I think Gurney's "madwoman " was intended as jocularly affectionate, tongue in cheek...

The most effective way to remove the bridge is with a router, Melissa, d'you fancy upgrading your skills by a quantum leap ?

Alternatively, what you could do, since it's made of plastic, you could get a hair dryer and heat it up, chances are that will melt the glue sufficiently to remove the bridge. You need to insulate the wood of the soundboard, though, not to protect the finish, which is no longer there, but to prevent the heat melting the glue holding the bridge plate and the bracing underneath.

We'll talk you through installation of the new bridge later ...