Acoustic Guitar Bridge Replacements - Making Vintage Replica Bridges

Warranty Repair Center for:
C.F. Martin, Taylor, Fender

Before & After Pictures of
Bridge Replacements on Acoustic Guitars

Bridge replacement and regluing is a very common repair. For vintage and out of production instruments, most bridges will be made from scratch to duplicate the original shape and material.

Bridges for vintage instruments are usually made by hand for several reasons:

	Factories usually only offer current production bridges for replacements.
	Older instruments with rosewood bridges are usually Brazilian Rosewood, which is not commonly used by major manufacturers today and must be made by hand if we wish to replicate the original.
	Saddle placement is critical for good intonation and making a bridge from scratch enables me to place the saddle correctly.

1942 Martin D-18 - (Hand Made, Brazilian Rosewood Replica Bridge)

Brazilian Rosewood / Long Saddle Bridge

You can see where the original bridge split allowing the saddle to simply fall forward. Long saddle style bridges with high saddles are at a small risk of splitting due to the physics. Also, splits and cracks can develop due to grain lines or dryness.
Someone had also applied finish to it as is apparent by the blistering caused by the heat necessary for removal. Very few bridges are painted but those that are will require extra work once heated. (Many classical bridges are finished, as are some inexpensive models which have been painted black to look like Ebony.)

Parlor Guitar with Handmade Ebony Pyramid bridge replacement

The previous replacement on this one was just sad.
The Pyramid bridge was so named because of the pyramid peaks on either side of the wings.

Converting Gibson Adjustable Saddle Bridges to Non-adjustable solid saddle bridges

These adjustable saddle bridges can be found on Gibson guitars, Epiphone guitars and a few others. The original bridge is removed, the large nuts which pass thru the top and bridge plate are removed and plugged as are any other bridge mounting holes. A new bridge is made and routed for a conventional drop in saddle eliminating the hardware, gap and metal.

A Gibson SJ bridge replacement / conversion

Conversion

Gibson J200 Moustache bridge fitting and reglue

This was merely a bridge reglue but I included it as this particular bridge takes lots of T.L.C. to remove and reglue without damaging the finish. The bridge base did not match that of the top radius which caused this one to pop loose. Bridge fitting and contouring is necessary on any flattop acoustic with a considerable top radius. After contouring the bridge to match the curvature/radius of the top it was reglued.

Guild Handmade replacement bridge

Cracks thru the bridge pin holes or out to either side of the saddle are common as those nice little holes make for a great perforation line. This one received a handmade Brazilian rosewood replacement bridge.

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