The bridge is finally glued... how long before stringing up?

[Steven Bollman]

The bridge is finally glued... It seems like of all glue joints this is the one to leave clamped and resting before unclamping. How long before stringing up?

[fazool]

First time I ever glued a bridge, I used liquid hide glue which takes about 24 hours but I waited three days because I was so nervous.

[Steven Bollman]

Originally Posted by fazool

First time I ever glued a bridge, I used liquid hide glue which takes about 24 hours but I waited three days because I was so nervous.

I decided to use LMI's Instrument makers glue instead of HHG because I was too worried about running out of time before it set. I guess I'll wait until tomorrow. It will be clamped for at least 15-18 hours before I unclamp it. I'm dying to string it up and see what 4 months of work sounds like.

[skimballc]

The LMI glue is good stuff. I've left it clamped as few as 6 hours before stringing up a guitar after a bridge reglue which made me nervous but held fine. Overnight works for me, or at least 12 hours.

[John Arnold]

I wait overnight (12+ hours) before stringing. In most cases, I remove the clamps after 4 or 5 hours. This applies to hot hide glue, but I use the same guideline for Titebond or LMI white.

[ruby50]

On another forum, a builder waited just 6 hours with Titebond glue and strung it up with success. Would I do that? Nope.

[Jim.S]

Steven probably won't be back for a while, he's likely got it strung up now and can't stop playing it. I stick to the 24 hour rule for all stressed joinery, I am sure you can get away with less.

Jim

[Steven Bollman]

I waited 20 hrs. Now it's strung up. It sustains for about an hour. Now sorting out some intonation issues. Action is way too high. Goes sharp when chording. the harmonic notes at the 12th fret and the open string are perfectly in tune. I think I need to cut deeper nut grooves. Sweating it out....

Originally Posted by Steven Bollman

Action is way too high. Goes sharp when chording.

Those two things are not necessarily related. How high is the action at the 12th fret?

Originally Posted by Steven Bollman

the harmonic notes at the 12th fret and the open string are perfectly in tune.

The harmonic and the open will always be in tune. The harmonic can't see the fret. After you get the action closer to what you want, the fretted 12th and harmonic will tell you more.

[Steven Bollman]

Originally Posted by Todd Yates

Those two things are not necessarily related. How high is the action at the 12th fret?

The harmonic and the open will always be in tune. The harmonic can't see the fret. After you get the action closer to what you want, the fretted 12th and harmonic will tell you more.

Thanks, Todd. And everybody!
It's starting to sound much better as I lower the action. It's still too high, so I'll do some more filing. It has a bit of a plucky sound with a lot of ringing sustain. I'll report back when I get the action closer to optimum...