Bridge adjusting screws

[happycamper]

I have a Gibson A model mandolin and changed the silver looking tailpiece to a gold one so I then wanted gold bridge adjusting screws to match the tailpiece. I got some gold adjusting screws, but they were not as large as the original silver looking adjusting screws.

My question is: Does the size of the bridge adjusting screws have any effect on the sound or volume when playing the mandolin normally?

I really could not tell myself, but wanted to know what others might think about it.

[mandoJeremy]

Sam thinks so. Just look at the large thumbscrews on his new signature models. Ole Mon liked them too.

[Martin Jonas]

The theory is that a lighter bridge vibrates more easily and at greater amplitude, and thus transmits more to the top, resulting in greater volume. Many people therefore prefer the small wheels to the larger ones in order to reduce mass and increase volume. I am sceptical, frankly, because even though they're metal, the overall difference is still quite small compared to the whole bridge. In order to get a really big difference in mass, you'd need to go to hollowed-out one-piece bridges, and even then there has been some argument on just how much volume you gain. In any case, there's more to tone and sound than just volume.

I find that with large wheels, I can change action with the strings at or near pitch, whereas with the small wheels, I need to take almost all tension off before they budge. Of course, changing action is not something I do every day, so that's not too arduous, but when I want to nudge my setup a bit to see if I can optimise things, it's annoying.

Martin

[mrbook]

Our bass player, who has a true mania in regard to adjustments and modifications to his instrument, found an adjustable bass bridge with wooden wheels. He's happy, but I don't hear a difference (I don't tell him that). I haven't seen one for a mandolin yet, but I have mandolins with both big and small wheels, and any differences I hear are probably in the rest of the instrument. The better made bridges I've bought seem to have smaller wheels, but I see good players use both types.

[happycamper]

Thanks for your responses to my question.