Making the bridge...

I spent the morning making the bridge. You can buy stock Martin style bridges ready made, but this is one area where a luthier likes to show some artistic expression. Mine are oval in shape. I start with a CNC produced template which acts as a guide for the robosander (pictured at left) on a drill press to sand down to the exact shape of the template.

The next jig profiles the top of bridge. It mounts on dowel pins in the bridge holes. First I rough cut it on the bandsaw, then back to the robosander.

One last jig has a subtle concave curve in it to match the 25' radius of the top. This ensures that the bottom of the bridge fits naturally against the top without having to force those wings down.

Finished product, and very tight fit onto the top. I'll round over those edges to make it more refined.

First look at how the body will look with bridge in place.