View Full Version : Re-soldering wire under bridge
Richard H
Dec-12-2006, 8:32am
The cuatro is like a small 4-stringed guitar, much used in Venezuelan music.
On one of the cuatros in our group, a wire has come loose from the p/u under the bridge. The sound hole is 21/2 inches diameter and the bridge is about 6 inches away from that.
It won't be easy to remove the p/u and re-glue.
I'm thinking of cutting out a circle in the back, re-soldering the wire and re-sealing. Since it is played amplified, the sound probably won't be much affected.
A luthier could take off the back and do the same thing but I don't want to risk that.
Any other suggestions?
Joe Mendel
Dec-12-2006, 8:51am
What type of P/U is it? If you can get it out without damage, you can put it back. Not necessarily easliy or quicly, but you can do it. Get it out as you see fit and fix it. Here' how I've put a few Pick-up-the-worlds in Tacoma mandolins. Get a piece of copper wire that you can bend to shape and heavy enough to hold that shape, bend a small circle on one end of it, oriented like a basketball hoop with a wire hanging from it toward the floor. Then bend the handle so you can push the P/U to the top with the circle, with the handle sticking through the soundhole or jack hole. Do a couple of dry runs first. Put your adhesive on the P/U attach the P/U to the circle with some not very sticky tape, push the P/U against the top where you want it. Then work the wire off the P/U, rub it around a little, gently. Then use a heavy ballon, I use one of those balloon punching ball on a rubber band things, and blow it up inside the instrument until it clamps the P/U in place, let it sit a while. Remove the balloon and you should be in business. It's not easy, but can be done with patience.
Richard H
Dec-12-2006, 9:05am
Lord have mercy, Joe, you could probably do brain surgery in your spare time!
Did I mention it's real dark in there? Maybe I can stick in a bulb from the wife's X'mas tree.
I haven't been able to see the p/u clearly as yet. What worries me is that some guys mention putting them on with super-glue and I may do more damage trying to get it off.
Joe Mendel
Dec-12-2006, 10:13am
Richard,
I do use a white christmas light inside to see things better, no kidding. If it's superglued on you might consider leaving it in there and installing another P/U.
I don't think my hands are steady enough for brain surgery.
Can you take a picture of what you can see? How is the bridge itself attached to the top?
Richard H
Dec-12-2006, 6:50pm
A picture would be a good idea but I have no experience with cell phone cameras and don't know if they can do close-ups.
The bridge is glued on like many typical guitar bridges.
There is a saddle bone(?) but the electronics are obviously all inside.
mandroid
Dec-12-2006, 7:06pm
Many strip piezos are under the bridge in a slot made just a bit deeper than the slot for the bridge saddle strip
and you can take the bridge saddle out, sitting on top of it
remove the jack, desolder the leads on the jack, and then the pickup will come out the top.
markishandsome
Dec-12-2006, 8:03pm
I think taking off the whole back would be a heck of a lot easier than cutting a hole in it. I'm not sure what you mean by risking it. You could do it yourself with a household iron and spatula. You'll never be able to get the piece you cut out to fit back in right and you'll destroy any internal bracing. Sounds like a great way to wreck an instrument.
Richard H
Dec-13-2006, 6:26am
That's why I asked the question here, Markish. The idea of a hole came to me because a guitarist friend who is a fancy woodworker couldn't stand the idea of his instrument having a built-in pre-amp and battery so he took them out and sealed up the spaces so you'd never notice.
I'm sure he could do likewise with a cuatro.
Actually the back is a flat piece of wood with no cross struts under the bridge area.
However, I'll take your advice. No holes.