FRETS.NET
Mandolin with slightly sunken top
What is the method for returning a carved spruce mandolin top back to original arch..or even close? It is slightly flat under the bridge. Just enough to see it sunk a bit. Wondering if this is even worth the effort. Removal and replacement of the back (even if I saw it off) is costly in time. I can't tell but my guess id excessive moisture when strung to tension was the cause.
Jerry
William F.Eden
I have took the profile of the other side Jerry and made another base brace and glued it in throught the f. hole under the bad side and it worked just fine. You Will need a little help doing it you will need two fine clamps like they use on Violins to get in the f hole and a sharp piece of wire to kind of skrew into the new bar to hold it while you work at it. Now this is for repairing the top if the problem is under one side of the bridge... Best of luck . Bill..............
May 21, 2012
LARRY KLOSE
Frank Ford has several good articles showing creative repairs for this condition. Look at the big index on www.frets.com. It looks easier with an oval hole but there's ways... .
Larry
May 22, 2012
Ned Knepp
"Just enough to see it sink a bit."
How much is "a bit"? Does it actually interfere with the action of the instrument?
If you can't get some pictures up, we need you to give more information about the instrument. What type of sound holes does it have? How is it braced? How old is it? Is this a new issue or has it been this way for a while?
Pictures would help a lot.
May 22, 2012