Is Your Bridge Polished.??

[3notes]

I have a guitar in which one side of the bridge isn't polished, the side towards the soundhole. Dust loves to collect there and because it isn't polished, well, it just makes it worse.

It's not a huge deal to me. I simply clean it when the strings are off.

Is your bridge polished "all the way around.??"

[Tico]

Originally Posted by 3notes

I have a guitar in which one side of the bridge isn't polished, the side towards the soundhole. Dust loves to collect there and because it isn't polished, well, it just makes it worse.

It's not a huge deal to me. I simply clean it when the strings are off.

Is your bridge polished "all the way around.??"

I'm not sure what you mean by 'polished'.

I have 8 acoustics.
Only the classical has a bridge that was finished with nitrocellulose lacquer, just like the rest of the exterior of the guitar, except the fingerboard.

The bridges of all seven steel-string guitars have no finish (of nitrocellulose polyester or any other finish) over the ebony or rosewood.
They may have been oiled at the factory and 'polished' by someone rubbing the oil into the wood.

But again what do you mean by 'polished'?

[Peegoo]

Probably means "sanded smooth to a shiny surface." Ebony, Rosewood, and others can be shined up like this with 2000-grit paper.

If you keep your guitars out of the case and close at hand, get yourself a good-quality latex paint brush. A 2" trim brush is perfect to use like a whisk to dust off the bridge, headstock, etc. The soft natural bristles are perfectly safe for all finishes. Do not use the brush for any other purpose. Tie a loop of leather lacing through the handle and hang the brush on the back of your guitar stand.

One like this:

https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/FVEAA...H-3/s-l500.jpg

Apply some walnut stain to the handle to dress it up a bit if you like.

[3notes]

Originally Posted by Peegoo

Probably means "sanded smooth to a shiny surface." Ebony, Rosewood, and others can be shined up like this with 2000-grit paper.

If you keep your guitars out of the case and close at hand, get yourself a good-quality latex paint brush. A 2" trim brush is perfect to use like a whisk to dust off the bridge, headstock, etc. The soft natural bristles are perfectly safe for all finishes. Do not use the brush for any other purpose. Tie a loop of leather lacing through the handle and hang the brush on the back of your guitar stand.

One like this:

https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/FVEAA...H-3/s-l500.jpg

Apply some walnut stain to the handle to dress it up a bit if you like.

I know how to clean the guitar.

The ebony bridge is polished, silky smooth. Except for the side facing the soundhole. It looks like a "rough cut" but thats not the proper term. It's unfinished.

The question to others is... Is your bridge polished on all exposed sides.??

[JayBee1404]

The bridge on my Lowden most certainly is 'polished' - it has a satin 'half-gloss' on the RW (I think it's EIR).

The bridges on my Martins and Collings are definitely not 'polished' - just black-stained, unfinished ebony, completely matt on all surfaces.

[3notes]

So the bridge on your Martins and Collings have a uniform "finish" to the bridge.

My bridge does not have a uniform finish. It looks as though I have a bridge that "2-tone." 3/4's of the bridge on my Larrivee is gorgeous. And then, that ugly leading edge. I wonder why.?? It looks like a short cut. That said, I can deal with this, no problem. It's a beautiful guitar in nearly every way.

I don't know. I just took a good look with a glass and I'm guessing it has to do with the grain. It doesn't reflect light like the rest of the bridge does.

[downtime]

I can't recall ever seeing a bridge whose surface was not uniformly finished.
Every guitar I've owned, cheap to expensive has a bridge that is sanded smooth on all exposed surfaces.
Sounds like yours missed a step during the finishing process. If it were mine (and it bothered me) I wouldn't hesitate to tape off the top around the bridge and sand with fine sandpaper and micromesh. Apply small amount of Dr. Ducks Axe Wax and play the thing.

[Nymuso]

I dunno, I never gave it a moment's thought, but now I'll have to go look.

[3notes]

Originally Posted by downtime

I can't recall ever seeing a bridge whose surface was not uniformly finished.
Every guitar I've owned, cheap to expensive has a bridge that is sanded smooth on all exposed surfaces.
Sounds like yours missed a step during the finishing process. If it were mine (and it bothered me) I wouldn't hesitate to tape off the top around the bridge and sand with fine sandpaper and micromesh. Apply small amount of Dr. Ducks Axe Wax and play the thing.

Me too. I think. I just noticed it a day or 2 ago. Can't get it out of my head. Yet, it doesn't bother me that much. lol. Go figure...

It seems like they missed it.

[nacluth]

They probably did miss it. Just something that slipped by someone. It’s not too big of a deal. We use Johnson’s paste wax to buff our bridges up to a semi-gloss. If you want, you could put some painter’s tape around the area and buff on some wax in thin coats (or the whole bridge) until you got the look you desire. Use a soft rag and try not to get the wax in places you don’t want. 10 minutes max to a “finished” bridge.

[3notes]

Originally Posted by nacluth

They probably did miss it. Just something that slipped by someone. It’s not too big of a deal. We use Johnson’s paste wax to buff our bridges up to a semi-gloss. If you want, you could put some painter’s tape around the area and buff on some wax in thin coats (or the whole bridge) until you got the look you desire. Use a soft rag and try not to get the wax in places you don’t want. 10 minutes max to a “finished” bridge.

Thanks for the tip.

I've got a free set up to burn. I'll run it by the luthier when I make it down to the shop in a month or 2.

[jaybones]

The rosewood bridge on mine is finely sanded, but doesn't have anything (other than the natural oils in the wood). So I guess you could say its polished.

[Brucebubs]

A little treatment with Music Nomad F-One fretboard conditioner and you won't even notice it.


Here's my Martin JDP II before and after I used it on the fretboard and bridge.

[maxtheaxe]

My 14yo Larrivee L-03 has acquired a polish on the bass-side wing of the ebony bridge just from playing it. Could yours have gotten polished this way?

It actually looks nice on my L-03...makes me want to polish the treble side to match. I've already polished the rest of the body.

[JayBee1404]

Originally Posted by Brucebubs

A little treatment with Music Nomad F-One fretboard conditioner and you won't even notice it.

Dr Duck's will do the same thing. I've used it on the bridges and FBs of my acoustics, and to darken the RW FB of my wife's Fender bass.