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Stewmac Herringbone Plans Bridge Plate
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Author:  jeisenman [ Sat Jan 26, 2019 11:25 pm ]
Post subject:  Stewmac Herringbone Plans Bridge Plate
Hi all, wondering if anyone else sees a problem with the placement of the bridge plate on the stewmac herringbone plans? Seems like it is too close to the X, or too small because the belly of the bridge would overhang it by 1/4", and there is around 1/4" on the front side of where the bridge "should" be if the 14th fret is within 1/16 of the body. The fret scale is also not drawn accurately, and the bridge placement isn't right. I called them and they said I was the first person to ask about it, and that it was drawn off of a 60's D28 Herringbone. Insights?
Author:  Casey Cochran [ Sun Jan 27, 2019 12:09 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Stewmac Herringbone Plans Bridge Plate
The HD28 didn’t show up until 1976, right in the middle of what many consider to be the low water mark of Martin quality. Why SM elected to use that as the basis for their dreadnought plan is beyond me. Don’t trust anything about it. To add to your observations, the peghead angle on the StewMac plan is considerably less than the Martin standard 15 degrees.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Author:  Clay S. [ Sun Jan 27, 2019 12:15 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Stewmac Herringbone Plans Bridge Plate
Martin didn't use herringbone trim in the 60's. The herringbone trim was replaced with a simpler binding scheme in the 50's and didn't reappear I believe until the mid 70's (76 HD-28).
Author:  B. Howard [ Sun Jan 27, 2019 8:24 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Stewmac Herringbone Plans Bridge Plate
My understanding is this plan has been altered or made "generic" to avoid patent suits....
Author:  Clay S. [ Sun Jan 27, 2019 8:29 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Stewmac Herringbone Plans Bridge Plate
Hi Justin,
I guess in our haste to mention that 60's herringbones are not a factory norm, we didn't answer your real question. You may find that most guitar plans are deficient in some aspects of accuracy. I only use them as a general guide and make adjustments as necessary. The older guitars had a smaller maple bridge plate which some prefer, but it should be fitted so the bridge pins pass through it. The newer guitars used a larger rosewood plate which was a little harder to miss. The Stew Mac plans do contain some useful general information and dimensioning, but the accuracy of the drawing is not the greatest.
Author:  Clinchriver [ Sun Jan 27, 2019 9:16 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Stewmac Herringbone Plans Bridge Plate
Carefully lay out your bridge position, size your bridge plate to be 1/8' deeper than your bridge and center 1/16" over front and back. Good Luck!
Author:  jeisenman [ Sun Jan 27, 2019 10:48 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Stewmac Herringbone Plans Bridge Plate
Thanks for the input and replies folks!
Author:  klooker [ Mon Jan 28, 2019 7:40 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Stewmac Herringbone Plans Bridge Plate
Thanks for bringing this up.

I'm currently working on a Dred from the StewMac plans & assumed the bracing and bridge plate layout were accurate. In the past I've built OM's and L-00's from the Grellier plans and they were accurate.

I took a slotted fingerboard, put it on the drawing of the underside of the top and it definitely looks like the bridge plate needs to be moved down 1/8" or maybe a little more. I'll get a more accurate measurement later.

Now I need to remove the bridge plate [headinwall] , luckily the top is just braced and not even mounted to the rims.

Kevin Looker
Author:  jeisenman [ Mon Jan 28, 2019 8:01 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Stewmac Herringbone Plans Bridge Plate
Glad I could help!
Author:  Fasterthanlight [ Tue Jan 29, 2019 7:52 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Stewmac Herringbone Plans Bridge Plate
Yep, its off... i realised this on my 2nd guitar, had to remove it and make and glue a new one with the top already glued on. Scary as hell for a noob.
Author:  klooker [ Tue Jan 29, 2019 8:44 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Stewmac Herringbone Plans Bridge Plate
Here's a link to Frank Ford's site where he posted pics of Martin factory bracing from 1998.

Maybe the vintage instruments had smaller bridge plates but they definitely need to be moved lower than the Stew Mac plan.

http://www.frets.com/FretsPages/History ... races.html

And here's a pic from the Martin factory I found on Wikipedia
Author:  banjopicks [ Mon Jul 15, 2019 12:52 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Stewmac Herringbone Plans Bridge Plate
Clinchriver wrote:
Carefully lay out your bridge position, size your bridge plate to be 1/8' deeper than your bridge and center 1/16" over front and back. Good Luck!


Would you mind rewording that, I don't get it.
Author:  Clay S. [ Mon Jul 15, 2019 3:06 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Stewmac Herringbone Plans Bridge Plate
Basically what is being said is to make the bridge plate 1/8th inch wider than the bridge and place it so it overlaps the bridge position a 16th inch front and back.
Personally I would make it a 1/4 inch wider and let it overlap the bridge position 1/16th in the front and 3/16ths in the back. I also prefer maple for bridge plates for that type of guitar.
Author:  banjopicks [ Mon Jul 15, 2019 3:12 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Stewmac Herringbone Plans Bridge Plate
Thanks for the clarification Clay.
Author:  Clinchriver [ Mon Jul 15, 2019 4:56 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Stewmac Herringbone Plans Bridge Plate
Clay S. wrote:
Basically what is being said is to make the bridge plate 1/8th inch wider than the bridge and place it so it overlaps the bridge position a 16th inch front and back.
Personally I would make it a 1/4 inch wider and let it overlap the bridge position 1/16th in the front and 3/16ths in the back. I also prefer maple for bridge plates for that type of guitar.


Yes, & Black Locust makes a fine bridge plate
Author:  banjopicks [ Fri Jul 19, 2019 8:23 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Stewmac Herringbone Plans Bridge Plate
I did some investigating this morning and sure enough, it's about 1/4" to far forward. I'm so glad you pointed it out but I have to say, If I built it to the plan, I don't think I would be too concerned. There's still plenty of plate for drilling.

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