New from California

[hopcrazybob]

Good morning all! I just joined in hopes of ideas/ suggestions on minimizing the 1/2” upward dish
of the soundboard on a 60’s era parlor sized Epiphone. The adjustable bridge was reworked and is well attached although it is as low as possible . I’d like to avoid a neck reset if possible, is there a way to maybe steam the soundboard back down? It’s 3/8”-1/2” from flat.
Thanks! Bob

[Diane Kauffmds]

Hi Bob. Welcome!

It would be helpful if you'd post photos. If you have a problem, let me know. I'm wondering if it has belly bulge.

[hopcrazybob]

Thanks Diane, I wouldn’t go to all the work but this one is sentimental, my wife brought it for me years ago because she felt sorry for me after I backed up over the Martin I had saved a year for.

[Kevin Sjostrand]

Hi California
Where are you located? I'm in Visalia, central valley

[hopcrazybob]

Santa Rosa Kevin, I’m also prepping for a Dreadnaught build with walnut slabs from the intersection of black and English walnut grafts that I have here

[phavriluk]

I was asked a while ago if I could get a much-abused Epiphone playable; it. too, had a bellied-up soundboard. And broken soundboard braces. The bracewood had so much runout I'm surprised the thing survived getting assembled in the first place.

[hopcrazybob]

Thankfully there's no broken braces, they are quite stout in fact. It makes me wonder how that stiff of ladder bracing bellies so often. A search here showed a couple of other Epi's with the same problem.
Bob

[carld05]

Hi Bob,
I used to live in Graton... about 45 years ago. Now I'm in Butte county on the other side of the state. Looking at that first picture, if the straight edge is laying flat on the frets and is 1/8" above the bridge It will need a neck reset. Flattening the belly will even increase the problem it seems to me. I wonder why the hole was put in the top in front of the bridge?
Hope you have a good Thanksgiving.
PS. I like a more malt flavor to my beer.

[phavriluk]

Does the soundboard bulge up more under string tension?

[hopcrazybob]

Hi Bob,
I used to live in Graton... about 45 years ago. Now I'm in Butte county on the other side of the state. Looking at that first picture, if the straight edge is laying flat on the frets and is 1/8" above the bridge It will need a neck reset. Flattening the belly will even increase the problem it seems to me. I wonder why the hole was put in the top in front of the bridge?
Hope you have a good Thanksgiving.
PS. I like a more malt flavor to my beer.

One of the “Graton Boys”! You probably remember Nick and his awesome hamburgers, did you go to high school near there? That was also the time of Gotlibe’s “Morning Star Ranch “ That old town has been completely revamped into a boutique tourist destination.

The straight edge is sitting on the frets and touching the bridge. Under string pressure the bridge is about an 1/8” higher. I am currently putting on a new bone saddle and nut which I will
After adjusting I’ll decide my course, playable is good. I’ve been leaving 20lbs of weight on the soundboard and have been considering water or steaming to help things along, I’m just worried about loosening braces if I do. I’m also thinking about using a tailpiece for a while to take the pressure off. The hole is for a pickup.
Bob