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For the longest time I was putting flat bridges on 28' radiused tops. We used flat bridges at work, so that's how you do it right? Always wondered why it was so much more difficult at home with the bridge slipping all over the place. Then one day here someone mentioned radiusing the bottom of the bridges and I was like, aahhh...

To my knowledge, none of them have popped. I think can you get away with quite a bit, as long as you have good wood to wood contact throughout...

I was just quoted at $5600 for my new shop. I feel your pain. I'm looking into DIY ways of getting the same thing done. I don't know what you have been looking at but I was looking at Mini Splits heating and cooling units. They are great but expensive. I found some DIY kits online that will come to about $1500. I need to do more research but so far thats on the top of my list. THe spray foam insulators are coming next Friday that's gonna cost $1600. Fortunately I just sold a guitar! Lucky me, it was an old one too.

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I've always glued the bridges on flat too.

Thank you everyone, this is incredibly helpful. Not to change the subject, but do you think I would benefit from the "Thompson Belly reducer".

http://www.stewmac.com/Luthier_Tools/Types_of_Tools/Clamps/Thompson_Belly_Reducer.html

The belly does seem to be quite pronounced in this case, but of course maybe just gluing a flat bridge on would help reduce the belly.

John, your advice is very helpful. I will be sure that the top isn't severly humped front to back before gluing the bridge, so I don't crack the area between the bridge pin holes.

John, do you have any advice on how to flatten out the bridge that came off of this guitar? You mentioned heating it, but do you have a method that you use?

Best,

Jonas

I used to drop the bridge in boiling water, but heat alone is usually sufficient, and you don't have to wait for it to dry out before regluing it. If it is only the wings that need straightening, I heat them with a small heat gun like the one used for electronic heat shrink tubing. I either clamp the bridge flat or just press the corner against the bench with my hand.

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John

Time for some pics! It's easy with tapatalk...