Right, just removed my bridge.. and alot of paint

Dr Gonzo · March 7th, 2007, 06:37 PM

Ok, so i have been thinkin about making my own pickgaurd for my '06 HWY1 so today i finally got round to it. I had never taken this guitar completly apart before so i thought that as i was removing the neck and the pickguard then i'd have a look at my bridge p'up. Only problem was that the bridge did'nt want to come off even after removing all 4 screws. I was baffled 'WTF!?' i thought to myself before deciding that i'd just pull harder on the bridge plate to remove it by hand, then i heard a promising noise (promising cuz it meant that my bridge was finally moving). Sure enough the stubborn bridge plate came off after some pulling, however that noise i heard was the paint from the body underneath the bridge pealing off! its not visible when the bridge is on thankfully but this is not good workmanship. The other thing i noticed was that there was a sort of glossy clear substance left under the bridge on the surface of the nitro finish.

I knew nitro had a bit of a bad reputation but up untill now i have loved the look/ feel of this finish. Someone had a similar experience/ explanation of why this happend? it's only a small thing but these sort of things sometimes bother me

Cyrithicus · March 7th, 2007, 07:30 PM

Another Superglue fight at the Fender Factory.

mojocasterman · March 7th, 2007, 07:51 PM

Pics my good man, pics!

Bones · March 7th, 2007, 07:56 PM

sounds like the nitro was not cured when they mounted the bridge, no big surprise really.

jwells393 · March 7th, 2007, 08:19 PM

I think if the bridge appeared to be stuck, I would have applied heat from a hair dryer or heat gun before pulling it off.

LeftHandedMan · March 7th, 2007, 09:38 PM

I would say that Bones is right. It sounds like the bridge was placed on the instrument and secured in place before the finish had finished hardening and it bonded to the back of the bridge plate while it did cure up.

I'm sorry this happened to you with a good guitar. The only thing I can say is that this sort of thing, or some variation of disaster, happens to all modders and tinkerers. From car fanatics to Tele addicts. It never stops being a total hair ripping experience no matter how long you do what you do. I would take this as the worst kind of leaning experience and follow jwells' hair dryer advice in the future if anything ever refuses to give like that again.

I wouldn't blame the nitro, I would blame the guy who didn't take the extra time to make sure the nitro was ready. I know this is cold comfort, but look at it this way, now at least you have a built-in excuse to refinish your ax at a future date of your choosing.

geoffreysnow · March 7th, 2007, 09:47 PM

If it's not visable when the bridge is on then it shouldn't be a problem. like said above the finish probably wasn't fully cured.

wilkat1 · March 7th, 2007, 09:47 PM

This may sound goofy, but is it in a single piece that you can line up? If so you may be able to super glue the finish back to the fiddle, especially if that's poly under the nitro.

According to Erlewine's repair guide, nitro will melt with super glue, and the glue can be used to fill in dings and chips, and blends in well.

Of course, this may be a stupid idea too.

Mark Davis · March 7th, 2007, 10:59 PM

Im pretty sure but not 100% sure all the buffing is done on the guitars before the bridges are put on. If the lacquer was THAT soft they wouldnt have been able to buff it. My guess is something got on the guitar after it was buffed and when the bridge was put on it reacted with the nitro. Someone could have spilled a coke or something on it?? I have seen stranger things happen!

mellecaster · March 7th, 2007, 11:56 PM

Just another reason I'll stick with "Partscasters"....assembled w/ Excellent Parts by a Skilled Craftsman, NOT fighting a Production Schedule, or Quota.....

Dr Gonzo · March 8th, 2007, 11:52 AM

Thanks for all your replys, i thought that this may ahve been caused by not lettin it cure properly. But this does infact look like a sticky substance has got underneath the bridge n hence why some paint is sitting on the bridge now. I think my HWY1 is having a affair.........

lightice · March 8th, 2007, 12:05 PM

With whom?!

Your amp? :)

Don't worry, I bet its just some love juice.

March 7th, 2007, 06:37 PM	#1 (permalink)
Dr Gonzo Tele-Meister Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: England, Surrey Age: 27 Posts: 383	Right, just removed my bridge.. and alot of paint Ok, so i have been thinkin about making my own pickgaurd for my '06 HWY1 so today i finally got round to it. I had never taken this guitar completly apart before so i thought that as i was removing the neck and the pickguard then i'd have a look at my bridge p'up. Only problem was that the bridge did'nt want to come off even after removing all 4 screws. I was baffled 'WTF!?' i thought to myself before deciding that i'd just pull harder on the bridge plate to remove it by hand, then i heard a promising noise (promising cuz it meant that my bridge was finally moving). Sure enough the stubborn bridge plate came off after some pulling, however that noise i heard was the paint from the body underneath the bridge pealing off! its not visible when the bridge is on thankfully but this is not good workmanship. The other thing i noticed was that there was a sort of glossy clear substance left under the bridge on the surface of the nitro finish. I knew nitro had a bit of a bad reputation but up untill now i have loved the look/ feel of this finish. Someone had a similar experience/ explanation of why this happend? it's only a small thing but these sort of things sometimes bother me

March 7th, 2007, 07:30 PM	#2 (permalink)
Cyrithicus Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Oklahoma Age: 31 Posts: 1,020 4 Photos	Another Superglue fight at the Fender Factory. __________________ "When I was young, I could remember anything, whether it happened or not." --Mark Twain

March 7th, 2007, 07:51 PM	#3 (permalink)
mojocasterman Friend of Leo's Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 4,279	Pics my good man, pics! __________________ Lentz HSL - McNaught SC Jr - Tom Anderson Cobra w/ 3 P90s - Crook Custom Tele w/ Lollar & TV Jones - Trussart Deluxe Steelcaster - Vinetto Legato - Grosh Bent Top S - SRV Strat - Ovation Elite T - Dr. Z. Carmen Ghia & Mini Z - Fender Tweed Blues Junior.

March 7th, 2007, 08:19 PM	#5 (permalink)
jwells393 Doctor of Teleocity Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Albuquerque, USA Age: 64 Posts: 12,249 101 Photos	I think if the bridge appeared to be stuck, I would have applied heat from a hair dryer or heat gun before pulling it off. __________________ Jack's Disclaimer: When I say something.... always ask yourself ..... "What the hell does he know?" _ Guys - learn to disable the flash on your digital cameras.

March 7th, 2007, 09:47 PM	#8 (permalink)
wilkat1 Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: So. Illinois Age: 40 Posts: 1,554 20 Photos	This may sound goofy, but is it in a single piece that you can line up? If so you may be able to super glue the finish back to the fiddle, especially if that's poly under the nitro. According to Erlewine's repair guide, nitro will melt with super glue, and the glue can be used to fill in dings and chips, and blends in well. Of course, this may be a stupid idea too. __________________ MySpace "That number don't mean nothing to me if the guitar don't sound right." - Buddy Guy on the year a guitar was manufactured.

March 7th, 2007, 07:56 PM	#4 (permalink)
Bones Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 1,921 1 Photos	sounds like the nitro was not cured when they mounted the bridge, no big surprise really.

March 7th, 2007, 09:38 PM	#6 (permalink)
LeftHandedMan Tele-Meister Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Las Vegas Posts: 107	I would say that Bones is right. It sounds like the bridge was placed on the instrument and secured in place before the finish had finished hardening and it bonded to the back of the bridge plate while it did cure up. I'm sorry this happened to you with a good guitar. The only thing I can say is that this sort of thing, or some variation of disaster, happens to all modders and tinkerers. From car fanatics to Tele addicts. It never stops being a total hair ripping experience no matter how long you do what you do. I would take this as the worst kind of leaning experience and follow jwells' hair dryer advice in the future if anything ever refuses to give like that again. I wouldn't blame the nitro, I would blame the guy who didn't take the extra time to make sure the nitro was ready. I know this is cold comfort, but look at it this way, now at least you have a built-in excuse to refinish your ax at a future date of your choosing.

March 7th, 2007, 09:47 PM	#7 (permalink)
geoffreysnow Tele-Meister Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 208	If it's not visable when the bridge is on then it shouldn't be a problem. like said above the finish probably wasn't fully cured.

March 7th, 2007, 10:59 PM	#9 (permalink)
Mark Davis Doctor of Teleocity Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Bakersfield Ca. Age: 58 Posts: 12,863	Im pretty sure but not 100% sure all the buffing is done on the guitars before the bridges are put on. If the lacquer was THAT soft they wouldnt have been able to buff it. My guess is something got on the guitar after it was buffed and when the bridge was put on it reacted with the nitro. Someone could have spilled a coke or something on it?? I have seen stranger things happen! __________________ I'm so blind my seeing eye dog needs glasses.

March 7th, 2007, 11:56 PM	#10 (permalink)
mellecaster Friend of Leo's Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Maryland Posts: 4,774 17 Photos	Just another reason I'll stick with "Partscasters"....assembled w/ Excellent Parts by a Skilled Craftsman, NOT fighting a Production Schedule, or Quota..... __________________ I have never owned an Ipod or Blackberry..and doubt that I ever will......

March 8th, 2007, 11:52 AM	#11 (permalink)
Dr Gonzo Tele-Meister Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: England, Surrey Age: 27 Posts: 383	Thanks for all your replys, i thought that this may ahve been caused by not lettin it cure properly. But this does infact look like a sticky substance has got underneath the bridge n hence why some paint is sitting on the bridge now. I think my HWY1 is having a affair.........

March 8th, 2007, 12:05 PM	#12 (permalink)
lightice Tele-Meister Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Malaysia Posts: 462	With whom?! Your amp? :) Don't worry, I bet its just some love juice.