Bowed tops (Bridge Doctor)

Subject: RE: Bowed tops (Bridge Doctor)
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 26 Apr 07 - 03:53 PM

As noted above, it's worked out brilliantly for me. One thing is, I needed it for a six-string guitar where it hadn't bowed that much, so it was more a case of using it to hold things where they are. And it turned out there was already a screw in the bridge in the right place to start with, which made things easier.

And thanks to the present currency rate it's remarkably cheap from Stew-Mac Including postage it works out as £16.65. And now I'm on their mailing list so I get a catalogue every now and then, and it's mouth-watering stuff.

The thing that has impressed me is how much it's improved the sound of the guitar.

Myself, I prefer inches to metric. But then I was brought up that way.

Subject: RE: Bowed tops (Bridge Doctor)
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 26 Apr 07 - 10:37 AM

Thank you Mandotim - it's in, details on the Gibson 12-string thread.

Subject: RE: Bowed tops (Bridge Doctor)
From: mandotim
Date: 26 Apr 07 - 09:27 AM

I've done several of these repairs; all have worked well. (See 'Kevin McGrath' thread quoted above). Richard; pm me if you want to talk techy about this.
Tim

Subject: RE: Bowed tops (Bridge Doctor)
From: GUEST,Darowyn (at work)
Date: 26 Apr 07 - 08:09 AM

I fitted a bridge doctor to a little Peavey Electro acoustic belonging to a Student. It was badly bowed and verging on unplayable because of the high action.
Once I'd got it installed, the device did a wonderful job, but the fitting was a nightmare because the guitar has such a shallow body that I had to re-work the block completely to clear the bracing.
Co-incidentally, one of the things I did was to replace the screws with metric ones.
Still, I suppose there is some comfort in thinking that there is some part of America which is still part of the British Empire!
Prospective users of Bridge Doctor might be encouraged to try it if I tell you that, afterwards, the Peavey was as good as new and considerably louder both acoustically and on the Pickup .
Cheers
Dave

Subject: RE: Bowed tops (Bridge Doctor)
From: GUEST,Murray MacLeod
Date: 26 Apr 07 - 07:55 AM

Every home should be equipped with This set of drills and this digital caliper for quick interchange between metric and imperial

I have both items and they are incredibly useful as well as being incredibly inexpensive.

Subject: RE: Bowed tops (Bridge Doctor)
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 25 Apr 07 - 08:45 PM

The point is not familiarity, but practicality. Several holes have to be drilled accurately to size. The sizes are specified in imperial measurements. Outside the USA it is getting harder and harder to buy imperial drill sizes, and 9/64 and 1/4 drills as specified by the instructions do not correspond to any readily available metric drill sizes.

Subject: RE: Bowed tops (Bridge Doctor)
From: GUEST,Murray MacLeod
Date: 25 Apr 07 - 08:32 PM

Richard, why would you expect an American made item to be sized in mm ?

when working with guitars it helps to be familiar with imperial measurements as well as metric imo

Subject: RE: Bowed tops (Bridge Doctor)
From: s&r
Date: 25 Apr 07 - 02:50 PM

Kevin McGrath had some success

Stu

Subject: RE: Bowed tops (Bridge Doctor)
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 25 Apr 07 - 02:36 PM

I've revived this thread becuase it has a link to the other one about the bridge doctor.

I have just ordered and receive done from Stew-Mac (first class service) and had it installed by Brian Rodgers, in my still-trying-to-get-it-right Mugen THE78/12.

We came across a couple of issues. First the guitar being a 12-string, locating the securing screw was difficult. Second, it would have been nice if things were sized in mm not inches. Third the instructions in places take a bit of interpreting, where for example they refer to an item not labelled on the diagram. There is also one Lulu of a grammatical error that makes the instructions say exactly the opposite of what they mean, in one place, but a bit of head scratching resulted in an interpretation.

But the biggest problem was the dowel, the critical thing (I guess you could call it a thrust-rod) that carries thrust from the new under-bridge block to the tail-block. It had been routed, not turned, and the grain was at about 45% to the axis. So upon trying to put some pressure on, it sheared across the grain. We had to go and get a bit of dowel, turn it down to the right diameter, and make a new thrust rod.

We now wait for the guitar to settle down to do the fine-tuning, and report back.

Subject: RE: Bowed tops (Bridge Doctor)
From: CraigS
Date: 22 Dec 02 - 04:13 PM

There's only one real cure for a bowed top, and that's a new bridgeplate. On the other hand, it is VERY easy to wreck the top whilst removing the old bridgeplate, not to mention the mess left behind from taking the back off. If the bridge doctor works, use it. It's the cheap option, and the only risk is the cost of the thing, ie no risk of permanent damage.

Subject: RE: Bowed tops (Bridge Doctor)
From: michaelr
Date: 22 Dec 02 - 02:44 PM

Oops - that should be www.acousticguitar.com

Subject: RE: Bowed tops (Bridge Doctor)
From: michaelr
Date: 22 Dec 02 - 02:39 PM

For specialized luthiery questions, you may want to check out Acoustic Guitar Magazine's "Guitar Talk" forum at .

Cheers,
Michael

Subject: RE: Bowed tops (Bridge Doctor)
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 21 Dec 02 - 07:03 PM

You might find This thread of interest.

Murray

Subject: Bowed tops (Bridge Doctor)
From: GUEST,Richard Bridge (cookie and format C)
Date: 21 Dec 02 - 06:53 PM

Has anyone ever used a bridge doctor to fix a bowed top.

Did it woark?

Were there any existing repairs to the top? DId they need to be re-done after?