Official Luthiers Forum!

Chucky bro I have not seen Dan's video so I have some questions for you.

Clearly the problem that he is addressing is string ball wear on the pin edges of the pin holes on the bridge plate - correct? You are correct in your assumption Sir !!

In his video is he using slotted or unslotted pins and slotting the bridge, top, and plate instead? Using slotted pins, he does go on to show how he slots and ramps the bridge only, but not inside where the spruce top and bridge plate are. It seems to me that if the problem being addressed is plate wear caused by string ball ends the better approach would be unslotted pins and subsequently slotting the bridge/top/plate instead. I'm tracking with you, but this is not what is does.

Also how is Dan applying the CA and is it thin or medium CA? He is using thin CA that he pours in a small plastic mixing cup and using his left hand brings it inside the sound hole and under the bridge as his right hand is holding a Qtip he pushes one end down thru the hole and into the mixing cup of CA. Then pulls the Qtip up against just touching the bridge plate to soak just the ring of the bottom where the string balls sit, he doesn't put the Qtip up thru the hole. He then removes the mixing cup out of the sound hole and brings the clean end of the Qtip down thru the hole to move on to the next. He then pushes the clean end of the Qtip up thru the next hole and puts the mixing cup of CA back in the sound hole and repeats for each string, blah, blah, blah. . . etc, etc, etc !!! As mentioned by Dan M. any CA that is going to wick well (such as thin CA) is also going to wick well where we don't want it and that is between the bridge and top which would make future bridge removals more difficult and not leave any tell-tale of CA use for future repair people to see and react to. Good point, that would or could be a problem for future repair personnel

I am also wondering if he places something on the back of the guitar to catch drips. He does indeed Hesh ole buddy, he layers down a couple sheets of Scott Towels inside on the back to catch wayfaring drips and drops that might go astray.

If my memory serves me right there was once a thread on the OLF where Howard I believe talked about using something, shellac or CA - can't remember.... to seal the tuner holes on the insides. Different reason but in this case also IIRC the CA or shellac was applied with a Q-tip.

Very interesting.