Official Luthiers Forum!

I have an ebony bridge I made a while back that's 5/16" thick. I was planning on using it on a koa and red spruce Taylor GA-ish cutaway I'm finishing up. The fret plane comes in right around 1/16" over the centerline of the bridge. I'm wanting to put a slight radius in the bridge, which would thin it a little more. I'm starting to think I'd be better off making a new one, but then I think I can always switch it out later if it doesn't seem to move the top enough when it's in action. Any suggestions or advice are much appreciated!

Ken

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Mountain Song Guitars www.mountainsongguitars.com

I'm not familiar with the "GA" but I've found that the popular 3/8" bridge is a bit heavy for smaller guitar tops. I've gotten good results from 5/16" bridges. What thickness would your wings be? Clinton

To me, 5/16'' is just fine. I'd go ahead and use it. No worries about adding a slight radius.

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Alain Moisan
Former full time builder of Acoustics, Classicals and Flamencos.
(Now building just for fun!)

I have a 12 string older honer made in w. germany that has a bridge that's only 1/4" thick at the saddle and going down to 1/8" after that and has held up well, so i don't thing you have to worry about yours being to thin.

Thanks so much, y'all. Taylor's GA (Grand Auditorium) is a dreadnought with a more girlish figure, so i think of it as a large-bodied guitar. Based on your advice, I think I'll go ahead and use it, knowing I can always replace it at a later date.

One more question, given that bridge thickness, how deep should my saddle slot be? With a .350" bridge, I go a full .250" in, but I'd be hesitant to go quite that deep here. Maybe .200"?

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Mountain Song Guitars www.mountainsongguitars.com