Official Luthiers Forum!

I was reading through Kathy Matsushita's latest build yesterday, and spied this bridge clamp system she is using. It looks interesting, and I'm curious where it came from?

Kathy mentioned John Hall, but I checked bluescreek.com and his ebay listings, and didnt see anything like this. I emailed both Kathy and John, but haven't heard, so I thought someone here might recognize it.

These pictures are from Kathy's awesome website!
2008 Grand Concert Build
Kathy's home page

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Jim Hansen

quite similar to this http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Tools/Speci ... _Caul.html
from stewmac

edit: or do those screws in the mid-part go through the top, eliminating the clamp? i guess the stewmac could quite easily be modified to work like that too.

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Frank

It is similar, but not the same. According to Kathy, there is an aluminum caul under the bridgeplate according to Kathy's description.

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Jim Hansen

It is similar to this one:

http://www.lmii.com/CartTwo/thirdproducts.asp?CategoryName=Clamps+%26+Vises&NameProdHeader=Fox+Bridge+Clamps

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Tom Krebs

It is similar to this one:

http://www.lmii.com/CartTwo/thirdproducts.asp?CategoryName=Clamps+%26+Vises&NameProdHeader=Fox+Bridge+Clamps

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Tom Krebs

Yup, seen that one too..

I'm looking for the source for the particular model Kathy used. Not out of desparation or anything. Just curiosity I guess.

Oh well.. hopefully she'll see this thread (or my email), and we can get it straight from the horses mouth.

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Jim Hansen

I use something similar, shop built - in fact I ahve a couple different ones for different sized bridges, and one with special end cauls for pyramids. The last one I made was a weird shape, and I simply used a piece of 1/2 inch baltic birch ply - way easy to shape, and it held the threads for the end bolt/cauls jsut fine.

The two centre bolts go thru the E string pin holes, and thread into something below - mine are pieces of 1 1/2 inch wood dowel on end with threaded inserts for 10-24 bolts (thats a 3/16 bolt, same size as the bridge pin hole). if your bridge sits well on the top, you dont need a ton of force/pressure to glue down a bridge at all.

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Tony Karol
www.karol-guitars.com
"let my passion .. fulfill yours"

that looks a bunch easier than the traditional clamps.

and sounds quite simple to make, it might be worth having a little play arround with some plywood in the near future.

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"Anything that happens, happens. Anything that in happening causes something else to happen, causes something else to happen. Anything that in happening happens again, happens again. Though not necessarily in that order." Douglas Adams

Jim,
This clamp is from John at Blues Creek, and I think he just made a run of them at one time, but doesn't stock them. I have one and never use it. I can sell it to you if you want. Just give me an honest price, and I'll ship it out.

I found that my holes didn't match up and I couldn't control the clamping pressure over the whole bridge. But if you want to give it a try, maybe you will have better luck.

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Tracy
http://www.luthiersuppliers.com

I use a home made one that is similar. I use friendly plastic to create calls that match the shape of the wings to ensure you distribute the pressure.

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David White, Toronto

"All my favourite singers can't sing."

Kathy just messaged me to let me know that this was in fact something that John Hall made, but apparently no longer carries.

Thanks everyone!

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Jim Hansen