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| Bridge Repair - General Ukulele - Ukulele - ezFolk Forums | |||||||||||||||
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jerrypro Approved 
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Thought I'd run this post through the board for a second time as it previously had no responses. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* A few minutes ago I opened the hardshell case of my near new concert Kala Cedar top uke to rehydrate it's humidifier. To my horror, I saw that the bridge had popped off. OMG ! Fortunately, the damage caused by the seperation was restricted to only the wood directly under the bridge - a paper thin layer of cedar was stuck to the bottom of the bridge. Apparently the glue was stronger than the wood. Although I won't be attempting this repair myself, I am wondering if I should have my luthier not only glue the bridge on, but somehow also pin (or rivet) it back onto the top. I am worried that, with just glue, if it should ever pop off again it would pull even more wood off. I am wondering how this type of repair will affect the sweet tone & tuning of my Kala. I'm also curious about the cause of this problem so's I can prevent it from happening again. Any input or opinions will be most gratefully recieved. jerry 
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leakydesk Approved
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I am surprised your first thought is repair and not return.
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jerrypro Approved
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Leaky, thanks for your response. There are several reasons why I've put repair before return. The first that comes to mind is that I've already had it for two months & I'm not so sure that it's the fault of the highly respected person I bought it from (maybe a humidity problem). The second is that I doubt that he has any of the same to replace it with and I really don't want to replace it with anything "similar" (I've grown quite fond of it). The third is that if the repair won't change the tone or dynamics of the uke it would be easier for all involved if it was just repaired. I'm hoping the repair can be done with two pins installed in countersunk holes through the bridge. the top & the bridge plate. The pins could either be covered with wood putty & finished or could have decorative (pearl) buttons installed over them. I am just curious about this procedure changing the tone, volume or tuning of the uke. jerry
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Neal Approved 
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Repair can be done, but not pins. The main reason for a bridge failure is that the bridge was glued on over the finish, it happens, the repair is simple. Humidity is not the problem. Do not pin the bridge. You should probably contact the seller, and that seller will take care of it for you. These things happen. Now if your top is starting to crack and the frets are sticking out the sides of the neck due to the 10% Rh in your house, yes, probably shouldn't send it back....  In the event you repair, all that's needed is a clean surface free of finish and glue. No pinning!
____________________ http://ezfolk.com/audio/NealPaisley http://www.indiependencemusic.net/paisleylawler http://www.myspace.com/nealpaisley |
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jerrypro Approved
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Neal, thanks for your input. You stated that "that the bridge was glued on over the finish" - it seems to me that the failure occured deeper than the level of the finish as it pulled up some "virgin" wood below the level of the finish. The finish held but the wood below it didn't. This is why I am concerned about a repeat failure. I'm worried that the failure was due to weakness in the wood - cedar is a very fiberous wood. I'm not much of an expert on humidity or it's effects on wood, but you may be correct about this not being caused by the level of humidity. I use a Herco humidifier in the case which is stored in a closet and the relative humidity has not yet dropped below 40% in my house. I'm currently using a vaporizer to keep levels between 45% - 50%. Any idea of why pinning would be a bad idea? Do any stringed instruments use pins to anchor the bridge? Again thanks for your advice & recommendations, jerry
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Neal Approved
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The bridge should be part of the top for the sound vibrations to matter. This is accomplished by glue. Properly done, it'll last a lifetime. This one sounds like it should be brought to the attention of the seller. If it's who I think it is, you'll have no problems. If you pin the bridge, via screw/nut, or just screw, you're adding more mass to the top, and that can't help the sound. The crappiest ukes on the planet have screws in the top.
____________________ http://ezfolk.com/audio/NealPaisley http://www.indiependencemusic.net/paisleylawler http://www.myspace.com/nealpaisley |
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jerrypro Approved
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Neal, thanks, that was just the info I needed. I can now understand how pinning the bridge would affect the volume & tone - had not even thought of it in those terms. I will contact my seller and bring it to his attention. The seller "is" who you think it is and is a very cooperative and well liked person by all, including myself. Hey, Merry Christmas !!    jerry
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| ezFolk Forums > Ukulele > General Ukulele > Bridge Repair | |
