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I need to repair a bridge plate on a little old guitar, and I don't have the time or resources to remove the plate and replace it.

So, how thick or thin should I make a plate cap? I have a little piece of bubinga at .073"- is that getting close? I have some hard maple, too. Does it need to be vintage correct, since it will be an obvious repair anyway?

Alternatively, is StewMac's Plate Mate ever a good fix? It seems so quick and easy, it may be too good to be true. If players are reporting better tone and sustain, as SM claims, why aren't more builders using them?

Thank you for your help.

Lincoln: To me the correct methods are to replace the plate or use Stew-Mac's tool that countersinks the plate holes and makes new tapered inserts to be glued in. I'm not sure how good a repair a plate-mate is and would take reports from the seller with a grain of salt. If you want to go this route get opinions from folks who have used the product. Take care.
Tom

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A person who has never made a mistake has never made anything!!!

Thanks, Tom. I should have added that the problem at hand is that while the holes in the plate are a little chewed up, the main issue is a crack in the plate in line with the centers of the holes.

I'm not sure if the SM bridge plate saver would work for this or not?

I am well able to make myself a Plate Mate, if that will be a proper fix.

Here's what Frank Ford does. http://www.frets.com/FRETSPages/Luthier/Technique/Guitar/Structural/BridgePlateOverlay/plateover1.html

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Ken Franklin
clumsy yet persistent
https://www.kenfranklinukulele.com

I stand to be corrected. Had never seen that before but if Frank Ford does it ,it must be OK. I would expect an increased bass responce though.
Tom

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A person who has never made a mistake has never made anything!!!