The Hub

The COE reviewed this bridge disaster in January, a Tanglewood acoustic given to me that had the bridge ripped off as well as some of the underlying top, and an attempted repair with spruce veneer (COE video link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AlpOIWQrAlw&t=2685s). The general opinion was to install a bigger bridge plate.

However, once I removed the existing bridge plate, I found that the underlying repair had not been fully done, and some of the top was entirely missing, with only the thin spruce veneer (maybe 0.040-0.050" thick) over the holes.

So I shaped the larger bridge plate, but I believe I should repair the holes. I am thinking about epoxy putty to flush up the inside, followed by generously hide gluing the overlying bridge plate making sure it's well attached to the top and the X braces.

The pictures show (1) the removed bridge plate with adherent top outlined in white pencil superimposed on the new bridge plate (0.110" thick maple), (2) the bridge laid on top to show the extent of planned support, and the underside of the top showing the extent of the damage/missing cedar top.

I would be grateful for any advice on ways to proceed here. Thanks!