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KBK bridge caul to the rescue


Freeman Keller

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In an attempt to post some on topic threads that might have some interest to the group, here is a repair that I did this weekend.    My local music store called to show me a little Fender A/E with the bridge almost completely separated from the top - could I fix it?    A quick look inside told me this was exactly what the KBK bridge caul was created for.

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The KBK bridge clamping caul was a collaboration between three forumits several years ago (sorry, sort of a zombie like thread)

http://www.harmonycentral.com/t5/Acoustic-Guitars/KBK-Bridge-caul/td-p/30148186

I made four and sent them around the world, Brother Bob Starr took the plans and made a few more.    Anyway, it was designed for just this sort of problem.   Protecting the top with some tape, I could insert my pallet knife completel under the wings as well as all the way under the belly part of the bridge up to the pin holes.

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I warmed the pallet knife and worked it under the part that was still glued - it didn't take much for the bridge to pop completely off.

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Pretty obvious why it came off - there is barely any glue on the bridge

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But even worse,most of the area under the bridge had not had the finish removed and glue does not adhere well to finish.   A small amount had been removed between the pin holes and top of the bridge - that is where it was sticking to the top

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Iscored around the bridge with a hobby knife, then removed all the finish within the bounds of the masking tape with paint stripper and a chisel

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and sanded the old glue off the bridge

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The KBK caul ready for action.   It serves three purposes - it aligns the bridge on the top using the old pin holes as a reference, it provides some clamping action with the wing nuts, and it also acts as a caul inside the guitar for clamps to work against (and to avoid crushing braces)

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Three deep clamps provide most of the pressure.   Once they are in place I can pull the tape and clean up the glue squeeze out

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The next day I can clean out the pin holes, reinstall the UST (and test it) and do a general setup of this little guitar.    Back to the shop and to its owner - better than new.

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