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Tony_in_NYC
 Post subject: Thanks Andy Birko!
PostPosted: Mon Jul 16, 2012 6:42 pm 
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First name: Tony
Last Name: C
City: Brooklyn
State: NY
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
I mentioned in a thread once that I strongly dislike making bridges. Andy sent me a PM asking if I would want to work with him and his new CNC to design and cut my bridges. Well, saying I strongly dislike making bridges is not entirely accurate. I very strongly dislike making bridges. I had a sketch of the design I wanted to make, but I was not successful in my attempts to make the real thing look like my drawing. I added some notes to my drawing and sent it to Andy. Here is that drawing:
Image

Here is one of the mock ups Andy made in Solidworks:

Image

Andy and I spoke a couple of times, emailed several dozen times, and finally Andy was set to cut the first prototype. Here is the prototype cut from scrap wood:

Image

And here is the prototype on a box:

Image

I am more than happy with how the bridge came out. There are a couple of refinements Andy wants to make to the path of the cutter doo-dad, but all in all, I could not be happier with the results. I don't know for sure if any other bridge like this exists, or not, but I am very happy right now. I can't wait to send some real wood to get cut!
Thanks for all of your help Andy!!

Tony

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Lavrov Guitars
 Post subject: Re: Thanks Andy Birko!
PostPosted: Mon Jul 16, 2012 10:53 pm 
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First name: Maks
Last Name: Lavrov
Focus: Build
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That's a really sweet looking bridge there Tony!
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Tony_in_NYC
 Post subject: Re: Thanks Andy Birko!
PostPosted: Mon Jul 16, 2012 11:31 pm 
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Thank you Maks! I was hoping someone would comment on it!

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NWflyonly
 Post subject: Re: Thanks Andy Birko!
PostPosted: Mon Jul 16, 2012 11:49 pm 
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First name: Mark
Last Name: Morris
City: Sedona
State: AZ
Zip/Postal Code: 86339
Country: USA
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
Beautiful bridge will Andy be mass producing your bridge work from here forward.
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David Malicky
 Post subject: Re: Thanks Andy Birko!
PostPosted: Tue Jul 17, 2012 2:13 am 
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First name: David
Last Name: Malicky
City: San Diego
State: CA
Zip/Postal Code: 92111
Country: USA
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
Very nice!!

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Tony_in_NYC
 Post subject: Thanks Andy Birko!
PostPosted: Tue Jul 17, 2012 5:03 am 
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I wouldn't call it "mass producing" at 3 guitars a year, but he is going to make them for me going forward.

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Ken C
 Post subject: Re: Thanks Andy Birko!
PostPosted: Wed Jul 18, 2012 11:54 am 
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Location: SE Michigan
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Andy is one of the good guys!

Ken

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Tony_in_NYC
 Post subject: Re: Thanks Andy Birko!
PostPosted: Wed Jul 18, 2012 2:08 pm 
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Thats what I have gathered!
Ken, I would have asked you to help, but at $1500 for a set of kerfed walnut linings, I can't afford you!!

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Ken C
 Post subject: Re: Thanks Andy Birko!
PostPosted: Wed Jul 18, 2012 9:08 pm 
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Tony_in_NYC wrote:
Thats what I have gathered!
Ken, I would have asked you to help, but at $1500 for a set of kerfed walnut linings, I can't afford you!!


I would have done a bridge for $750!

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Tony_in_NYC
 Post subject: Thanks Andy Birko!
PostPosted: Wed Jul 18, 2012 9:15 pm 
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If only I had known! That's practically free!

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Andy Birko
 Post subject: Re: Thanks Andy Birko!
PostPosted: Thu Jul 19, 2012 7:03 pm 
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Thanks for the write up Tony. It's fun work to do. Drawing curvy stuff in CAD is always interesting and more challenging than you think but things are coming easier now.

The best part is that now that I know what you're willing to pay....

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Tony_in_NYC
 Post subject: Thanks Andy Birko!
PostPosted: Thu Jul 19, 2012 9:04 pm 
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Curses!! Foiled again!

No problem Andy. You have no idea how much I appreciate your help with this. Not $750 per bridge, but a lot!

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Ken C
 Post subject: Re: Thanks Andy Birko!
PostPosted: Fri Jul 20, 2012 5:58 pm 
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Glad I could help, Andy!

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Joe Beaver
 Post subject: Re: Thanks Andy Birko!
PostPosted: Fri Jul 20, 2012 7:37 pm 
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That is a distinct and mighty cool bridge [:Y:] [clap] [:Y:]

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Tony_in_NYC
 Post subject: Thanks Andy Birko!
PostPosted: Sat Jul 21, 2012 12:37 am 
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Thanks Joe!

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Beth Mayer
 Post subject: Re: Thanks Andy Birko!
PostPosted: Sat Jul 21, 2012 9:17 am 
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Classy bridge for a classy banker! Nice work, Andy. Tony, be sure to post a picture of the first guitar with the real thing glued on.
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Darryl Young
 Post subject: Thanks Andy Birko!
PostPosted: Sun Jul 22, 2012 8:51 pm 
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Andy did first class work on my fretboard. The bridge looks nice.

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Tony_in_NYC
 Post subject: Re: Thanks Andy Birko!
PostPosted: Mon Jul 23, 2012 10:40 am 
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Thanks Beth and Darryl.
If everything goes as planned, I should be using the first real one by the end of September. I hope. I would hate to have to make another bridge by hand!! Did I mention I don't like making bridges? I don't.

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