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Good luck! Just a brief word on router templates. They work great but bits can grab on end grain as you go around curves and chip out. I have had the best luck starting with the robo sander which leaves you about 1/32 proud and then finishing with the template router. Same for headstock templates.

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It's not what you don't know that hurts you, it's what you do know that's wrong.

Finally after trashing a couple, I have a bridge that's fits perfectly and ready for Installation after I scrape the finish.





Oh and BTW, I cut the wings with the 3/4 router bit and the rest was done by hand.

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Hutch

Get the heck off the couch and go build a guitar!!!!

Nice Hutch! I like the shape.

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Why be normal?

Thanks Ken. It's a Martin shape, at least as close as I can get it. I may be a little braver next time and redesign it. Or, i might just stick with what works for a couple more. We'll see. The gibson mustache bridge always intrigued me.

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Hutch

Get the heck off the couch and go build a guitar!!!!

I built this jig this morning. It's a.copy of what Stewmac offers. It could use a little refining but for now, my bridge is where should be.

Now I need to trace around it and remove the finish underneath. I chose this method over cutting the slot in place, which is ideal and I've done it in the past but I would rather cut the slot off of the guitar. That way if there's any mistakes, I can make a new bridge.

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Hutch

Get the heck off the couch and go build a guitar!!!!

Looks good. I built something similar (not as nice as yours) and used it for years before I bought the StewMac jig.

I generally use pre-slotted bridges on my new builds. I have no problem doing precision measuring and I have a pretty good idea where my tops will end up. A 1/8" saddle gives me plenty of room to set intonation. For bridge repair work I slot them on the guitar if it's a new bridge and isn't slotted.

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Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"

Bridge installed. I kind of followed Jeff Jewitts approach. The only difference is my home-made tight fitting dowel locating pins.

I had a problem with wing clamps falling off the bracing. Seems like fitted cauls would work better. Or use the the plate over the bridge with wing screws. I'll probably do that next time

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Hutch

Get the heck off the couch and go build a guitar!!!!

Holy crap, this build has been going on for almost six years. My second build has been started, I have box. Now my brother wants a tele. As soon as I finish this, I'll start 2 teles so I have one to make mistakes on.

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Hutch

Get the heck off the couch and go build a guitar!!!!

Dang, I need to slow down and think. I learned another lesson the hard way. My beautiful, installed bridge needs to come off. I made the mistake of assuming the plan dimensions were all I needed for the holes. That didn't work out at all. I don't know if I got the fretboard and neck too wide at the body or the plan is wrong. I'll double check that later. The outer strings are too far in.

Anyway, I ordered a heat blanket to remove the bridge. I'm a little concerned about the bridge plate. I know I have to fill the holes but now I'll have endgrain where the string ball sits. I'm thinking if I slot the holes and use unslotted pins, that should get me away from the endgrain plugs and set against the maple plate properly.

This guitar is kicking my butt. I'm determined to finish though.

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Hutch

Get the heck off the couch and go build a guitar!!!!

Another new bridge. I'll try to save the one that's on there now. It's a perfectly good bridge.

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Hutch

Get the heck off the couch and go build a guitar!!!!

If you can do it, tape 3 pieces of printer paper together end to end and draw out nut to saddle and see where the strings land.

Keep going!

Brad


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I already know where they land. That's why I'm removing the bridge. No amount of tweaking will fix it.

BTW, I'm not just stuck on this guitar, I'm working number 2 in parallel. It's coming out much better. I've learned so much.

I spent some time cutting walnut bindings this afternoon. They look kind of bland. I'll try adding some black white black using black veneer and clear pine for the white. It's what I have.

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Hutch

Get the heck off the couch and go build a guitar!!!!

The new bridge is glued on. I'm going to layout the E strings to my liking and then use the nut scale to find the other locations.

I'm also going to cut the slot on the guitar this time. Ill use framing nails with a small flt on the bottom to find the exact location for perfect intonation. Yeah, i wish i had "the intonator" but, this is the method I used when I rebuilt my gibson. It works.


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Hutch

Get the heck off the couch and go build a guitar!!!!

It's done.

[youtube]https://youtu.be/IaZYjEVIvro?feature=shared[/youtube]

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Hutch

Get the heck off the couch and go build a guitar!!!!

It still needs work on the action and fret leveling. The middle strings all buzz up the neck. I eyeballing the radius of the saddle and I thing I didn't match the fretboard radius. That's my guess anyway.

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Hutch

Get the heck off the couch and go build a guitar!!!!

There are other ways, but my primitive method of marking the saddle radius is to hold the rough saddle against the end of the appropriate fretboard radius sanding block and use that to mark the saddle radius.

Awesome!!


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I wish I had done that. I'm all out of saddle blanks, but I have some antler. If I don't order more, I may try carving that up.

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Hutch

Get the heck off the couch and go build a guitar!!!!

I carved up the antler and did some fret leveling. It's better, but I need to add the ramp from the 12th fret, as Hesh mentioned.

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Hutch

Get the heck off the couch and go build a guitar!!!!

This is the best sounding guitar I've ever owned. I've owned a 70s d28 and a 90s hd28. This is better. Holy crap, i hope i can repeat this success on number 2.


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Hutch

Get the heck off the couch and go build a guitar!!!!

I bet number 2 will sound just as good

Before I build my first one, my greatest fear was that I wouldn't finish it. Kudos again on taking it to the finish line. I have said that on all three I have built; you'll be saying it again when you build your second.

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Measure Twice,

Karl Borum

Loving this guitar. It's got me wanting to play bluegrass again. The notes ring so clear, i cant get enough of it. I need to thank you all for the encouragement and help in getting this done. So thank you from the bottom of my heart.

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Hutch

Get the heck off the couch and go build a guitar!!!!

I think folks get misled by using factory guitars as standards of acoustic performance. I think every single one has been adapted and compromised to minimize the number of judgement points and operations needed to produce the instrument (example: Martin bridge pin installation). Along comes a thoughtful builder who's not getting paid and he surprises himself with just how much quality he's unconsciously but carefully built into his instrument.

Every moment's pleasure has been earned and deserved!

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Peter Havriluk

I love that! Thank you

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Hutch

Get the heck off the couch and go build a guitar!!!!