Bridge clamp recommendation

Quote:

Theleman

Originally Posted by

Great great idea. Thank you for sharing.
So you don't even need clamps when gluing pin holed bridges, right sized bolts and nuts will do - all my acoustics have pin holed bridge.

You do need appropriate cauls, one the shape of the bridge plate for the interior of the guitar, and one the shape of the bridge, more or less, for the exterior. I use wing nuts on the inside and outside, with washers, on 3” long bolts. I don't use a screw driver to tighten the bolts - it can slip. Instead, I tighten by hand, then use pliers on the exterior wing nuts, while using my hand to prevent the corresponding interior wing nut from rotating.

Apply wax to the contacting surface of the interior caul: it doesn't improve the guitar's sound to glue the interior caul to the bridge plate.

Drill slightly oversize holes though the cauls in a position to match the outside holes in the bridge.

I use four small wooden wedges between the outer caul and the top of the wings of the bridge. Insert two wedges, parallel to the strings, from opposite directions, for each wing of the bridge. It applies pressure on the wings to ensure they are clamped down as well. Since the wedges attempt to bend the upper caul, I use wood - often a piece of 1x2 rather than plywood - particle board, and similar, isn't stiff enough to work.

If the upper caul is the same shape as the bridge, it is fairly easy to clean up the glue squeeze out. When the glue is dry - overnight - remove the bolts, cauls and wedges. Drill out each bridge pin hole with a 3/16" drill bit in a hand drill. Then ream each hole to suit your bridge pins.

No clamps necessary. The bolts also act to position the bridge while gluing.You do need appropriate cauls, one the shape of the bridge plate for the interior of the guitar, and one the shape of the bridge, more or less, for the exterior. I use wing nuts on the inside and outside, with washers, on 3” long bolts. I don't use a screw driver to tighten the bolts - it can slip. Instead, I tighten by hand, then use pliers on the exterior wing nuts, while using my hand to prevent the corresponding interior wing nut from rotating.Apply wax to the contacting surface of the interior caul: it doesn't improve the guitar's sound to glue the interior caul to the bridge plate.Drill slightly oversize holes though the cauls in a position to match the outside holes in the bridge.I use four small wooden wedges between the outer caul and the top of the wings of the bridge. Insert two wedges, parallel to the strings, from opposite directions, for each wing of the bridge. It applies pressure on the wings to ensure they are clamped down as well. Since the wedges attempt to bend the upper caul, I use wood - often a piece of 1x2 rather than plywood - particle board, and similar, isn't stiff enough to work.If the upper caul is the same shape as the bridge, it is fairly easy to clean up the glue squeeze out. When the glue is dry - overnight - remove the bolts, cauls and wedges. Drill out each bridge pin hole with a 3/16" drill bit in a hand drill. Then ream each hole to suit your bridge pins.

Last edited by charles Tauber; 11-20-2017 at

10:51 AM

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