Terry, et al, You do not need to remove the plate to do the re-cap! Remove the strings. Plane the top cap off. Dry fit the proper thickness of cap material. (use bridge pins for location holes). Clamp beams above the bridge, parallel to the bridge. Shim the board under the bridge for support. Glue the new cap on, using pinblock jacks. Remove the locator pins. Re-establish the string line across the new cap. Set the proper speaking length lines. Centerpunch the new bridge pin positions. Hand drill. Graphite the top. Notch or bevel the terminations. Burnish top. Insert bridge pins. Put the bass strings back on. Bring to pitch. It's more difficult to direct how it's done, than to actually do it. Best Regards, Joe Garrett, RPT, (Oregon) I'm never lost, because everyone is telling me where to go. <G>
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