Official Luthiers Forum!

I need innovative input on methods for viewing the inside of the guitar. I want to inspect the top bracing area near my bridge before I reglue a defective bridge job (the first time around) and want to make sure all is secure before I attempt it again. Old bridge is off. I noticed a slight indention in the top behind the bridge between the middle and the treble end on the bridge. It was the treble back corner on the bridge that was lifting. My first thought was that the pressure forward on the right front of the bridge was pushing down on the top ..creating this slight indention. Since pulling the bridge...the top is again back to normal. Then...further worries made me think my X bracing may have pulled loose along the treble side and created some top lift...giving the illusion the area between the bracing and the center of the bridge was indented.....but that corner end of the bridge was already lifting and probably not responsible for lifting the top at the X brace. Anyone following this?
Anyway....I've seen the mechanics telescoping mirror thing but it seems to small to move around and try to get light and mirror positioned. Am I better off going blind with a thin feeler gauge and attempt to slip it under any bracing to check for separation possibilities? I feel it may be impossible to locate a possible bracing separation without some bridge tension place on the top.
Finding a top brace separation issue and attempting to reglue will be another forum question.
Kent

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EXCELLENCE IN SCULPTURE, CARVING, LUTHIER, ARCHITECTURAL MILLWORK AND DESIGN

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I put digital camera inside the guitar. I'm able to delay the shot by up to 10 seconds (i think). So I put it down in there, and shoot pics over and over until I'm able to see what I want to see.

Stew mac has a big fold-out mirror job, which works well for seeing stuff from the soundhole. nice price, too.

http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Tools/Speci ... t=3&xsr=36

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"...you have to get over your strict adherence to your largely imagined notion of absolute perfection..."

I have used a cheap usb-webcam and a small flashlight. It worked very well for me

The folding mirror stew-mac sells is great. Just lay it on the back and you have a great, stable view of the bridge area. The camera option does not allow you to work on the area at the same time you are trying to see it.

Ridge Tool makes a lighted camera for sewer work that has a color screen monitor and a 3ft 3/8"(approx) flexible arm if you think you need this kind of thing. (We have one..... but we have been general contractors )

This tool is in the $200 range but it is hard to beat if you want to see everything up close, and all inside the body. Home Depot did have these.

Kevin Waldron

I never could figure out how to use a mirror with my arm filling up the soundhole, so I use an old Logitech USB web cam, the Pro 5000, if I recall, with an LED flashlight for lighting. This model web cam has manual focus, which gives a sharp image at distances (down to 1") closer than most web cams operate at. I can work with it pumping video to the shop ibook, and I don't have to worry about the flipped image of a mirror.

To check for loose braces, I work blind, with a feeler gauge, but the camera enables me to do cleaner work for regluing them.

Pat

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formerly known around here as burbank
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http://www.patfosterguitars.com