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3.
Gently set the guitar on the body levelers (and paper-
wrapped slats, if you’re using them). A sandbag or padded
weight placed on the guitar body is a helpful temporary
weight to keep the guitar from moving as you position the
body on levelers and center the neck over the support rods.
Adjust the height of the levelers so that the fingerboard is
approximately parallel with the main beam. The lower you
can set the levelers the better— for solid, stable support.
4.
Arrange the neck support rods and dials along the neck,
centering the neck over the support rods. Position one
support rod near the curve of the heel and another approxi-
mately under the first fret. Once they’re in position, tighten
the cross bars, levelers, and neck supports.
5.
Now you’re ready to strap down the guitar body. This will
pull the guitar downward, so first lower the neck support
rods out of the way so they won’t mar the neck.
Place the body strap across the guitar’s waist, pass it under
the beam, and thread it through the slotted hub of the
ratchet. The ratchet opens toward you, with the strap con-
nection at the top. The ratchet can be positioned above or
below the jig. Close the ratchet and snug the strap loosely.
Protect the guitar’s finish with
pieces of felt or paper where
the strap contacts the corners
of the instrument.
Add the second strap over the
body’s lower bout if needed.
