Renewing an acoustic

[Enigmur]

So I have this old gutiar my Mum gave me to learn on, the bridge tore off because I think I was just learning to tune...

Anywho, its a nice little classical guitar, It had a nice sound on it too, and it is a really nice almost white wood.

I'm in the process of sanding it down, I actually resized and reshaped the neck today so it is much thinner and comfortable.


My question is, has anyone here built their own bridge? I am going to have to build a bridge for it because the other one is long gone, ill also have to make a new nut which will be easy.

Now this guitar I am wanting to make a random project... It is going to be fretless. I have a random idea of mounting tuning pegs. And I am wondering about trying to make a string thru acoustic. It would involve adding a support inside, but I think it would be do-able.

Is this going to turn into useless junk or something interesting?

[r u experienced]

Cant you buy a pre made bridge? Just a thought.

[Enigmur]

Yeah but I think it might have to be custom, since I have made the neck thinner - as in less wide horizontally, I dont think the strings would fit on the board properly.

I am actually wanting to try make it a string-thru just as an idea. Which would be really random.

[wackakapow]

is the bridge saddle torn out as well, or just the actual plastic bridge? Because classical bridges come as blanks that require resizing and reshaping as it is, so you could just pick up a bridge and get filing.

[mishmannah]

Where's Martin, our resident luthier expert??


He's made a fretless bass AND designed a bridge from scratch...

Mind you, you can buy a bridge blank for a classical from Stewmac (http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Bridges,_tailpieces/Classical_guitar_bridges/Classical_Guitar_Bridges.html)

[Enigmur]

is the bridge saddle torn out as well, or just the actual plastic bridge? Because classical bridges come as blanks that require resizing and reshaping as it is, so you could just pick up a bridge and get filing.

Actually it had a wooden bridge, this thing is oldschool.

I plan on making another wooden bridge, the last one was glued/screwed, when it popped off it broke the actual bridge which is a bummer - otherwise I'd use that.

I'll take some pics tomorrow maybe, it is definately going to be unique haha, not sure how useful though.

[martinedwards]

The problem with a string through is getting it stuck firmly enough onto the top of the guitar, thoigh a classical won't have as much "pull" with the nylon strings.

get a lump of close grained mahogany, maple or rosewood. cut the saddle slot and sand a bone saddle to compensate. if you leave it too high you can sand it down later. Drill string holes diagonally down through the bridge behind the sadle to exit just above the top of the guitar.

I stick mine down with Epoxy resin. but you need to be sure it's in the right place!!!!