How to make an easy string Ukulele Bridge.

Following is a really easy method to make 2 bridges for your cigar box Ukulele or equally good for a normal Ukulele. This bridge allows for really easy stringing method by simply tying a knot in the end of your string and slotting them in the back. You could follow this method for bridges with any amount of strings and depending on the toughness of the wood May be suitable for steel strings too although Ive only used it for Ukes. P.S The dimensions are by no means set in stone feel free to make it smaller bigger. Its up to you. This takes about 1/2 an hour to make two bridges using a bandsaw A pillar drill, slot cutting bit on the pillar drill and belt sander This should be fairly straight forward to do with handsaws and a hand held drill.

First you need a Block of Hardwood approximately 90mm long by 25mm square This is Aformosia
The next step is to mark cetre lines along one face this will be the rear or the bridge

 And then mark a line approx. 10mm from the rear  on either of the other faces which will be the top face

You can mark your saddle slot at this point to fit your saddle this one is 2mm from the front face and 2mm thick.
 On the rear centre line mark out your string spacing usually from 13 - 15mm these are 14mm
Then extend those lines to the line on top face

 Then 1mm in front of the line on the top face and at central points between the 1st and 2nd string line and 3rd and 4th string line mark 2 points. These will be the holes for your mounting screws.

Drill 4 10mm Holes on the centre point on the rear of the bridge 10mm deep

 Cut your saddle Slots. either with a saw chisel or I use a thin rotary slot cutting disc on a pillar drill.

 Cut the saddle slots to your required depth on both sides. You could probably just stick a fret or thin piece of saddle material on the top of the block forgoing the slot which can be a bit tricky without a slot cutting bit

At the points marked earlier on the top drill 2, 3mm holes right through the block

Then along the string centres cut 4 slots up to the 10mm line from the rear.

Then cut the block in half hey presto you now have two bridge blanks.

Then you need to sand the bottom just enough to get a flat surface

Then sand down the top so the Bridge is about 10mm thick You might want it a bit thinner or thicker to suit your particular build. You can leave the bridge square at this point or like I have on this one shape it. I do mine on a belt sander.
You may need to slightly widen the 2nd and 3rd string slot to accommodate the wider strings.

Finally countersink 6mm holes into the mounting screw holes about 5mm deep. Enough for the mounting screw to be recessed below the surface. the hole can then be filled with filler or plugged with a dowell or for a really nice touch place a fret marker dot that matches the fret board in the top.

Finally fine sand and its ready to fit to your Ukulele

2 recent solid body builds Reclaimed Oak Slide Blues guitar and an LP SG Inspired Yew Body guitar

These two solid body electrics where completed recently for commissions.
The first one is a solid body electric for mainly slide playing
Its built from reclaimed oak with a Maple neck through and a bubinga neck. The body was based on a parlour guitar shape but with quite an extreme cutaway.
The Customer wanted a Ry Cooder sound and wanted a goldfoil pickup as it happened I had a vintage Tiesco one in stock :-)

 He also wanted a rough and rustic look with originally an old tin sign for the pickguard and control plate but as original tin signs are at a premium price and repros don't really cut the mustard I managed to source an old bit of sheet brass for the job.

 It also features a Gretsch style filtertron pickup in the Bridge position The two are a bit mismatched output wise. I also decided on a hand carved german carve.

 It Also features a comfort belly cut on the rear.

The second was another singlecut with LP and SG attributes and to date the most expensive guitar I've built

 It Features a Body constructed of a Rosewood Centre Stripe with two Blocks of book matched Sapele then a rosewood pinstripe and English yew Wings.
The set neck is Sapele with a rosewood centre stripe and Ebony finger board with a 24 3/4" scale length.

 The Pickups are a Pair of "the Mule" Humbuckers from Bare Knuckle Pickups The Bridge and tailpiece is from Gotoh and the Machine heads are Kluson. The pickups are well respected and truly delivery the expected sound and it's nice to get the chance to use Boutique British made pickups every now and then :-) They are individually coil tapped too.

 Again it features a handcarved German carve which I'm quite a fan of it gives an extra Aesthetic line to the shape of the guitar.

Both went to very happy customers.