| Official Luthiers Forum! http://www.luthiersforum.com/forum/ |
|
| Flat top bridges http://www.luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10122&t=52994 |
Page 1 of 1 |
| Author: | BeanJean [ Wed Mar 04, 2020 3:31 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Flat top bridges |
I’m working on a flat top kit and it’s time to make the bridge. I’m not confident I can carve compensation as precisely as it should be. And I don’t understand the variety of flat top bridges that I’ve found. The top photo is the bridge drawing in the plans I’m working from. Attachment: BA7F101E-7708-44CE-BFD8-A1458DBFBE96.jpeg The second photo is a mock-up of that bridge I put together from odd bits. I can tune the mandolin with this rigger. So I think a solid bridge something like this is the way to go. Attachment: 965CD34E-C074-4C09-B89A-B253B380DC27.jpeg The third photo is a flat top mandolin bridge I bought online. The top white bar is about 1/8 or 3/16” thick. Is the idea to carve compensation into this? Could I get this one close to the drawing I’m working from? Attachment: DAF06207-03B7-4361-8462-28C9CCB42FDC.jpeg And then there’s this one. I have no idea what the design principles are for this one but it was sold as a flat top bridge. Attachment: A49934CD-0E27-4729-ACB6-C0C9F36A022A.jpeg Please advise or give me some links to resources that will help me understand how to carve with precision. And what is the logic of bridge design? Thank you |
|
| Author: | Conor_Searl [ Wed Mar 04, 2020 4:26 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Flat top bridges |
I can't speak to the logic behind Mandolin bridge design, but I've found this to be really helpful in regards to compensation... https://www.liutaiomottola.com/formulae ... sation.htm If I was in your shoes, I'd build the bridge, leave the top flat, string the instrument up, stick a piece of a thick B string or something under the actual string where I think I'll want my saddle peak to be, check intonation and adjust. Once you know where the right spot is mark it with a pencil, and file away the saddle until your left with just a small area at the appropriate place. I don't have as much experience setting up a mandolin as I do guitars, but one thing I've come to appreciate about intonation, compensation, and the compromises involved in tuning a fretted instrument is how dependant it all can be on a players technique. When checking the intonation on a guitar I can easily manipulate the note 5 or so cents sharp or flat depending on how I press the string down all within the realms of normal playing. So I aim for perfection, but realize this is an area that can be overthought. |
|
| Page 1 of 1 | All times are UTC - 5 hours |
| Powered by phpBB® Forum Software © phpBB Group http://www.phpbb.com/ |
|