Cutting off cover plate palm rest -- spider Bridge

[Alan Kirk]

Walmart is selling Chinese cover plates for about $20. As an experiment I'm thinking about buying one and cutting off the palm rest (the Greg Booth mod). I've got a dremel. Any advice on how to proceed?

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Chrome-Plate ... 2797774718

[K Maul]

Slowly with the finest cutter you have. Tape off the area. If it is plated it may easily flake off when you cut it.

[Fred Treece]

Like Kevin said, use about 5 layers of masking tape. I would screw the cover plate to a piece of plywood clamped to a workbench. Do a test cut in the middle of the palm rest to see what kind of plate flaking is in store. Cut close with the Dremel cutting wheel but leave some slop so you don’t take unnecessary chances with the face. Finish the cut flush and smooth with a fine grinder and sander/polisher wheel.

Don’t do this

[Joseph Lazo]

I had no idea Walmart sells guitar parts! Looks like mostly super cheap MIC stuff.

As far as cutting off the hand rest... if you intend to rest your hand atop the bridge, wouldn't you risk pushing the bridge downward to the point that you damage the cone?

[Rich Arnold]

I have 30 years of experience in fab work for what that's worth.

Probably no good way to cut that.

If I was forced (or hired) to work on that, I'd probably drill a hole or holes in it that would allow me to get at it with a jigsaw.

A Dremel would try to jump out of the cut and run across it making big skid marks.

But if you ruin it, you're only out $20. Watch your fingers!

[Bill Groner]

This is how you get it off! One minute in........
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-Vz67p5kLQ

[Tom Keller]

Why would you want to get rid of the palm rest? It seems to me it would make things awkward without the rest.

[Bobby Martin]

My Gold Tone/Beard upgrade square neck has a removable cover (four small screws) from the factory. Learned to play with it there, designed to protect the bridge/cone from damage. Not taking mine off. More info on Reso Hangout site

[Jerry Overstreet]

I did that to a Wechter cover plate a few years back. I may still have it. I'll check if you are interested.

[Tim Toberer]

I was stressed about doing this, but then just said F%@! it and threw it on the bench and went at it with a 1" abrasive disc on my Dremel. I didn't even bother to tape it off, but that would have been a good idea. I marked it with a fine sharpie first, comes off with alcohol. I managed to not make any skid marks, and it and took about 5 minutes. I cleaned up the ends with a little fine sandpaper.

[Jerry Overstreet]

FWIW, I cut up the one on the Wechter becuz I was doing some experimenting with things and just cut off the rest sos I wouldn't have to keep disassembling everything every time.

I didn't remove it for playing purposes ala Greg.

It's not perfect but I used some aluminum pieces and sheet metal screws sos I could put it back on when I was done until the next time I wanted to do something. Sort of a poor man's homemade removable rest...too cheap to buy a new cover plate.

I knew it wouldn't be a professional job but I was/am satisifed with it for my purposes. Fred

I'm likely done with all that so it's for sale if anybody's interested. There's a post in classifieds.




I bought one of those chinese cover plates once. They are very thick and heavy. I'm guessing all steel vs. the chrome plate brass one.

[Jim Pitman]

Gregg is a great player.
Is the point to be able to mute without totally blocking?
I have a WS with removable plate. I got to give that a try.

[Steven Pearce]

Bill G,
That’s a great method for removing those. No special tools needed is a bonus!
Thanks,
Steve