The bridge is an essential part of the guitar and, as such, deserves special attention and care.
Many factors can affect it, and that’s why you may need to replace it after a while.
If that moment is already here for you, you may find this article quite useful.
We have described a complete guide on how to easily replace the bridge of your acoustic guitar.
When should you replace the bridge?
Over time, the bridge wears out. Heavy and frequent use of the acoustic guitar and the way you store it can also damage the bridge.
If the room where you store the guitar has high humidity or temperature, that will affect the entire guitar.
If the bridge only falls off, it can easily be repaired. But if it is warped, has large cracks, or is completely broken, it should be replaced with a new one.
What tools do you need to replace an acoustic guitar bridge?
In order to quickly and easily complete the steps for placing a new bridge, you need to prepare a few useful tools.
- Putty knife
- Heating pad
- C‑Clamp
- Wood glue
- A soft cloth or paper towel
Step-by-step guide on replacing the guitar bridge
If you have a new guitar bridge and the required tools, you can get started by following these steps:
Remove the guitar strings
Since it’s time to replace the bridge, you probably already know how to restring your acoustic guitar.
When you remove the strings, clean the guitar with a cloth or paper towel to remove any dust.
If you plan to change your acoustic guitar strings, now is a great time to do it.
Remove the old guitar bridge
If the old bridge is still on the guitar, we need to remove it. For this purpose, we have to soften its glue using a Heating pad.
Place the pad on the bridge and wait a few minutes for the glue to lose from the heat.
Once the glue is soft enough, carefully remove the bridge with a putty knife. Here you have to be very careful not to scratch the guitar’s finish.
Clean the guitar bridge spot
After removing the bridge, clean the area thoroughly of any remaining glue or debris.
Install the new bridge
Take the new bridge and cover it well with wood glue. Then place it where the old one was. If you are considering putting a binding on your guitar, it is a good idea to do it now before you install the new bridge.
Clamp the new guitar bridge to the guitar’s body
Carefully clamp the bridge with the C-Clamp and leave it until the glue is completely dry. The time for this varies with different types of glue, but it is recommended to wait at least 12 hours.
Remove the C-Clamp
When you are sure that the glue is tight, you can remove the C-Clamp.
Now all that’s left is to place the strings and tune them. Then you are ready to play.
Conclusion:
Before proceeding with the described steps, make sure that the new bridge is suitable for your guitar. You can usually find replacement parts for your model at the store where you purchased the guitar. Or you can request someone to make it custom-made for you. Just be careful to take the correct measurements of the instrument.
As you’ve already seen, replacing a guitar bridge is not a difficult task at all. Especially if you have the right tools.
FAQ
How high should the saddle be above the bridge on an acoustic guitar?
A height between 1/32 and 3/16 inches is recommended.
Are guitar bridges repairable?
It depends on how bad the damage is. The bridge can be easily repaired if it’s just a cracked saddle or a loose screw.
Does the bridge affect the tone of the guitar?
The bridge is where the strings and the guitar meet. Because of this, however slightly, the bridge.
Gary has been in love with music since he was a child. His passion is guitars and everything related to them. He is the founder of
Riff-Mag and can’t wait to share his knowledge with you.