Official Luthiers Forum!

My boss asked to me take a look at a guitar that he has had as a kid and has a problem with the bridge. It is a 1964 Gibson (L01?) Anyways, it looks like the bridge is starting to lift. That part that is odd is that it looks like bridge is plastic and over time it start to shrink and warp. Has anyone seen this? What repair can be made that will not harm the vintage value of the instrument? The picture doesn't show the problem very well but I am sure you understand.
Thanks!
Brad Way38981.9333101852

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Brad
Avon, OH

I had one of those in the repair shop a couple years back .. I suggested making a new ebony bridge, but they wouldnt go for the cost. I doubt the value will change much if you make a new ebony or rw bridge, and actually make the guitar playable.

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Tony Karol
www.karol-guitars.com
"let my passion .. fulfill yours"

Hey Brad, you're gonna need a new 'G' string too.   Hey wait a minute! The one on the guitar!

On a more serious note, I am repairing the lifted bridge on my twelve string suzuki that is only about 25 years old. It is ebony though. But I have masked off the area around the bridge and am about to take a hot knife (heated repeatedly with a propane torch) and insert it in the crack, my crack is a lot larger, and work away until the bridge is off. Trying like all baseball bats not to pull too many fibres from the top with it, read...TAKE Yo' TIME! Once it is off I will just clean things and reglue it. For me that is hide glue but titebondish products will do you fine also. Careful with the knife that the heat is isolated from the top finish. Keeping a piece of cardboard under the area you are working should look after that for you.

Good Luck!

ShaneShane Neifer38981.8196527778

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Canada

Yeah, Gibson has used all sorts of funky bridges, including plastic. Most have been replaced, and even though I usually advise keeping guitars original, the plastic must go if you want a real guitar. I'd suggest making a new one with the same dimensions (make sure the saddle is in the right place, though--another Gibson quirk), and tell the owner to keep the plastic one for the future, in case it's sold to a collecter.

BTW, if there are any metal bolts in the bridge, leave 'em out on the new one!

if making a replacement bridge it is often better to make your replacement ever so slightly larger... it helps cover the old glue line and any marks around it giving a neater appearance. a few wraps of tape on the router bit bearing will often be enough extra offset to do the job.

Thanks for all the great advice! I am going to replace the bridge and like the idea of making it oversize...just a little bit. I also will probably put a new set of strings on it too!

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Brad
Avon, OH