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Thread: Removing the bridge cover on a Martin

  1. #1
    Registered User red7flag's Avatar
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    Default Removing the bridge cover on a Martin

    I am looking for advice on how to remove the bridge cover on my Martin Style C to change the strings. Thanks in advance.
    Tony Huber
    1930 Martin Style C #14783
    2011 Mowry GOM
    2013 Hester F4 #31
    2014 Ellis F5 #322
    2017 Nyberg Mandola #172

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    Moderator MikeEdgerton's Avatar
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    Default Re: Removing the bridge cover on a Martin

    Quote Originally Posted by red7flag View Post
    I am looking for advice on how to remove the bridge cover on my Martin Style C to change the strings. Thanks in advance.
    If it's the original tailpiece It's basically a Waverly Cloud type tailpiece. The cover slide straight up off the base. Here is one disassembled shown from two different angles. The cloud cover slides down the two outside rails on the base. you should be able to slide it up using both thumbs and no tools.
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    "It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
    --M. Stillion

    "Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
    --J. Garber

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    Registered User red7flag's Avatar
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    Default Re: Removing the bridge cover on a Martin

    Thank you, Mike.
    Tony Huber
    1930 Martin Style C #14783
    2011 Mowry GOM
    2013 Hester F4 #31
    2014 Ellis F5 #322
    2017 Nyberg Mandola #172

  4. #4
    Moderator MikeEdgerton's Avatar
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    Default Re: Removing the bridge cover on a Martin

    Let us know how it works out. I actually stick a piece of thick stick-on felt in a line under the cover. It won't slide down all the way but it stops any overtones you might hear.
    "It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
    --M. Stillion

    "Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
    --J. Garber

  5. #5
    Likes quaint instruments poul hansen's Avatar
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    Default Re: Removing the bridge cover on a Martin

    Can you buy this cover type anywhere? I doesn't have to be Gibson, it's for an old German mandolin
    Kentucky KM-805..........2 Hora M1086 Portuguese II(1 in car)
    Hora M1088 Mandola.....
    Richmond RMA-110..... .Noname Bearclaw
    Pochette Franz Janisch...5 Pocket............Alfredo Privitera pocket
    Puglisi Pocket 1908........Puglisi 1912.......Puglisi 1917
    3 Mandolinetto ..............C.Garozzo
    1 Mandriola...................Cannelo G. Mandriola...Böhm Waldzither 1921
    Johs Møller 1945............Luigi Embergher Studio 1933
    Marma Seashell back......Luigi Embergher 5bis 1909

  6. #6
    Moderator MikeEdgerton's Avatar
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    Default Re: Removing the bridge cover on a Martin

    The sizes might be just a little different. Over the years they have varied slightly. You can find them now and again on eBay. What you want is the base and the cover even if your base is fine, it might not fit the cover. There is one here but it was off a banjo and they cut off the bottom of the base. There is a complete on here but it is in rough shape and might need to be re-plated. I'm guessing this cover is being manufactured by a Cafe member from the UK. I see it is Tony Dixon making them. I'm glad to see he is still doing this. The other way to get one of these is to find Harmony or Kay mandolin with the right tailpiece and buy the whole thing, harvest the tailpiece, replace it with a Gibson style and re-sell the mandolin. Good luck.
    "It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
    --M. Stillion

    "Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
    --J. Garber

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    Registered User Sue Rieter's Avatar
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    Default Re: Removing the bridge cover on a Martin

    Quote Originally Posted by MikeEdgerton View Post
    If it's the original tailpiece It's basically a Waverly Cloud type tailpiece. The cover slide straight up off the base. Here is one disassembled shown from two different angles. The cloud cover slides down the two outside rails on the base. you should be able to slide it up using both thumbs and no tools.
    What if it's really on there tight and you can't get it to move with your thumbs?

  9. #8
    Moderator MikeEdgerton's Avatar
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    Default Re: Removing the bridge cover on a Martin

    Quote Originally Posted by Sue Rieter View Post
    What if it's really on there tight and you can't get it to move with your thumbs?
    Hold the mandolin while sitting in a chair with the neck between your legs and the headstock pointed down and the back pointed at your body. Grab onto the back end of the mandolin on both sides of the tailpiece and attempt to slide the cover up with both thumbs at the same time. I've never failed to get one off that way. Unfortunately I have only made one video thus far for removing a tailpiece cover and it was the Gibson type. I'll try to make one for these.
    "It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
    --M. Stillion

    "Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
    --J. Garber

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  11. #9
    Registered User Sue Rieter's Avatar
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    Default Re: Removing the bridge cover on a Martin

    Quote Originally Posted by MikeEdgerton View Post
    Hold the mandolin while sitting in a chair with the neck between your legs and the headstock pointed down and the back pointed at your body. Grab onto the back end of the mandolin on both sides of the tailpiece and attempt to slide the cover up with both thumbs at the same time. I've never failed to get one off that way. Unfortunately I have only made one video thus far for removing a tailpiece cover and it was the Gibson type. I'll try to make one for these.
    I'd like to see a video if you have a chance. You're basically bracing your hands against the bottom corner of the mandolin where the top meets the side? This seems nerve wracking to me because of how light and delicate the mandolin seems.

    The coin trick looks pretty nifty for the sliding type.

  12. #10
    Registered User red7flag's Avatar
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    Default Re: Removing the bridge cover on a Martin

    I finally got to changing the strings on the Martin. Two thumbs, as Mike recommended, did not work. The top was jammed on there. I used some heavy scissors to pry it up. It took a while. Will put some oil on the surface to improve the process in the future. Thanks all.
    Tony Huber
    1930 Martin Style C #14783
    2011 Mowry GOM
    2013 Hester F4 #31
    2014 Ellis F5 #322
    2017 Nyberg Mandola #172

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