Regluing a Loose Guitar Bridge

Humidity can cause a lot of damage to a guitar.

Humidity is the worst enemy for a guitar. This, along with constant pressure from the guitar strings, can cause the bridge on an acoustic guitar to pull away from the guitar’s top. A loose glue joint prevents the guitar from staying in tune and eventually, the string pressure will pull the bridge completely off the guitar. You can quickly repair a loose bridge joint without taking the guitar to a repair center.

Things You'll Need

• Glue syringe
• Wood glue
• Wood block, 1/2-inch thick
• 3 deep-well C-clamps

Instructions

1. Remove the strings from the guitar and pull the bone or plastic bridge saddle out of the bridge slot on the guitar bridge. If you cannot pull the saddle out with your fingers, use needle-nose pliers. Keep the saddle; you will use it when you restring the guitar.

2. Fill your glue syringe with wood glue or hide glue. Hide glue resembles the glue used on vintage instruments but wood glue bonds just as well.

3. Squeeze the glue into the joint between the guitar top and the bottom of the bridge.

4. Place the block of scrap wood onto the top of the bridge. The wooden block will help to equalize clamping pressure and prevent the clamps from marring the wooden bridge.

5. Place the bottom leg of a deep-well C-clamp into the sound hole. Position the threaded clamp over the center of the wooden block. Tighten the threaded clamp to secure the C-clamp to the guitar.

6. Place a second deep-well C-clamp onto the guitar so it rests over the left end of the bridge. Tighten the clamp. Place a third clamp so it rests over the left end of the bridge. Secure the clamp into place. Leave the clamps on for 24-hours.

7. Remove all three clamps and press the bridge saddle back into the bridge slot. Restring the guitar.

References

• "Guitar Player Repair Guide"; Dan Erlewine; 1994