Bridge Location

Questions and answers for beginners. If you have a question, so do most other people.
scamp
Posts: 223
Joined: Sat Mar 26, 2022 8:19 pm

Bridge Location

Post by scamp »

Just about ready to start finishing the Guitar.

Last major step is to locate the bridge and mask off the location for finishing.
According to Bill Cory"s book, you measure the distance from the nut-end of the fret board to the crown of the 12th fret. The center of the bridge saddle between the D and E strings should be this same distance away from the 12th fret plus a compensation of 7/64 ( 0.11 inch ).
Is this generally accepted as correct?
Any feedback on this appreciated as I don't want to muck this up.

Also, Bill Cory secures the bridge position by drilling two 1/16 inch holes ( or possibly two 3/64 inch holes) through the bridge saddle slot into the bridge plate and then secures it with appropriate brads (wire nails) so it doesn't move. He then drills all the bridge pin holes using a 5/32 drill bit.

He then masks the area under the bridge, 1/16 inch smaller than the edge of the bridge.

So.... Is this what you would recommend?
If not, what?

Not sure it makes sense to drill all the bridge pin holes at this point or even drill holes to secure the bridge, given your only masking off the bridge location.

Scamp
tippie53
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Re: Bridge Location

Post by tippie53 »

John Hall
Blues Creek Guitars Inc
Authorized CF Martin Repair Center
president of Association of Stringed Instrument Artisans
http://www.bluescreekguitars.com
Kevin Sjostrand
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Location: Visalia, CA

Re: Bridge Location

Post by Kevin Sjostrand »

I do pretty much the same BUT I don't drill any pin holes until after the bridge has been glued on.
You will use the two small holes with nails to located the bridge again when time to glue and clamp it.
tippie53
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Re: Bridge Location

Post by tippie53 »

You just drill into not through the top this secures location perfectly.
DO NOT USE SALT this can weaken the glue I have seen this suggested in other forums
John Hall
Blues Creek Guitars Inc
Authorized CF Martin Repair Center
president of Association of Stringed Instrument Artisans
http://www.bluescreekguitars.com
Kevin Sjostrand
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Joined: Sat Feb 09, 2008 8:06 pm
Location: Visalia, CA

Re: Bridge Location

Post by Kevin Sjostrand »

What would salt be used for?????
tippie53
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Re: Bridge Location

Post by tippie53 »

to keep things from slipping
John Hall
Blues Creek Guitars Inc
Authorized CF Martin Repair Center
president of Association of Stringed Instrument Artisans
http://www.bluescreekguitars.com
Kevin Sjostrand
Posts: 3712
Joined: Sat Feb 09, 2008 8:06 pm
Location: Visalia, CA

Re: Bridge Location

Post by Kevin Sjostrand »

Yikes
phavriluk
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Joined: Mon Jul 09, 2012 9:49 pm

Re: Bridge Location

Post by phavriluk »

Salt? Slipping? Isn't that the job of those two brads at the ends of the saddle slot?
peter havriluk
tippie53
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Re: Bridge Location

Post by tippie53 »

yes your brads and my technique with the 3/16 hole and 10-32 machine screw are much better ways to secure it for gluing.
John Hall
Blues Creek Guitars Inc
Authorized CF Martin Repair Center
president of Association of Stringed Instrument Artisans
http://www.bluescreekguitars.com
Diane Kauffmds
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Joined: Sun Mar 09, 2014 8:13 pm

Re: Bridge Location

Post by Diane Kauffmds »

I've never heard of salt either. Holy cow!
Diane Kauffmann
Country Roads Guitars
countryroadsguitars@gmail.com
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