20180425
A vihuela came into my shop for repair, as it's bridge had flew off the top.
Should be quite an easy job the only thing is that the bridge took out some of the top.
Also upon inspection the luthier did a terrible thing, that is to scribe several cross marks onto the bridge and top!!!
Those who use hide glue will know this is a not a recommended action.
Hide glue needs maximum surface fit to have a great adhesion and the vihuela (like any other early instruments) has a small gluing surface.
So the fit becomes even more important.
Finally I decide to sand the top flat taking out those deep scribe marks.
Also when I sand the bridge's bottom surface then I realise the fit was really terrible.
There was deep hollow in the center of the bridge's bottom.
No wonder the bridge will fly out...
So I sand all surface flat and put the sandpaper on the top to fit the bridge bottom to the top.
Finally it was ready for gluing.
I use hide glue for the gluing and apply clamps after the hide started to grab the 2 pieces together.
Bridge off u can see the scribe marks on the top.
Bridge bottom; the surface was not level at all.
Sanding flat the top
Fitting the bottom of the bridge to the top
Applying the hide glue.
Glued and clamped.
Perfecto!
Some pics of the instrument
Inlay on the top
The sound hole rose of the vihuela
Frets using fishing lines.
No comments:
Post a Comment