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Yesterday I started with what I thought was a normal bridge refit on a classical guitar. I thought the pearl inlays on the top of the bridge were decoration only until I photographed the inside and found two bolts holding the bridge on! What a shock. I've never seen or heard of that before. Has anyone else?
The soundboard is slightly warped, so I either pre-clap before refitting the bridge, or hope clamping the bridge takes out the warps. The client loves the sound of the guitar, he says it's almost like a piano. He brought it to me with no strings on.
Anyway, I'll repair it to its intended bolted state as that's what the client wants.

Yes, it's common - especially on lower priced guitars. It's not a good idea, however. Bridges are not supposed to be completely permanent. When the glue gets too warm or has too much string pressure the bridge joint is supposed to release to prevent further damage to the guitar, so that proper repairs may be made. Screws or bolts prevent that and usually result in warped tops, warped bridges - or in extreme cases, the bridge will simply tear itself off the top or even peel off the whole top.

My recommendation is to educate your client, and suggest proper bridge installation - if it's still possible. How badly is the top warped? Solid top or plywood? Makes a difference. If it's plywood, the glue between plies may have slipped, leaving the top permanently warped.

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"Act your age, not your shoe size" - Prince

To add to what Chris said the bolts really are not necessary especially on a classical with lower string tension but some import makers use and used them anyway. The bolts may be how the factory clamps the thing on when they built it.

I would consider not reinstalling the bolts and the mass reduction on the sweet spot of the top may, may be a pleasing result tone wise for the client or they may never know one way or another, you can never tell.

But a well fitted bridge on a classical does not need bolts when properly fit and glued.

I've seen some pretty big name makers using locator pins that I did not expect to find, I speak of Taylor and the GS mini line. I've also found nylon locator pins on a $20K custom made by one of the best known small builders today. You never know what you will find in there and this comment is not a judgement call on locator pins, just relating to you that I find stuff I don't expect at times too.

I see you know what you are doing so much of my post is for the rest of the forum. Welcome to the forum Jonny.

I had a classical reglue a month or two ago with a single, short drywall screw under a pearl button in the center of the tieblock. There was a fan brace underneath and the screw was short enough that it didn’t emerge from the brace so there was no evidence internally. It was a small-builder guitar too and otherwise nicely made. I omitted it during the reglue, not due to any snobbery about fasteners but due to the fact that it demonstrably had not worked to keep the bridge on and therefore was proven to be extraneous

Maybe we need a separate forum of "don't do these things" pics

To the OP if you go to our web site on the videos page we are replacing a plastic bridge on a LG series vintage G*bson. Fasteners as well and we toss them. We plug the holes and go to the trouble of making our plugs match the guitar so spruce with a laminated piece of bridge plate is created and glued in place. The idea is future serviceability of the bridge plate so it can be removed conventionally since this is a vintage instrument.

Anyway we took the fasteners and make a proper wooden bridge. With a refined fit, minding the P's and Q's of HHG Bob's your uncle and the new bridge is singing pretty and firmly in place.