2 hrs. after my first post, I decided to attempt heat removal of the fretboard on my near 50 year old Goya. I started by resting the wifes cloths iron on the fretboad (frets still in). A few minutes later I worked a couple thin flat carving chisels under the fretboard near the soundhole. I'm not saving the top, so I wasn't too concerned about what was happening to the top. It really didn't want to release even with careful prying with the chisels ....so I put a few drops of hot water in the small separation between the top and fretboard and within a couple minutes it started to release. I continued with the iron on the fretboard and drops of hot water all the way down the neck using the 2 chisels to help keep and force separation along the way. Of course what ended up happening by prying up on the heated fretboard with the chisels all the way down, was the fretboard ended up with a 1 /4 in. bow up end to end. I'm not sure I can reheat it and flatten it enough to warrant enough FLAT success to reworking the fingerboard and putting in new frets.
Fellas....make sure you get the glue..if any... off the iron before sticking it back in the laundry room. This is a WARNING!
ALSO RE: Old forum issue.....I used a little heat (very little) on the old bridge and thought I would attempt the old "Strike it with a hammer" removal method. Again, I wasn't concerned with what was going to happen to my top. I used a 3/4 X 4" X 12" hardwood block (very smooth finish on the end to prevent marring the bridge). It was long enough to extend beyond the back of the guitar for ease of striking. Then placed it on the backside of the bridge and with a 13 oz. finish hammer...gave it a strike. Wallllahhhhh!!!! I knocked it loose with the first strike and only tapped it a couple more times to free it completely. I was a bit surprised at how easily it came loose. I didn't hit it that hard. Only one little 3/8 in bit of top material was torn from the top and it was in the center if the bridge. If I were attempting this on a top that wasn't going to be replaced, I would put a few adhesive felt buttons along the bottom of the block for top protection.
Now its time to order a new top, new purfling/binding....maybe a new fretboard and I'll practice my inlay by redoing the Peghead Goya name in abalone.
Kent Bailey
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Wood Creations by Kent A. Bailey
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