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This is probably a classic newbie question, but I was planning on using a couple of the StewMac Ibex clamps to clamp the bridge on the parlor I'm making. I assumed that I'd attach a caul to the bridge plate, but there's one little problem I didn't anticipate.

My hand won't fit through the sound hole to attach the caul. Am I missing something really obvious? Is it sufficient for the lower arm of the clamp to press against the X braces?

As always, thanks in advance for any help.

Steve

I'd say it depends on the glue. If you are using HHG, you can even do a rubbed joint. But plenty of folks have used clamping methods that do not have a caul internally. You just have to be careful with the pressure. The other option is to rig some kind of wider piece and stick it to your clamp with CA glue, which would protect the inside parts.

_________________
Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars

Heavy stress on the "small" square of double sided tape. Once a taped caul has been under clamp pressure for twelve hours or so, it can be very difficult to pry off. Especially if you can't reach it.
I often glue a small block of wood to the clamp & stick a piece of belt leather to the block as a cushion.
If you stick the caul down, a piece of sturdy string tied to the block would aid in removal.
Lots of ways to skin the cat.

You can make cauls that have powerful magnets embedded in them and then just drag them into place.

On my first guitar (Sloane classical in the 70's) I 'forgot' the fingerboard clamping caul inside the guitar- it stayed there for a few years! (Not recommended, though I do wonder now if it had any effect, acoustically. Then, like now, I seldom ventured above the 12th fret, so wouldn't have noticed anyway...)

That double-stick tape is quite tenacious!

Cheers
John

Well, this guitar doesn't sound exactly like I expected it to! Did it open up a lot when you took out the caul?

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Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars

It was the fingerboard caul, and I didn't notice any difference when I removed it.
Now, a bridge caul - that should make a difference!


Cheers
John

Hahah that's a funny story. Makes me wonder what I've left inside sound boxes in the past.