angle look? The bridge repair doesn't look too difficult, but if a neck reset will be required it would be worthwhile to know that before starting other repairs.

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A man hears what he wants to hear, and disreguards the rest. Paul Simon

It does need a reset. The finger board is partly lifted. Planning on heating the frets to loosen board and then see how neck attaches. I’m not a repair person but have followed many here on forum. Not sure if I can get bridge plate off without destroying the top. Thanks


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. The wood at bridge position is lifted pretty good.


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At what point does it makes sense to replace the top? It is not as if this were a Torres and every splinter would be worth saving.

"At what point does it makes sense to replace the top? It is not as if this were a Torres and every splinter would be worth saving. "

But you would lose all that Mojo. At what point does it make sense to replace the guitar
If you take things too far it becomes a can of worms.

I think you’re right. There are so many issues that just replacing the top would make perfect sense. Thanks .
Ed


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A Kay that looks like the twin to that guitar is being shipped to me next week. The one that is coming, appears to be in much better shape in the bridge area, and does not have the holes at the pick guard. I'll update when it arrives.

I assume that yours is ladder braced.

Yes it is ladder braced. Really narrow frets. FB is bound with plastic like material. Thanks


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Ohh, I thought it was going to be real bad... that’s not that bad!


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Used this approach once , worked well . Cut smaller than bridge , repaired braces and bridge plate . Grafted a spruce top piece back in place . Put a oversize bridge on and Customer loved it .

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The Shallower the depth of the stream , The Louder the Babble !
The Taking Of Offense Is the Life Course Of The Stupid One !
Wanna Leave a Better Planet for our Kids? How about Working on BETTER KIDS for our Planet !
Forgiveness is the ability to accept an apology that you will probably NEVER GET
The truth will set you free , But FIRST, it will probably Piss you Off !
Creativity is allowing yourself to make Mistakes, Art is knowing which ones to Keep !
The Saddest thing anyone can do , is push a Loyal Person to the point that they Dont Care Anymore
Never met a STRONG person who had an EASY past !
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I really don't think the bridge area needs any wood removed. Gluing what's there back in place and with a new bridge plate and bridge it should be fine.

Thanks James and Clay. Clay, how would you recommend getting the darn bridge plate off?
Ed


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Probably right . The one i did had a spit brace and i was able to repair it and flatten the belly at same time

_________________
The Shallower the depth of the stream , The Louder the Babble !
The Taking Of Offense Is the Life Course Of The Stupid One !
Wanna Leave a Better Planet for our Kids? How about Working on BETTER KIDS for our Planet !
Forgiveness is the ability to accept an apology that you will probably NEVER GET
The truth will set you free , But FIRST, it will probably Piss you Off !
Creativity is allowing yourself to make Mistakes, Art is knowing which ones to Keep !
The Saddest thing anyone can do , is push a Loyal Person to the point that they Dont Care Anymore
Never met a STRONG person who had an EASY past !
http://wiksnwudwerks.blogspot.com/
http://www.facebook.com/groups/GatewayA ... rAssembly/

With my approach i was able to steam it and heat it from the access and get a blade under what was left of it. Came off pretty easily actually . Is this best approach ? Not Necess. Just what I chose to do .

_________________
The Shallower the depth of the stream , The Louder the Babble !
The Taking Of Offense Is the Life Course Of The Stupid One !
Wanna Leave a Better Planet for our Kids? How about Working on BETTER KIDS for our Planet !
Forgiveness is the ability to accept an apology that you will probably NEVER GET
The truth will set you free , But FIRST, it will probably Piss you Off !
Creativity is allowing yourself to make Mistakes, Art is knowing which ones to Keep !
The Saddest thing anyone can do , is push a Loyal Person to the point that they Dont Care Anymore
Never met a STRONG person who had an EASY past !
http://wiksnwudwerks.blogspot.com/
http://www.facebook.com/groups/GatewayA ... rAssembly/

Honestly , it depends on what your endgame is . If its going to be a wall hanger/ occasional strummer , cut a new plate laminate it over the existing plate inside. clue everything back in place reset the bridge and call it a day .

_________________
The Shallower the depth of the stream , The Louder the Babble !
The Taking Of Offense Is the Life Course Of The Stupid One !
Wanna Leave a Better Planet for our Kids? How about Working on BETTER KIDS for our Planet !
Forgiveness is the ability to accept an apology that you will probably NEVER GET
The truth will set you free , But FIRST, it will probably Piss you Off !
Creativity is allowing yourself to make Mistakes, Art is knowing which ones to Keep !
The Saddest thing anyone can do , is push a Loyal Person to the point that they Dont Care Anymore
Never met a STRONG person who had an EASY past !
http://wiksnwudwerks.blogspot.com/
http://www.facebook.com/groups/GatewayA ... rAssembly/

Ed,
Time to spend some $$ with Stew Mac https://www.stewmac.com/Luthier_Tools/Tools_by_Job/Tools_for_Bridges/StewMac_Bridge_Plate_Chisel.html That or copy the design and make your own.

If I had those tools I'd lend them to you, we're practically neighbors.

Steve

Yes that would help a lot . I’ve been applying hot water and working with a spatula on the glue edge and then a plane blade from a block plane but only got the front edge to chip out. Wood is soft but glue is not.


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Some of those old ladder braced guitars had spruce bridge plates that ran all the way across the lower bout. Capping the center section with a thin hardwood plate as Big Jim suggests probably wouldn't hurt the sound much at all.