Bridge plate for 00-42 steel string
 

Hi everyone, it's a bit of a hybrid build, my question is wood choice and cut. I'm thinking either Osage orange, maple or rosewood. The bigger question is cut. I've hear rift sawn, I don't really know what that means, I've seen different and contradicting descriptions of rift sawn wood. Can someone please explain? Also which direction should the grain run in reference to the spruce top grain. Thanks in advance. Mike

is there an easy way to post pics?

To me, rift cut means grain that is between vertical and flat. Usually between 30 and 60 degrees to the face. Around 45 degrees is the least likely to split, but my 33 years of experience as a full time guitar repairman tells me that split bridgeplates are almost always the result of a severely lifted bridge. In general, bridges lift because the guitar got overheated. I run the grain in the plate straight across...at right angles to the grain in the guitar top.

If those are photos of how you glued the braces in--with a single go bar for the X and a single go bar for the two "tone bar" diagonals--you need to take those braces off (which will be easy) and get some instruction about clamping. IMO many builders underclamp, but this is extreme.

No those 2 go bars are just holding the top in the dish till I figure out my next move. If anything, I always overclamp with many bars. Thanks though. I think I finally figured out how to post pictures. Technology is good,,, until it isn't .