Bridge Plate Template

[fretman_2]

Does anyone have a scale drawing of the bridge plate? I've noticed that a few people have built bridges from scratch (a copper bridge plate comes to mind).

Thanks,

Bill

 

[KevinB]

You could try the details from (link removed). They do have slightly different versions though...

 

[Mojotron]

You could try the details from (link removed). They do have slightly different versions though...

...

I just use these and resize them in MSPaint so that the ratios and distances are correct.

 

[fretman_2]

I just use these and resize them in MSPaint so that the ratios and distances are correct.

Mojo...what's your procedure for resizing them in MSPaint??

Tnx,

 

[Mojotron]

Mojo...what's your procedure for resizing them in MSPaint??

Tnx,

Just print one out, measure it with calipers, look at what the measurement should be - then divide the actual measurement by the what the measurement should be (says on the picture) and adjust by % with the "resize" feature in MSPaint until it's the right size.
That's a critical measurement as all of the holes... all line up correctly once you fix the aspect ratio.

 

[fretman_2]

Just print one out, measure it with calipers, look at what the measurement should be - then divide the actual measurement by the what the measurement should be (says on the picture) and adjust by % with the "resize" feature in MSPaint until it's the right size.
That's a critical measurement as all of the holes... all line up correctly once you fix the aspect ratio.

Very cool...I'll give that a try.

Thanks

 

[Mojotron]

Very cool...I'll give that a try.

Thanks

I made quite a few out of 1/8" thick Aluminum angle stock that you can get at most HW stores, I also made saddles from brass rod - anything from 3/16" to 5/8" with some 4-40 taps and set-screws it works great - sounds great too. Finally found a bridge that works well for everything - and it cost me less than $5/ea to make.

 

[fretman_2]

I made quite a few out of 1/8" thick Aluminum angle stock that you can get at most HW stores, I also made saddles from brass rod - anything from 3/16" to 5/8" with some 4-40 taps and set-screws it works great - sounds great too. Finally found a bridge that works well for everything - and it cost me less than $5/ea to make.

That is awesome. I can also adapt this to my cigar box guitar builds...just use half the bridge (three stringers).

Thanks!!

 

[fretman_2]

I made quite a few out of 1/8" thick Aluminum angle stock that you can get at most HW stores, I also made saddles from brass rod - anything from 3/16" to 5/8" with some 4-40 taps and set-screws it works great - sounds great too. Finally found a bridge that works well for everything - and it cost me less than $5/ea to make.

One question...where do you get the springs??

 

[Mojotron]

One question...where do you get the springs??

Old style ball-point pens mostly - a lot of those are brass and they look really cool with brass screws (I found a HW store that sells those too) , I also use pickup springs from mojotone.

 

[deaconque]

Old style ball-point pens mostly - a lot of those are brass and they look really cool with brass screws (I found a HW store that sells those too) , I also use pickup springs from mojotone.

Both really good ideas. I went the conventional route and sourced them in bulk online. Your way seems much easier.

 

[Mojotron]

Both really good ideas. I went the conventional route and sourced them in bulk online. Your way seems much easier.

They can be surprisingly expensive, do you have a link to get them cheap?

 

[deaconque]

No. It hurt to spend, what I consider, way too much for some little springs.

 

[crazydave911]

Here's one from GFS that shows the modern bridge as well

 

[fretman_2]

Here's one from GFS that shows the modern bridge as well

Thanks Dave...I'll give these a try. I got the Stewmack drawings, but when scaled up, they didn't quite align with Terry's drawings. Maybe the GFS drawings will.

BTW...where did you get the GFS drawings?? I can't seem to find them on their site.

 

[gsh1968]

How about this Wilkinson drawing?

 

[Mojotron]

Thanks Dave...I'll give these a try. I got the Stewmack drawings, but when scaled up, they didn't quite align with Terry's drawings. Maybe the GFS drawings will.

BTW...where did you get the GFS drawings?? I can't seem to find them on their site.

I should have posted these - I did not have a problem with the stumac drawings - here are my working bridge templates in pdf - just print these out at 100% scaling and you are good to go:

http://www.mojotronics.com/images/templates/3_saddle_bridge.pdf
http://www.mojotronics.com/images/templates/6_saddle_bridge.pdf

The 3-saddle design is very doable the 6-saddle design is can be challenging only because you have to make a lot of smaller saddles. I use 5/16th brass rod for the saddles and cut part of the bottom off for lower action, I've also used Aluminum 1/4" rod and brass 3/16" rod both work well, but the bigger the rod the easier it is to drill/tap the holes for the set screws.

 

[crazydave911]

BTW...where did you get the GFS drawings?? I can't seem to find them on their site.

They're only shown you when click on certain bridges as an alternate photo, such as here

Looks like you've tons to choose from , that's a good problem to have