Bridge thickness

[Dave Bagwill]

The fact that what Martin does is to keep a few different thickness bridges on hand, kinda sews it up for me. That is such a REAL WORLD solution to the fact that all the plans in the world are perfect on paper, and only on paper.
I know that if the neck -body angle is correct, I'm not going to screw with it. Whatever other changes I make, it will not be that. If the bridge (taped on) is not right, either I will use a taller bridge or a shorter bridge, but the neck angle stays inviolable. (That means the same :-)) The guitars I am building and will build will all have in common that one feature at least: 88.7*, 1.3* - I won't have to worry about it. My bridges may change a little but will all key to that one thing.
That puts my mind at ease, and if all newbies had that down, they would not be wasting so much precious time on that step and could get on with things.
There, I have spoken, now I must mow the lawn..:-)

[Kevin in California]

One way to solve this issue is to not make the bridge until you have the neck set at an angle close to where you want the bridge height to be and attached. Then just make the bridge the correct height, taking into account how much saddle you want exposed. Course if you are using a manufactured bridge, then, well....forget what I just said. However, you really all should be making your own bridges, don't you think?

This helps save alot of time, and you can get it perfect. I am NOT saying mine are perfect. Far from it, is there something wrong then with my process?

Kevin

[Dave Bagwill]

Your system works well for you, keep at it!!

[Tim Benware]

I think it's a great idea and what I do now. I have been making my own bridges and will now be making my own FB's

[TonyinNYC]

I don't make my own bridges, but I could have them cut thicker and then plane them down on the glue side to make them thinner. As it stands now, if my nack angle is slightly off, I need to adjust the neck as I have no other options.