Telecaster Vintage/Modern Bridge String Hole Drilling Guide Luthier Tool

Telecaster Bridge String Hole Drilling Template/Guide
½” by 1 ½”  by 3” Aluminum*
Works with both "Vintage" and "Modern" Fender Telecaster Electric Guitar Bridges

Will not work with Stratocaster bridges...different string spacings

When I drill the pin holes in acoustic bridges I use a drilling template/guide; it was suggested that a similar guide might be useful when installing Telecaster type bridges.  With those, you actually drill holes for the strings to pass clear through the guitar’s body.  The “Vintage” bridge uses four mounting holes between the string holes and the neck and a 2.125” string spacing; the “Modern” bridge uses three holes with the string holes between the neck and the mounting holes and a 2.08” string spacing.  This template/guide has been designed to work with either one.  Without a drill press, it’s difficult to keep the holes perpendicular; even with one, marking and drilling accurately can be challenging.  With this template, you decide where to locate the bridge, drill one bridge mounting hole, affix the template using that hole which registers the location of the other mounting holes, fasten down the template with two mounting screws. That’s enough, but you can place the other mounting screws if you like.   You then use the holes in the template/guide to drill the string holes through the body.  They will be accurately positioned and perpendicular.  And a hand drill will work just fine.  That’s it.  It’s harder to describe the process than to do it. The tool and its operation has the virtue of simplicity.  The template is machined from half-inch thick 6018 Aluminum, the string holes are 0.125 inches in diameter and deeply countersunk.  That makes them easy to access with your drill and there is little chance of damaging  the bit as would be the case with steel.  With reasonable care, the template should allow drilling many dozens of guitar bodies before showing significant wear.  You’ll need a 1/8" bit for the string holes and a #19 bit for the mounting holes.

*Non-critical dimensions may vary somewhat depending on the stock I can get. Such variations will in no way effect the operation or effectiveness of the guide.