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12
Assemble your guitar
Use a padded surface during assembly to protect the finish
from scratches and dents.
Install the tremolo spring claw
The spring claw must be attached to the body before the
bridge can be installed. Center the claw in the spring cavity
so it sits 1/16" below the surface of the body. Mark out the
mounting screw holes with a scribe or punch. Drill the screw
holes approximately 1-1/2" deep, with a 1/8" drill bit.
A long aircraft style bit works best for drilling these holes.
Place a shim of plastic or wood between the body and drill
bit to prevent damaging the finish.
For now, don’t tighten these screws against the cavity wall;
leave a gap of about 1/4". A small amount of thread lubricant
or bar soap on the ends of your screws will help them go
in more easily.
Install the bridge and tremolo springs
With a #2 Phillips screwdriver, install the bridge using the
six pivot screws. Don’t tighten them all the way down, just
enough so they sit just above the top of the baseplate, al-
lowing the plate to sit flat on the body.
Connect the tremolo springs between the tremolo block
and the claw.
Attach the neck
The neck's fretboard extension overlaps the pickguard, so
the pickguard needs to be held in place—but not screwed
down—while the neck is installed.
Hold the pickguard in place temporarily with a rubber band
around the waist of the body (no screwing yet!).
Pilot holes in the neck and body are pre-drilled. Align the
neck plate to the back, and the neck in the pocket. Use a #2
Phillips screwdriver to insert the neck attachment screws.
Mark out the pickguard
Lay out the pickguard using the neck and bridge for refer-
ence. Once positioned, mark out the mounting screw holes
with a scribe or punch. Drill pilot holes for the screws using
a 1/16" drill bit.
