Replacing bridge plate
 

My old Tak has a large rosewood veneered plywood bridge plate (who'da thunk it), and I'd like to replace it with a small maple plate. How exactly would I go about doing this without popping the back off?

I'm pretty handy with tools, and have done several extensive repairs (neck resets, refrets, headstock repairs, etc) but nothing dealing with replacing a bridge plate without removing the back.

I've heard of guys scalloping the braces through the soundhole, so I figured it'd be possible to replace the bridgeplate through the soundhole as well. If it's not, that's fine. I'll pop the back off and go at it that way.

Thanks guys.

MOST glues are heat sensitive, ie, if you heat them they'll soften.

now up front, I wouldn't bother with this, but if you HAVE to do it........

get a travel Iron. one of those little folding things you put in your suitcase to smooth out the creases of your best taffeta rara skirt.........

a full size iron wont fit through the sound hole.

flip the guitar face down and put the iron inside on the bridge plate for 10/15 mins.

it would be a good idea to put cardboard around the area so that the heat isn't direct onto the join up the centre of the top.......

it MIGHT come off with gentle persuasion with a knife.

here's how I removed a fretboard from a guitar to replace the truss rod. note the cardboard protecting the top

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e3...40600112-1.jpg

If you "pop the back off" you will end up refinishing the guitar.
If you gotta do it; heat, a mirror, sharp chisel and lots of Bandaids for you

I'm thinking .008 razor saw to remove the back and a finish touch up with CA. I've done quite a few invisible crack repairs using the stuff, and don't think it'll be much of a problem. She's an ugly ol' gal anyway. Reminds me a lot of Susan Boyle ;)