Born again guitars

 

I can't stand to see a guitar that has been abused. I don't understand it. When I bought my first really good guitar back when I was 19, I treated it like a baby. I almost cried when I was changing the strings and pulling pins from the bridge with needle nosed pliers and they slipped and dinged the guitar.  I was heartbroken. 

I have acquired many guitars since then and several of them have been pretty badly beat up. I've had cracked necks and some pretty major scrapes and scuffs. But I have just finished with the first part of fixing one that had a super messed up bridge. A guitar bridge is the component on a guitar that anchors the strings to the body and transmits the vibrations of the strings to the guitar's body, enhancing its sound. It also helps control string height (action) and intonation. The bridge typically consists of a base (attached to the guitar body) and a saddle, where the strings rest before stretching to the tuning pegs.

The bridge on this guitar was the worst I'd ever seen. First, it was a classical guitar and some asshole put steel strings on it instead of nylon strings. Classical guitars aren't built for the stress of steel strings. So the bridge started pulling up from the guitar body. And someone, I assume it was the same asshole who put steel strings on it, tried to fix the bridge by putting multiple screws in it in an attempt to hold it on the guitar. It made it worse. 

I asked ChatGPT how to replace a classical guitar bridge and I'll be damned if it didn't give me step by step instructions. I removed the old bridge and did my best to fill the multiple screw holes. Then I bought a new bridge on Amazon as well as a bridge clamp and glue designed for wood instruments. I also picked up some new tuning keys while I was at it. 

Bridges and tuning keys are much more readily available and cheaper than I imagined. I prepped and sanded the spot where the old bridge had been. Then this afternoon I applied glue to the new bridge and clamped it to the guitar.  I also installed the new tuning keys. I just removed the clamps a little while ago and did some initial sanding. Tomorrow I'll finish sanding and buff up the new bridge. Then the moment of truth will come when I put on a new set of nylon Classical guitar strings. I'm hoping it will be a success.