Adonis Acoustic Overhaul - Part 2

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6

Here are a few updates since we last reported on this Adonis Acoustic. On November 1, I discovered the soundhole label while cleaning out the inside of the body. It was balled up, torn, damp, encrusted with grime, and even had a cockroach egg sticking to it (since removed).

Tattered Soundhole Label

Now, since I was planning to replace the tuners, they had to be removed first, right? All went well except for the Low and High E tuners. The High E tuner screw refused to budge, while the Low E tuner screw broke while I was unscrewing it.

Back of Headstock

Problematic Low and High E Tuner Screws

Headstock Face

Enough of them tuners, then. Let's get back to the warped areas above and below the soundhole. We're taking one last look at them before getting down to business. Meanwhile, I've managed to pry the bridge off after steam treatment with a clothes iron and a damp rag.

Warpage Below the Soundhole

Warpage Above the Soundhole

Steaming the Bridge

Bridge Pried Off the Top

Right, then. Addressing the warped soundhole issue will involve a clothes iron, a damp rag, G clamps, and wooden clamping cauls. We'll first steam the affected areas for a few seconds each, and then clamp them down nice and tight.

Steaming the Warped Soundhole (Lower Area)

Clamps and Cauls Applied

Steaming the Warped Soundhole (Upper Area)

Clamps and Cauls Applied

It's November 10, and the clamps have been on for about a week now. This should have been sufficient time for the damp wood to dry off and begin to straighten out somewhat. Here's what it looks like after the clamps have been removed. I'll be repeating the steaming and clamping process until the warpage has been sufficiently flattened.

After 1st Round of Treatment (Lower Area)

After 1st Round of Treatment (Upper Area)