Official Luthiers Forum!

I've got an old Eco 12 string with a split bridge. I've made a new one for it and getting ready to put it on. In addition to glue, pins and one of those adjustable saddles that screws directly thru the top, the old one had three pop rivets holding the bridge down. The glue joint hadn't failed so it wasn't a matter of the usual bridge ripping off the top repair, the bridge was split thru one set of pin holes.

I'm just wondering if I want to go thru the bother of riveting that thing back on - the rivets had little plastic covers which I saved. I could also put flat head machine bolts thru those locations and cover the heads with pearl dots, or I could plug the holes in the top and do nothing.

Comments?



ps - top is in reasonably good condition, I'm sure I'll have a good glue joint

I'd be surprised but what those pop rivets were some prior owner's attempt at keeping the bridge attached after glue failure. And those things don't have much purchase in wood, and expanding the rivet causes the rivet to bulge out the sides to work, which in wood tries to split the wood. The rivet expands a bit on the backside as the mandrel is drawn through the rivet and bulges out the sides of the rivet itself.

I would not compound the nonsense of pop rivets in wood by using them again.

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Peter Havriluk

I not only would not use the rivets, but I would also not use that saddle. Use a normal bone saddle in a non-through slot and you will maximize tone, plus long term stability of the bridge and top. Screws, bolts, and rivets should have no role in flattop bridges.

I'm convinced the rivets were original but not necessary. Its simple for me to put them on the new bridge but I would like to drill the holes before gluing it on. And Barry, I have converted several of these adjustable saddle assemblies but the owner of this only wants to make it playable and not spend any more money than necessary. It needs a lot of other things to make it a good guitar - frets, several cracks, probably a lot of setup work - the adjustable saddle will be no worse than its been for the last 30 year and it makes my work much easier.

Pop rivets? Well I never.........
I agree, it just doesn’t seem like a great idea.

FWIW - I glued the bridge on without rivets or holes for them. If the owner decides he wants them I can easily add them later.