Sullivan bridges

[keymandoguy]

Music store that shall remain nameless recomended to put a Sullivan bridge on my new mandolin . what are some of your experiences? does it really improve tone, & loudness that much or is it just a selling play ?

[Strado Len]

The Sullivan bridge is basicaly an ebony, Loar-replica adjustable bridge, with small thumbwheels. If your mandolin already has this type of bridge, I would not replace it. If your current bridge has large thumbwheels, or is the type that comes on most mandolins made in the Orient, replacing it can help the tone.

To sound its best, a new bridge must be carefully fitted to the top of your instrument.

One word of advice: if your mandolin has an arched (radiussed) fingerboard, the Sullivan bridge may not be the best choice. It comes with a flat saddle, which would have to be radiussed to match the curve of the fingerboard, which results in a saddle with pretty thin ends. Greg Boyd sells Loar-style bridges with pre-radiussed saddles.

[Christine W]

I put one on my MK and I could tell the difference.

[Mando4Life]

I had a Sullivan bridge installed on my Yellowstone.

Chris and Co. at First Quality did a fine job of installing it and compensating for the radius of my fingerboard.

It made a noticeable difference in tone on my F-5.
It gave it a more "bell-like" tone and an increase in volume...which is what I was hoping for.

WBL

[SteveW]

I, too, had one installed on my Michael Kelly and noticed a big improvement in the tone. Course, having a luthier set it up properly is key. More volume and more ring up the neck, as WBL said.

[Stillpicking]

Count me in as a MK owner that switched to a Sullivan bridge, I did it very shortly after I got the MK which was about two years ago.
Nice improvement in sound, I also changed the nut to a pearl nut.
Had a professional tech. do it though as it was beyond my skill level.
I say go for it, it will probably make a difference, even more so if your current bridge is rosewood.

[Lane Pryce]

Why is ebony superior to rosewood for bridge components? Is it more dense? Lp

[SteveW]

Yes, that's what the luthier who set mine up told me. It conducts vibrations to the top plate more efficiently than rosewood.

[Doug Edwards]

I put a Sullivan bridge and a Weber univeesal tail piece on my MM50 last year, it seriously improved the tone. The GHS Silk and Bronze/Steel helped it even more.