The Steel Guitar Forum

Well, as posted in the "Tricone Fever" thread, I really like the Republic a lot, given the low cost especially.

I want to put heavier strings on it though, and I think there may be a problem. The T-bridge cover is right now just barely over the the strings. If they were any thicker, I think I'd have buzz issues by the string hitting the T-bridge cover. They're almost there now (almost, but not quite). The bridge could stand to go down about an 1/8 inch, to be honest.

Is the bridge easy enough to lower, or does this involve sanding the bottom of it? It's a maple with ebony cap bridge. I haven't opened it up until I heard from someone who might know what I need to do.

I have no problem doing a sanding, if that's what it takes. I'm hyper-careful about that kind of thing, and have done it with perfect results on two acoustics of mine.

Thanks.
TJW

Todd,

If it were me, I'd burnish the new strings into the bridge slots, string it up, bring it up to tension and THEN decide what to do about string/coverplate clearance.

-Dave

MY Republic has the same issue. the saddle is a bit too high. String it up first and see if there is a buzz.

I'm going to string it up next week when my strings arrive, and if it is buzzing due to the bridge being too high and strings hitting the cover, then I guess I'll pop that puppy off and have a look see...

tx

Todd,

Mine was also too high. I pulled out the bridge insert and sanded about 1/16 off of the bottom; just mark a line parallel with the bottom at whatever amount you want to remove and carefully sand using sandpaper lying on a hard flat surface. Make sure to keep the insert at 90 degrees to the sanding surface and dead flat. It sure makes sliding the strings out of the way for bridge adjustments a lot easier.