Replacing a Soprano Bridge

Timbuck · Oct 9, 2011

I wasnt happy with a bridge I recently fitted..it was 1mm off the centre line of the fretboard.. not a lot! but the more I looked at it the worse it seemed to be..so in the end I decided to replace it.
And while I was at it I decided to take a few pictures of the method i used. just in case some new starters need to do the same one day.
First I masked off the area with some card material (cornflake box will do quite well) and then I sliced off the old bridge with a Stanley Fatmax Dowell saw.

Bridge sawn off leaving about 1mm of material still to remove

Then with the aid of a biggish soldering iron I found at a "Car Boot sale" a few years ago I heated up one end of the remainder of the bridge material.
Now i'm carefully lifting up the heated end of the sliver with a 1/2"chisel I then proceed like this till it's all come away from the body.

Ready for new Bridge.

Doc_J · Oct 9, 2011

Ken, did you use HHG on that bridge?

Timbuck · Oct 9, 2011

Doc_J said:
Ken, did you use HHG on that bridge?

No it's Titebond.

Timbuck · Oct 9, 2011

Part 2

Now i've removed all the old bridge..removed the card masking and cleaned off all the old glue.

Now i masked up the position of the new bridge making sure it's in the right place (this time)
(I made the new bridge slightly longer to cover up the footprint of the old position)

Now the New bridge is glued in place and clamped with my Acme special bridge clamp.

And here we are job done all back in line.. No damage to the French Polish ...and I'll be able to sleep tonight.

Pukulele Pete · Oct 9, 2011

New one looks a little crooked to me. Just kidding. Beautiful Ukulele.

Dominator · Oct 9, 2011

Great info Ken.

BTW, I wanted to send you a Private Message but your box is full. Can you clear some room or is there an email I can use to contact you off-board?

Timbuck · Oct 9, 2011

Dominator said:
Great info Ken.

BTW, I wanted to send you a Private Message but your box is full.

I wondered why no one was talking to me?

..it is now done.

ksquine · Oct 9, 2011

As always....you make mahogany look so good!!

Timbuck · Oct 9, 2011

ksquine said:
As always....you make mahogany look so good!!

I have to confess

it's not me that puts on the finish ........ thats done by Mrs Timbuck

:bowdown:

Pete Howlett · Oct 9, 2011

Ken
If you are not going to use locating pins Frank Ford's suggestion of creating a 'field' with several pieces of tape is another good idea. BTW I've seen one of your ukes recently going the same way as one of mine - being played so much they are now down to bare wood! Mine had the entire finish played off it and what was once a blonde koa uke was almost black with sweat and grime - I didn't want to touch it - yuk!!!

Liam Ryan · Oct 10, 2011

That's some very clean and tidy work there Ken. No mucking around either, it looks like you got the job knocked over pretty quick too. nice.

Moore Bettah Ukuleles · Oct 10, 2011

Relocating a bridge because it's 1 mm off center? Really! I'm hoping there's more to the story you aren't telling.

Timbuck · Oct 10, 2011

Moore Bettah Ukuleles said:
Relocating a bridge because it's 1 mm off center? Really! I'm hoping there's more to the story you aren't telling.

If you look closely at the the sawn off bridge piece..you can see that the string slots are off centre..that was the problem.. it only needed to be moved across a bit and all would be well..I had to do

it co's I was so annoyed with myself for not spotting it before i glued it..and I know that some nit picker would have spotted it also (at a later date) and started a UU thread about it.

Timbuck · Oct 10, 2011

Thats it!!..I'm taking a few days off..I'm getting paranoid or something

ld:...I just fitted a neck to my next Uke..and looking at the joint I noticed a 10 thou gap

in the dovetail..I know its in a place that wont effect the strength of the joint and nobody will ever see it...but it's upsetting me

Sven · Oct 10, 2011

It's upsetting the hell out of me too. Burn it!

Timbuck · Oct 10, 2011

Sven said:
It's upsetting the hell out of me too. Burn it!

Sven!... Does your Boss know you're on this Forum?.. when you should be working...I bet you fiddle your expenses as well.:nana:

drfrancov · Oct 10, 2011

Or better yet, send it to me...I will burn it for you

...It looks great my friend!...BTW, what finish does your wife apply to your ukuleles? I assume some oil/varnish mix? Your own formula or store bought? Any chance she could post the procedure or technique she follows.

Thanks in advance!

dhoenisch · Oct 10, 2011

Ken, if I could afford it, I would absolutely buy one of your ukes. You are such a perfectionist that your builds seem worth way more than every penny these ukes cost. I've always wanted a Martin soprano, but now I think my goal is to save up and purchase one of yours instead.

Dan

Timbuck · Oct 10, 2011

drfrancov said:
Or better yet, send it to me...I will burn it for you...It looks great my friend!...BTW, what finish does your wife apply to your ukuleles? I assume some oil/varnish mix? Your own formula or store bought? Any chance she could post the procedure or technique she follows.

Thanks in advance!

It's store bought Colron Peruvian mahogany wood dye...with loads of repetative coats of Button shellac applied..and a lot of fine sanding and polishing Etc: no Secrets.

new wave ukulele · Oct 10, 2011

I gave it a try... I think I did something wrong...

Replacing a Soprano Bridge

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