ACOUSTIC GUITAR BRIDGE REPLACEMENT

At some point, your guitar bridge may suffer a stress crack, usually across the area where the pins are located. This will affect sound quality and makes re- stringing difficult, so a replacement is in order.

This is a method that worked well for me. I do not have the proper luthier tools so I improvised and it turned out well. If your guitar is mass- produced like mine, have no fear in replacing the bridge yourself. It is well within the ability of the average DIY’er as long as you have patience and take your time.

NOTE: If you have a guitar that was hand made by a Luthier, I would suggest taking it to them but if that’s the case, you probably won’t need this repair.

You will need a replacement bridge. I ordered mine from Amazon. It came with a mahogany bridge sized perfectly for my guitar, a replacement saddle, nut, and 6 pins. It was $13 CDN and was delivered next day. (They have many styles available) Measure the width and length of the old bridge and order something suitable. You will also need a set of new strings suitable for your guitar.

Simple tools and other materials required are:

hair dryer

needle nose pliers

X-Acto knife

thin-bladed putty knife

small round file

13/64” drill bit and drill

masking tape

sandpaper

epoxy wood filler (optional)

glue- I used 5 minute epoxy (Carpenter’s glue and Contact cement are also options)

2 bolts and nuts- must fit through pin holes

Q-tips

2 left over pins that you removed

First remove the strings. Release the tension on the tuning pegs until the strings are very slack. Pull out the pins one at a time. (You may have to use the needle- nose pliers, but you are replacing the pegs, so don’t worry about damaging them) Then unwind each string from its tuner. Wear safety glasses for this.

1-Carefully tape around the bridge so that you don’t damage the soundboard finish.

2-Use the X-Acto to score between the bridge and the soundboard. This is important as in some lower- end guitars the bridge is glued to the finished top and removing the bridge may peel off the finish unless you score it.

3-Heat the bridge with the hair dryer. This may help soften the glue and make it more pliable.

4-Carefully use the putty knife to work the bridge loose. Don’t be surprised if it comes off in pieces. Take your time. You may have to re- heat several times.

5-Scrape off any remaining wood shards and sand the area thoroughly exposing the unfinished surface.

6- Remove the tape.

7- This is a good time to clean the entire guitar.

The bridge came with holes partially drilled. Use a 13/64” drill bit and drill them out completely. I used a drill press but if careful, a hand held power drill will suffice. Test fit the bridge to the guitar.

 I had two problems- The pin locations didn’t match up and the bridge didn’t fit flat to the guitar. In this case, it is a good idea to fill the old holes with epoxy wood filler then sand after it sets. If you don’t do this, the bridge may lift as you tighten the strings. The pins need to grip the sound- board wood.

Holding the bridge in place and using it as a guide, I drilled out the new pin locations with the same drill bit. I also re- sanded the guitar base and sanded the high spot on the bottom of the bridge till it fit flat.

Test fit the bridge using the two end pins to hold it in place. Use the round file to adjust the holes in the guitar top till it is perfectly lined up. Remove the bridge and temporarily install the two bolts from the bottom. Access it through the sound hole. Use the second and fifth pin holes. Apply glue to the bottom of the bridge. (You can use carpenter’s wood glue, contact cement, or epoxy depending on your preference and the material your guitar is made of.) Avoid the pin areas and don’t go too close to the edges. Push the bridge over the bolts, re-install the two end pins and turn the nuts down over the bolts till they apply pressure. Use the Q-Tip to remove any squeeze-out. Let it dry for 24 hours, especially if you used wood glue.

Remove the bolts and old pins. Install the saddle (High side with the two notches goes to the high E string side) It just slots into the groove. Re-string the guitar. If you are unsure how to do this, YOUTUBE has many excellent videos, but if you are replacing a bridge, I’m sure you have re- strung your guitar a few times.