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I am now ready to finish my first acoustic build. I was wondering do you finish the guitar then strip/scrape the finish where the bridge is supposed to be glued in or do you mask them before finishing? Also how do you attach a painting stick to the guitar so I can paint it? When I painted electrics I held the spray gun in one hand and the guitar in one hand but electric body is much smaller compared to acoustic and I'd imagine it wouldn't work too well...

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Cat-gut strings are made from kitten guts, stretched out to near breaking point and then hardened with grue saliva. As a result these give a feeling of Pain and anguish whenever played, and often end up playing themselves backwards as part of satanic rituals.

Typhoon Guitars
http://www.typhoon-guitars.com

For the bridge I usually get it located properly, pin it with two 1.4mm brads through the saddle slot, place low tack drafting tape under it and scribe around the bridge lightly so I can lift the tape and the bridge footprint is exposed but the rest of the top area is protected. Make a second scribe line 1/32" inside the first and then put a 1/8" router bit on a Dremel in the Stew Mac adjustable base (with a thin layer of cork on the bottom of the base) and rout the finish off to that line. Finish up by scraping with a chisel. It's safer than it sounds! I rout a little ledge on the bridge as shown by David Collins on this forum to clear the edge of the finish when gluing. The ledge in the picture was an early effort and they are not as wide now.
Terry

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It's not what you don't know that hurts you, it's what you do know that's wrong.

Looks a bit of a scary idea to me I'd rather scrape away with a razor and scalpel before I'd have to confidence to try that.

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Formerly JJH

I learn more from my mistakes than my successes

I have been doing bridges the same way for years. I just want to take off the finish and get a clean wood to wood contact. Best way I know of to do that and get a clean looking joint
john hall

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John Hall
blues creek guitars
Authorized CF Martin Repair
Co President of ASIA
You Don't know what you don't know until you know it