[quote name='BigBeatNut' post='3590' date='May 21 2007, 01:11 PM']Velvet: I'd be willing to try that, but for one thing, someone seems to have deliberately moved both soundpost and bridge towards the endpin by maybe an inch and a half. So I could do a couple of things
1) Follow your advice and finish up with a scale length that's an inch and a half too long
2) Figure out (with a luthier) why the bridge was moved (relieve pressure on the crack, maybe ?) and get the whole thing put right.
Any way you look at it, I'm going to need a luthiers advice I think.[/quote]
Looking at it again, for me it all comes down to how bad the cracks are. As long as the top can be made structurally sound (and my untrained eye suggests you shouldn't have too much problem, although I have no idea of cost) then getting the soundpost and bridge in the right place is a moments work for a luthier.
That said, what's an extra inch and a half on top of 41"?