Bridge Clamping Caul

Love it made reglueing bridges a lot easier!

I was in the process of repairing a Fender DG-5 as a project guitar and had to reglue the bridge. This along with the soundhole clamps did a great job! Only 4 stars because one of the end clamps was missing the cork protectors.

Usually when something sounds too good to be true - it is. That is what I found to be the case with this clamp. To be fair - it did the job on the classical guitar I used it on, but I would highly recommend just going for several regular soundhole clamps - you'd get much better, more even clamping pressure that way. If you look back through the trade secrets archive, you'll see that Dan, Eric etc always use multiple clamps.

To use this clamp effectively, you really need a stiff caul that runs along the bottom of the bridge inside the guitar. Obviously that's impractical and time consuming on repairs as all guitars are not the same. If you don't run a caul under, the threaded feet will push the bridge down on the ends, distorting not just the bridge but the guitar top as well.

It's a reasonable idea in principle, but for a supported tight clamp, I'll just use 3 clamps, at least that way you know that the clamping pressure is equalized under neath each pressure point. I wonder if any one else has even bothered to check the squeeze out with an extra clamp? I've done it twice now, and can see the top distorting in both cases. When I remove the clamp and go back to the traditional 3 clamps, I get extra squeeze out, meaning this unit isn't doing the job without distorting the guitar. Everything I've had from Stew Mac has been first rate, but I'm not sure about this clamp. I don't think I'll use it anymore though.

Simple, effective tool that works as advertised and reasonably priced - what more can you ask for?

for repair and new project but buy the complete kit for bridge

I am new at guitar repair and have found that this does not fit all bridges. But over all it works well.

Works well on a variety of bridges.

The machining is Awful. The workmanship on this caul would have been given a D- in high school shop. The pads are glued on crooked. Haven't had occasion to use it yet but the quality does NOT justify the price. This was quickly thrown together and not inspected before being sent out. I will take off the pads and reglue them. This is the first time I have gotten junk from StewMac and have been very pleased with my previous purchases.

Very good tool! Dry run went smoothly. Two things: don't forget to add cauls under the screwed clamps and be careful with the Titebond: everything become very slippery — unlike on the dry run. However, very good tool.