Official Luthiers Forum!

I have this Strat body that I am about to start the finish on and it will eventually get a Callaham Hardtail Bridge. What is the best way to deermine the centerline on this body. Note that it is a two piece body and that the joint in not straight down the center, which would have made it easy! It is on a slight angle across the body. Also, I don't have a neck just yet, I need to make one.

Also, I was planning on locating the bridge sometime after the finish has cured, is this a good idea or should I do it before? On the Les Pauls that I have built in the past, I drilled the holes before finishing.

Thanks,
Scott

I would try to draw it in between the 3rd-4th string holes and the neck screw holes.

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Build log

Get the neck done first and clamp it in the pocket. Then use a straightedge to find the center measured at the string holes. You should be able to shift the neck back and forth a little while doing this to line everything up.

You don't need a center line on that body. Like Mike says, get the neck done first. You already have the bridge holes drilled on that body.
What I would do is mount the bridge, then set the neck in the pocket, a couple of straight edges, one on either side of the neck, to position the neck from side to side until it is centered on the bridge.
Alternatively, you could put the low and high E tuners on the neck, string them both(loosely), and move the neck around until it is centered/aligned with the bridge, and the E strings have the proper distance from the edge of the fretboard.

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Mike

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