Official Luthiers Forum!

I measured out my 25.5", then used a t-square to square up my bridge, then took my ruler against the outsides and drew lines then measured the distance between the lines on both sides and they came out exactly the same distance, so I know it's square. Then I put strings through and pulled them hand tight to measure the distance from the outside of the fretboard, they look to be about dead on themselves.
You think it's okay to go ahead and set the bridge? I just wanted to ask you guys because usually someone can spot something being wrong just on sight. Lots of sharp eyes around here. Even though I am about 99% sure it's cool to set it in place, the center of my nut (that was slotted from a manufacturer) doesn't line up dead even with my truss rod. If you're wondering how I held it in position in the first place, double sided tape......

Don't worry about the center of the nut lining up with the truss rod. As long as your truss rod is reasonably centered in the neck it's not a factor, IME. If when you place your bridge in position you have the high e saddle at the proper distance from the nut for your scale length(or from the 12th fret, whichever you use) and centered so that there is the proper distance from the edge of the fretboard to the two outside e strings, you're good to go. I usually mount my bridge, string it up in the white( ie; in the raw, unfinished state), set a preliminary action height at the saddle and the nut(somewhere in the ball park of what I want it to be when finished) and intonate. When I'm satisfied that it's mounted properly and i can intonate with no problems(in other words, satisfied that I've positioned it properly and don't have to move it) then I remove it and everything else, and proceed to finish.
From you're description it sounds like you're ready to go. Good luck.

_________________
Mike

The only thing nescessary for evil to thrive is for good men to do nothing.

I went ahead and drilled and mounted the bridge. Then I discovered that I needed to get a new nut for it, the one I got was poorly shaped and it would have never been high enough off the fretwire on the first fret on the high e side. Wasn't radiused correctly at all, so I will just buy a taller blank and shape and slot it myself.
Look at this thing, just drops off after the D string slot.

It also appears that the string spacing is off.
I might be wrong though.
Wouldn't be the first time.

No, you're dead on. I was going to point that out today as well. You beat me to it! Good eye!
I ordered a new nut that was not only blank, but much taller. The action was a little too high on the upper frets, and too low on the first frets. And my neck has a slight angle in the pocket so I was wondering what in the world was going on. Turns out that a correctly radiused and slotted nut with the correct height will make a world of difference.
I ordered that nut from an e-bay seller called "7wonders" so buyer beware.