Official Luthiers Forum!
http://www.luthiersforum.com/forum/

pinless bridge & bridge plate
http://www.luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10101&t=23495		 Page 1 of 1
Author:  Christian Schmid [ Tue Aug 18, 2009 1:53 pm ]
Post subject:  pinless bridge & bridge plate
I didn't have much time in the workshop in the last 10 days, and some questions came up during that time. Here's one:

Now I think the main functions of the bridge plate are to reinforce the top for seating the string balls, and to prevent the top from bellying.

By using a pinless bridge, the first function (string balls) seems to becomes obsolete, so I was wondering whether a lattice of spruce braces might be a more efficient design to fulfill the second function (strengthen top). It would be both - stiffer and lighter than a bridge plate(wouldn't it?)

I'm aware, that the choice of bridge plate material does influence the sound as well, so any ideas about how a lattice would affect tone?

any thoughts appreciated.
cheers, Christian
Author:  Tom West [ Tue Aug 18, 2009 2:15 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: pinless bridge & bridge plate
Christian: Don't have any experience with lattice bracing.All I can do is ask another question. Were you think of a small lattice network in the bridge plate area and conventional tone bars or a full lattice bracing system with the lattice extending into the bridge plate area?
Author:  Christian Schmid [ Tue Aug 18, 2009 2:23 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: pinless bridge & bridge plate
Actually I was thinking of both :D
The thought came when I looked into some lattice bracings for steel-string guitars, but I would think a lattice replacing a bridge plate is independent of the bracing in the lower bout area.

I would think that the lattice replacing the bridge plate would be relatively tight... like the individual braces being 1" apart. And it would cover a somewhat larger area than the bridge plate (and possibly even form a lattice with the x-brace).

That's just a mental image without any real-world experience to back it up.
Christian
Author:  Christian Schmid [ Wed Aug 19, 2009 11:20 am ]
Post subject:  Re: pinless bridge & bridge plate
Seems I'm not the first one with this idea (who would have thought laughing6-hehe )

This is from an interview with Michael Greenfield here: http://www.12fret.com/new/Greenfield_Michael_G2_Jun9pg.html

Quote:
I went to a pinless bridge so that I didn’t have to design my strutting pattern around a traditional bridge plate with six holes drilled through it. It allows me to do anything I want underneath the top, for instance my lattice bracing pattern that this G2 utilizes.


I understand that the top works as one unit, and that simply replacing the bridge with a lattice will probably not be enough... but at least the interview shows me that I had worse ideas related to guitar building :D

Christian
Page 1 of 1 All times are UTC - 5 hours
Powered by phpBB® Forum Software © phpBB Group
http://www.phpbb.com/