One of the most important things when building a guitar, or any other stringed instrument, is to make sure the bridge is located in the right spot. If its not centered with the neck, the strings will be off centered and close to one side of the neck. This not only looks weird, but can cause some playability issues. I decided to make this simple jig to help keep everything aligned when I’m assembling an instrument.
This jig is based on a design that’s already out there. Many that are available, are made from steel rulers. These are very durable and work well. Sometimes though, steel rulers are a little prices, especially for one that is long enough for this project. I decided to try some inexpensive wooden yard sticks for my jig. I picked up these 2 yard sticks for about $1 a piece. Then I carefully ran one edge on the jointer, to make sure it was nice and straight. This is the most crucial part. The sides must be perfectly straight in order to give you good alignment. Next up, was to create a couple slotted brackets that would attach the 2 yard sticks. I cut the slots using a router with an edge guide, then cut the pieces out on the band saw. Now for a way to attach the pieces together.
My first idea was to just use some threaded inserts in the yard sticks to accept some knobs. After looking at it, I didn’t feel the yard sticks were thick enough to accommodate the inserts, so I had to find another way. I decided to cut down some pieces of metal that I could mortise in the bottom of the yard stick. A quick pass with the router, and a chisel, and I had a shallow mortise that fit the metal plates. I epoxied in the plates and let it dry. Then I could just drill and tap the metal plates to accept some homemade knobs and it was complete.
This jig is going to be great to use while assembling guitars. It will help me ensure everything is aligned properly. This of course, will not guarantee accuracy. There’s still no substitute for using your centerlines and making careful measurements along the way. It will be a nice double check though. I feel this jig is easy enough, and cheap enough to make, that its worth having in your shop.
Check out the project video below. Thanks for stopping by.

Here’s a few affiliate links to get you started.
Yard Sticks – https://amzn.to/2qz4Fwx
Epoxy – https://amzn.to/2SZVbaO