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 Post subject: Ukulele Bridge?
PostPosted: Mon Dec 21, 2009 9:59 am 
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Cocobolo
Cocobolo

Joined: Tue May 13, 2008 9:45 am
Posts: 258
I am building a ukulele to try something other than flattops. Got the Concert Uke plan from LMI.

Just wondered how any of you people glue on the bridge? I have bridge clamps that I use on guitars but they won't fit in the sound hole.

Thanks
Neil


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 Post subject: Re: Ukulele Bridge?
PostPosted: Mon Dec 21, 2009 10:07 am 
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Koa
Koa
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Joined: Sun Jun 21, 2009 6:34 pm
Posts: 1058
Country: Canada
Neil, I imagine you could make a variation on the fox bridge clamp. Here is a link to them on LMI in case you have not seen one.

http://www.lmii.com/CartTwo/thirdproduc ... dge+Clamps


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 Post subject: Re: Ukulele Bridge?
PostPosted: Mon Dec 21, 2009 10:27 am 
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Cocobolo
Cocobolo

Joined: Tue May 13, 2008 9:45 am
Posts: 258
Edward

I don't think that will work because it is a pinless bridge.


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 Post subject: Re: Ukulele Bridge?
PostPosted: Mon Dec 21, 2009 10:34 am 
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Koa
Koa
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Joined: Sun Jun 21, 2009 6:34 pm
Posts: 1058
Country: Canada
I think your only option then is a vacuum clamp?


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 Post subject: Re: Ukulele Bridge?
PostPosted: Mon Dec 21, 2009 6:16 pm 
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Koa
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Joined: Sat Jun 24, 2006 12:41 pm
Posts: 975
Location: United States
First name: Tracy
Last Name: Leveque
City: Denver
State: CO
Country: USA
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
Neil Gardiner wrote:
I am building a ukulele to try something other than flattops. Got the Concert Uke plan from LMI.

Just wondered how any of you people glue on the bridge? I have bridge clamps that I use on guitars but they won't fit in the sound hole.

Thanks
Neil


Neil,
I drilled 2 tiny 1/16" holes in the saddle slot, and used the actual drills to keep the bridge in position while I just used 2 cam clamps to clamp. I put a board across the back to protect it, and if you can wedge a small piece of wood on the inside under the bridge, that will help. But just make sure you have a perfect joint, then you won't need much clamping pressure. Mine's been strung up for 8 months using titebond and it is still holding strong.

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 Post subject: Re: Ukulele Bridge?
PostPosted: Mon Dec 21, 2009 11:57 pm 
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Cocobolo
Cocobolo

Joined: Sat Oct 27, 2007 1:49 pm
Posts: 144
Location: North Carolina
I just did a repair on a friends Taro patch Uke that involved re glueing the bridge. I used carpet tape to hold a caul under the bridge plate and used a single metal 4" C clamp with caul that I made to go over the bridge. That caul has a little relief in the center to even out the clamping pressure. I found working through that small hole quite a task. I had to make a tool out of a long screwdriver to get the inside caul off. That involved using a torch to heat and bend it into an offset with a hook on the end. It worked very well.

Steve Brown


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 Post subject: Re: Ukulele Bridge?
PostPosted: Tue Dec 22, 2009 3:45 am 
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Cocobolo
Cocobolo

Joined: Mon Apr 14, 2008 3:20 am
Posts: 376
Location: Kapolei HI
First name: Aaron
Focus: Build
Status: Semi-pro
Deep C-clamps. I think mine are 3", and I've used three in the past, until I welded up one of these (and used old c-clamps, small ones, for the ends)
www.stewmac.com/shop/Tools/Special_tool ... _Caul.html

Now I use just one, with a caul epoxied onto the bottom, so it can reach over (or should I say under) the braces.

I know a guy that uses his go-bar, but, he installs a pinless bridge, so the strings pull from under the patch.
Some guys actually screw theirs in, and cover the screws with MOP dots.


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 Post subject: Re: Ukulele Bridge?
PostPosted: Tue Dec 22, 2009 2:31 pm 
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Koa
Koa

Joined: Sat Nov 07, 2009 9:34 pm
Posts: 552
City: winnipeg
State: manitoba
Country: canada
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
I use two wooden paint stirrer sticks. One over the bridge and one under the ukulele with two C clamps at either end. A little flex provides enough force. I use titebond.
One detail, my strings run through the soundboard (Hana Lima style) and two of these holes are drilled with brads to pin the bridge in place.

Bob


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 Post subject: Re: Ukulele Bridge?
PostPosted: Tue Dec 22, 2009 8:49 pm 
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Cocobolo
Cocobolo
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Joined: Mon Jan 28, 2008 11:24 am
Posts: 164
Location: Ohio
First name: Mike
Last Name: Tracz
Here is what I did.

I used a Harbor Freight deep throat clamp and rigged up a clamping caul with a coupole eye bolts and scrap plywood. The bolts push down on a couple cork pads and there is a radiused caul with cutouts for the fan braces under the bridge patch. It was quick and I have used it a couple times since. Hope this helps.

Image
Image

Oh and I use a couple locating pins in the saddle slot so it doesn't slip.

_Mike

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