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CaezarZzz

Glued in saddle removal

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Hi!

 

I am looking to sell one of my acoustic guitars. It is a Washburn D10N. I hadn't used it in a while so it needed a new set of strings. However, when I got to changing the strings the bridge broke and when I tried to pull it out with needle nose pliers I realized that it's glued in and it's falling apart with every move I try to make. How do I fix this? I have a really low budget so I can't really give it to someone professional to fix it and I also don't have all the right tools. I got so frustrated that I considered drilling it out but I was too much of a coward to even try it, maybe that's for the best. Anyone have any ideas on how I can DIY this process without severely damaging the bridge or the guitar?

 

 

Here's how it currently looks:

l255TWK.jpg

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1 hour ago, CaezarZzz said:

...how I can DIY this process without severely damaging the bridge or the guitar?...

 

It would be unusual for a saddle like this to be glued in (if that's one of the exceptions, it's going to be the devil of a job to remove it...). A tight fit is not even necessary, but over time the saddle may be just stubbornly stuck. Firstly, protect the guitar table with suitable towels or such. Next, you'll want a pair of wide-jawed nail-pulling pliers like these...

 

gvJOXKbm.jpg

You might get a better grip on the saddle by wrapping masking tape over the sharp jaws; you don't really want to use so much force as to cut through the plastic. Needle-nose are too narrow, as you've found out. Wide jaws, and gentle 'persuasion' should get it out. Anything else would imply more sophisticated gear, such as a Dremel drill, and mill it out, but that would be best confided to a luthier. Try the pincers first, but be firmly gentle. Good luck with it. B|

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that's a difficult job to assess, you might have to resort to a very small screwdriver to prise it out in chunks, where do you live? there might be a member locally that could help you out, if you're in the north east of england i'd be happy to put it on my bench and remove the stuck bridge, i've probably got a spare replacement bridge that could be fitted in return for a pack of jelly babies or chocolate hobnobs. if it is glued then some gentle heat might help to loosen the glue.

 

replacement bridge saddles are only a few quid on ebay, getting a nice snug fit and the right height takes time but isn't that difficult if you are patient.

 

Matt

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