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How to keep a "floating bridge" from moving around?

Currently working on a couple CBG's and am planning on not fixing my hardwood bridge to the soundboard. Just curious what methods people employ to keep something like a hardwood bridge from moving around, scratching up the finish, etc...??? Is there something I should paint on the feet of this thing?

Any advice is helpful, thanx.

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Permalink Reply by Slowpaw Steve T on December 28, 2013 at 9:42pm

no need to glue it, the string tension will keep the bridge in place, just make sure the base of the bridge is flat and level and not rocking in any way (-:

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Permalink Reply by Uncle John on December 29, 2013 at 3:45am

Steve is right. But sometimes due to not great work or design, a bit of hot melt glue is in order.

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Permalink Reply by Barsymes Cratchnee on December 29, 2013 at 3:54pm

great. will try it without then. base of bridge is pretty flat, no rocking at all.

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Permalink Reply by the anonymous pick on December 29, 2013 at 5:30pm

proper , or " enough" , downward string angle behind the bridge will hold it snug .

but remember too much, and too close , may push it forward .

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Permalink Reply by Ron "Oily" Sprague on December 29, 2013 at 10:25pm

Attach a flat steel plate to the bottom of the bridge. Place a bar magnet under the lid. Viola! No more bridge creep. Allows for setting compensation angle, too.

Next step, attach two wires, one at either end of the steel plate, and wire them to an output jack. Viola! Cheapy bridge pickup.

For my next trick, I'll disappear...

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Permalink Reply by Randy S. Bretz on December 29, 2013 at 11:38pm

Never had to glue one yet...proper design and install you shouldn`t need to glue it down.

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Permalink Reply by Yankee Dog on December 30, 2013 at 2:23am

be sure to put a couple of small witness marks on the box where the bridge goes. Sooner or later you will change strings or bump the bridge. The witness marks will show you where the bridge is suppose to go. Otherwise your intonatation will be off if you put the bridge back in the wrong spot.

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Permalink Reply by Thomas "Duck" Petry on December 30, 2013 at 12:20pm

Wipe a thin film of silicon adhesive on the surface that sits on the box and let it dry thoroughly and it will resist sliding but be movable if you desire. Make witness marks as Yankee Dog said to return it to the correct place should you unstring it.