profchris

Any help? A board with sandpaper glued to it, used held horizontal, gets the sides even with each other.

I plane and sand a curve from neck block to tail block, and then glue in arched back braces. The back will bend down nicely over these...

I'd splice a piece of matching oak in, angled at the ends. Like this, with shallower slopes at the ends: \_______/ To get a match you...

Agreed. English grown oak tends not to be tall and straight, whilst oaks from Continental forests were and are. English hedgerow oak...

I'd try what I did recently on my double bass - splice a strip of maple in, buy some water colour paints, make the best match I could...

I think I get it from your description, but just to check - the only connection between the comb mechanism and the board is metal posts...

I find old CA glue goes gummy and doesn't set, so I'd say just age.

This is from the Repair Cafe Foundation: In the place where a Repair Café is located, you’ll find tools and materials to help you make...

Poplar? Soft and bland. Matching the effects of age, stripped varnish and sun will be the challenge!