Official Luthiers Forum!

I'm ready to glue the bridge in place but my mask must have been slghtly too large along the lower edge (towards the lower bout) when I was applying the finish (nitro lacquer). When I put the bridge in place, I can see a tiny line (less than 1/64") of unfinished top peeking at me all along the edge. I measured the thickness of the finish at about .005". I have a rabbet along the outer edged of the bridge to accomodate the difference between the bare wood and the top of the finish. What is the best way to touch this up?

Thanks,
Chuck

I'd make a new bridge.

Pat

_________________
formerly known around here as burbank
_________________

http://www.patfosterguitars.com

You could paint a line and all that kind of stuff but I think Pat is giving you the best advice you could get.

_________________
Jim Watts
http://jameswattsguitars.com

laminate a thin piece of ebony to the bottom of the bridge to create a larger footprint than sanded it to blend in with the original bridge. But the best idea is still to make a new bridge.

_________________
Peter M.
Cornerstone Guitars
http://www.cornerstoneukes.com

Depending on your bridge design, you might be able to put a decorative binding around the bridge???

Thanks for the help, guys. As always, mistakes are also opportunities. The bridge is the only part that I haven't made from scratch before (this is my fourth guitar) so I think this situation is simply the guitar spirits telling me it's time to learn how. The part that's put me off - until now, that is - is cutting the saddle slot. I'm not sure exactly how to go about it. Any pointers?

Thanks again,
Chuck

Chuck

Here's what I use. I borrowed the idea from Tony Francis, I think. Thanks, Tony!

Pat

_________________
formerly known around here as burbank
_________________

http://www.patfosterguitars.com

There are a few good ways to rout a saddle slot. I rout them after the bridge is glued to the guitar. Stew mac sells a saddle routing jig which is a great design, it is a simple thing to make though so i dont recommend buying one. The pictures on the stew mac website are all you need to design one. Forget the dremel, and design it for your laminate trimmer though.

I routed a whole bunch of saddle slots on the guitar doing repairs(for undersaddle pickups, intonation improvement, lefty conversions, cracked bridges) before i ever built a guitar, so i was comfortable to this method, but it does work well and gives you ultimate control of the saddle location on the guitar.

There are probably quicker methods if you dont have the jig already made. This one works for me and the jig comes in handy for lots of other stuff too- i sometimes use it to rout the endgraft for instance.

_________________
Jordan Aceto
Ithaca, NY