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Lots of people seem to like the bridges I make for my builds, and I've often said they're quite simple to make. It's not really my design - it's similar to a banjo bridge and there are a few other builders on CBN who use similar bridges. I've been meaning to do a how-to for a while, so here we go:

I start off with a bit of scrap wood, most likely an offcut from the fretboard. For these two I am using walnut and maple, but any hardwood is fine. The little bone pieces are from a 80x10x3mm bridge blank which I cut into 4 pieces. I mark the bridge's full length, then mark where to drill to make the slope on the top and the 'arches' on the bottom. I work out the height the bridge needs to be first, then subtract the 3mm for the bone and mark it out on the wood.

I carefully drill out the holes with the piece clamped to a scrap of wood to prevent tear out.

Now the bridges are cut out and are beginning to take shape. Next the bone pieces are glued onto the tops of the bridges. I use superglue for this.

The bone is glued on and the tape is removed. Time for some sanding.

I clamp a piece of 60 grit sandpaper to my bench and sand the bridge at an angle to blend the bone and wood, and to make a 'sharp' peak along the top of the bone. This is also handy for flattening the bottom of the bridge. the curves are done with the rounded corner of a sanding block.

These are both finished now after being sanded to 180 grit.

A few coats of Danish oil and they're done! Measure the string spacing you want to use and carefully file some shallow grooves with a triangle needle file.

Of course there is plenty of opportunity for individual expression with this design. In the photo above I doubled up the thickness, so the blank was 1/2" thick, and used half a bone nut blank. I also went without the centre 'foot'.

I hope this has been of some use!

-Richey Kay

alrighty - hello everyone 

    j - bone here - The 2 Knights have been out stirrin up some fans about town-

 here is a quick review of this past weeks open mics - 

#16,monday sept. 26th Salt Creek Wine Bar - 8900 Fairview, Brookfield, Il. 

#17 monday sept. 26th The Store - 2002 n. halsted - chicago, il

#18 monday sept. 26th Tonic - 2447 n. halsted - chicago, il

Our first time at Salt Creek Wine Bar - very nice place - brought my 2 uncle crow style cbgs i had built last week to play - the host / house band played a bit - we played third - got a good response and sold the Corina cbg for $50 - sweet - 

 Then we headed to the city to play the Store open mic - got a nice middle spot there - hung out for a few, played & sold a cd - then headed down the block to Tonic

 Tonic has a great host and they go late over there - we got a list spot - threw down our jams - hung out for a bit, then called it a night -

#19 tuesday sept. 27th Phyllis' Musical Inn 1800 w. division - chicago, il

#20 tuesday sept. 27th FitzGeralds - 6615 W. Roosevelt rd. - berwyn, il -

 We headed to Phyllis' - we had been there once before and got a good response - a few people who had seen us the previous time were there again - we played our songs and got a good response & sold a cd - mingled around abit - the owner gave me his card & offered us a weeknight show possibility - 

 Then we split to Fitzgeralds - we have been here several times and have gotten a good response each time - this time was much the same - got a good list spot - the host is a good guy and we like to play there - we played our songs, went over well - we sold a cd to a really cool guy - we sell our cds for $5 o.b.o - and this guy gives me a $20 and says "keep the change - i really like what you guys are doing" - well thank you sir 

#21 wednesday sept. 28th Stage Bar {formerly Memories} 4358 n. cicero ave. - chicago, il -

#22 wednesday sept. 28th Friendlys Tap 6733 roosevelt rd. berwyn, il - 

 Went to Stage Bar - we had played the open mic / jam here once before and we went over quite well - so we hit it up again - some people remembered us from the last time and were excited to see us play again - i played my Tinderbox cbg -  we played our tunes -

 I broke my high g string at the end of the 1st song finished the set on 2 strings with giving notice to the broken string and got a great response - mingled abit - talked for awhile with a couple of the guitar players who had interest in the cbgs construction and whatnot - then headed to Friendlys Tap

 Got to Friendlys Tap around 12:20 and they close at 1:00 - this was our first time here, its right down the block from Fitzgeralds and we thought they were open until 2:00 - also, no sign up sheet - talked to the guy runnin' things and he said we could play 1 song - so that was cool - also a couple people who knew us from Fitzgeralds were there - a person played 1 song before us - we played our song - got a good response - then headed home 

#23 thursday sept. 29th Red Line Tap 7006 n. glenwood - chicago, il 

 We have been to the Red Line Tap several times, but have only played once - the list fills up very quickly, so you really have to get there early - which we did and we got a nice middle spot - we played and got a good response - i brought the "Demons" plate reso. i built during the day to play and maybe sell - i did play it & i did sell it for $60 as well as selling a cd - hung around for a while - then headed home

 We were invited to play a short opening set for a local band Purebred Stems on saturday oct. 1st @ Gallery Cabaret - this will be our first "show" - as in - not an open mic -

 We also received an invitation to play an opening set for local band Grody Hunt on thursday oct. 13th @ The Mutiny in chicago - so we are looking forward to that as well as next weeks run of open mics -

 alrighty then - thats about it for now -                      jbone