View Full Version : Bridge placement problem
hardryde_mando
Apr-29-2008, 10:32pm
I have a 70's Stiver F-5 that I'm working on. I've thought this through and can't figure out why this happened. Everything on it is original... the nut, fingerboard, tailpiece, neck, but for some reason the bridge has to be placed about 15-18mm away from the tips of the f holes towards the nut. Any thoughts?
Gail Hester
Apr-29-2008, 10:39pm
Could you post a picture looking down on the top and one of the cross piece please.
Michael Lewis
Apr-30-2008, 12:40am
Most probably the "f" holes were cut out before knowing exactly where the bridge would sit. Not an uncommon thing to happen when starting out. The only other thing I can think of is maybe the neck was replaced with one of a different length.
hardryde_mando
May-01-2008, 10:50am
Here's a couple pics of the mando.
hardryde_mando
May-01-2008, 10:53am
wow these pictures are huge.
http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif
Gail Hester
May-01-2008, 11:25am
hardryde_mando, thanks for the picture. #It appears that your bridge saddle is on backwards, flip it around. #Check fitment to the top to make sure the enire bridge didn't get twisted around. #It also appears that the slots are cut for the backward orientation.
Where the bridge lies compared to the ff holes is not so important, what matters is the placement of the bridge in relation to the 12th fret. If you have a 13-7/8 scale, the measurement from the nut to the 12th is about 6-15/32. The front of the saddle should lie at about 7" from the 12th fret. That's a good starting point.