EX-5 Build Diary - My First Build Bridge Pilot Hole Question

[Simon Barden]

I'd only pre-drill the holes that you really have to, like the bridge fixing ones, where you really want to get that all sorted before you put any finish on. My experience of holes is that regardless of any finish that may have gone down there, they are still prone to water getting in when wet sanding, resulting in the wood swelling up under the finish and often cracking the finish. If you don't wet sand with water, or use turps or white spirit to wet sand then it's less of a problem.

[MusicStudent1]

I'd only pre-drill the holes that you really have to, like the bridge fixing ones, where you really want to get that all sorted before you put any finish on. My experience of holes is that regardless of any finish that may have gone down there, they are still prone to water getting in when wet sanding, resulting in the wood swelling up under the finish and often cracking the finish. If you don't wet sand with water, or use turps or white spirit to wet sand then it's less of a problem.

Thanks, Simon. Its all coming back to me now. Back in ‘85 or ‘86, I recall buying an inexpensive bass...I think it was a Cort. There was a big massive Peavey bridge on sale at the music store shortly afterward that I also bought. I recall figuring out the new bridge placement after carefully studying where the old bridge was. I swapped it, no problem and I set the intonation and action easily. I was just a kid...no instructions, nothing. Just common sense. I do recall screwing the wood screws in with NO PILOT HOLES. It’s a wonder I didn’t split the wood, but I did not.

So...step 1 for me is to get a quality finish on the instrument. I’m not worried about drill presses or bridge placement as much anymore.

I live in Houston, TX and right now it is so hot and humid, spray painting anything would probably be disastrous.