stickystrings

I think the reason to finish the guitar and then scrape for the bridge is to ease the polishing/buffing/etc. of the top. If you're french polishing it, it may not make a difference (don't know how easy it would be to french polish around the bridge).

I would rather glue the bridge on before getting shellac on the top. Somehow I don't think the bridge would bond as well to shellac as it would to bare wood.

Thanks for the advice, will finish and scrape clear for bridge.

Finish, then scrape, then glue the bridge. Significantly easier to sand, finish and polish without the bridge on there, and scraping the finish off the bridge area is really quite simple.

Will do. Many thanks.

Im sure ill get some advice here, hopefully!!! I am ready to put a finish on a Triple 0 kit from Stew Mac, putting a french polish on it. Stew Mac recommend leaving the bridge till after the finish, I have thought long and hard about it and think it would be "cleaner" to go opposite way!!! I know it would be easier to apply a finish without the bridge there, its a Spruce top. Any opinions folks.