Official Luthiers Forum!

I have noticed that the bridge pins on all guitars are on a line that is parallel to the front of the bridge. With the saddle being slanted for compensation why aren't the bridge pins put in on a line parallel to the saddle so the distance from the pin to the saddle would be uniform? On old bridges there wasn't room to angle the pins but that is not the case on modern guitar bridges.

Thanks for your help.

Konala

I know of no reason not to have the pins parallel to the saddle and can think of several reasons that it would be the preferred arrangement.

(to my ears) Having the pins parallel to the edge of the bridge will make a guitar make the bass strings.....stronger, due to the break angle. I have my pins parallel with the bridge on small bodied guitars, but make the parallel to the saddle on Dreads. To me this brings out more bass on small bodies, but helps keep dreads balanced. See how the pins are parallel to the saddle here.


Here's one of my bridges on a(left handed) Parlor. The pins are parallel to the edge of the bridge, not the saddle.

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I didn't mean to say it, but I meant what I said.
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Konala,
I'm no expert on this, but there are 2 different camps that I understand...1 camp says to follow the saddle angle so the break angle is even across all strings. This also helps with spitting bridges since the holes are not on a grain line which could weaken the wood between the holes and cause splitting.

In camp 2 they want to keep the bridge pins in line and in the exact middle of the bridge plate because they believe the way the bridge functions by rocking back and forth and side to side would be equally centered which would cause the bridge to vibrate directly in the middle. They think this transfer of energy evenly in the middle of the bridge plate enhances the sound and overtones. I've done it both ways and didn't notice a difference, but then again, I haven't built hundreds of guitars, and my ear is not that good. Hope that helps.

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Tracy
http://www.luthiersuppliers.com

Woody,
That is a beautiful guitar. That is one of those guitars that you know will sound good just by looking at it. It has some mojo that comes through in the picture even.
Link

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Cut to size.....Beat to fit.....Paint to match.

Not unusual at all to see the bridge pins parallel to the saddle. That's how I do mine.

That's how I've always done mine.

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Laurent Brondel
West Paris, Maine - USA
http://www.laurentbrondel.com/

Parallel to saddle also...!!

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A person who has never made a mistake has never made anything!!!

Me too. Makes total sense when you think about it.
Terry

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It's not what you don't know that hurts you, it's what you do know that's wrong.

I don't think there'd be a perceivable or measurable difference in sound. Do which ever method appeals to you.

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And just broaden the topic a little: The pins don't have to be parallel to anything. Putting them in a little arc (just for the look) is not uncommon.

Pat

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There are three kinds of people:

Those that make things happen,
those that watch things happen,
and those that wondered what happened.

The idea of having the pins parallel to the saddle, beyond having the same distance for every string to the saddle, is also to avoid the perenial crack running along the pinholes on a grain line. Drilling the pins in a semi circle is also to avoid the pinholes to be parallel to the grain. On guitars with the pinholes parallel to the front of the bridge, when the saddle becomes to low, the low E becomes problematic if too close to the saddle.

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Laurent Brondel
West Paris, Maine - USA
http://www.laurentbrondel.com/