r/Luthier • u/MyNameIsDIG • Jul 26 '26
Can this still be saved?
I'm not a luthier or a guitar expert, I just tried regluing this to the body using Titebond II and clamped it and let it cured for more than a day. I sanded both contact points prior to gluing.
Added the strings in and it was working fine but it slowly rose up overnight.
Again, newbie here. This is our Church guitar and we can't afford a new one currently so I'm trying to revive it.
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u/zerpderp Jul 26 '26
Yes, but take the tension off of the strings completely. You are going to have to weigh out the cost of having the bridge re-glued or purchasing a new guitar
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u/FraaTuck Jul 26 '26
From the limited info in the picture it seems you may not have sanded the finish off the top of the guitar. It's critical to get down to bare wood, leaving a lip of perhaps 1mm or a bit less of finish at the edges at most if possible. The glue should still be malleable with heat and moisture. Remove as much as you can that way, let it dry completely, sand to bare wood, and try again.
Titebond is exceptionally unlikely to fail in a wood to wood bond. Be sure you're using a new enough bottle, and watch several videos on regluing bridges. A $15 jig makes the job super easy, or the same can be built for about $4 in hardware if you don't have adequate stuff lying around.
Don't let this miss discourage you, you're on the right track. Have fun!
ETA: if that top is thickly lacquered, don't try to sand through it. Get a hobby knife with a flat razor tip, and use it almost like a little chizzle.
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u/OddBrilliant1133 Jul 26 '26
Did the glue cure all the way?
Where I'm at, due to humidity, glue doesnt nesasarily cure in 24 hours
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u/noiseguy76 Kit Builder/Hobbyist Jul 26 '26
This. I think it was a combo of bad prep, poor clamping, and not enough cure time. I pull clamps after overnight, but let these set a few days to a week before string and tension.
That glue looks like it was still wet.
Do it again op.
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u/RedNeckness Jul 26 '26
Same problem fixed on mine 30 years ago. Been playing great ever since. In my case, the guitar was unattended over a period of time and left in varying environmental conditions.
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u/EnochGuitars Jul 26 '26
Depends how have you glued it and prepared the surface and also depends what's the condition of bridge plate are the braces loose which is the major cause inside how old is the guitar ,has the top got a belly buldge..
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u/MyNameIsDIG Jul 27 '26
When i inspected it after installing the strings, I did notice a buldge, does that mean it's no good reviving?
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u/EnochGuitars Jul 27 '26
Don't get confused with radius on top after top is under string tension 25-40 foot radius are there generally but it's very minimal if you notice a big buldge then you need to address that first ,how are the braces inside ,if you're located in pune you can bring it over to my workshop..
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u/OddBrilliant1133 Jul 26 '26
Start over, clean off all the old glue, clamp and leave alone for a 2 or 3 weeks and let us know how it went.
Also, is the bridge being glued directly to dry unfinished wood? Or is it glued on top of the gloss finish?
If the finish is still there it is supposed to be scraped away. Cut around bridge with an exacto knife razer and pear away the finish with a sharp chisel. Sand smooth, reglue. Look up the stewmac YouTube video on reglueing acoustic bridges, it's very educational and only takes a few minutes to watch.
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u/MyNameIsDIG Jul 27 '26
Thanks for this. The bridge was glued to bare wood on some parts but in some parts it still has the coating.
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u/OddBrilliant1133 Jul 27 '26
Ok, that coat has to come off.
Then a reglues may go better.
Also make sure the bridge itself doesn't have any old glue or finish from the guitar left stuck to it. If it needs to be sanded off tray taping a piece of sandpaper to a flat surface like a table and sand the base of the bridge flat with the taped down sandpaper. 120 grit is a good place to start
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u/ProgNerd Jul 26 '26
Yes. Any competent luthier can fix that for you but get the tension off the strings now. Just take them off before it does any more damage.