Randy wood bridge question

[3 finger]

This may seem a bit silly to some, but I'm just finishing up my first mando build and wasn't to sure on what direction the pat. pend. stamp should face... towards the neck or the tail piece, or doesn't it matter. I took it apart early on and forgot to check its position before I put the saddle back on the bridge.

Thanks,
Gordon

[barry k]

towards the neck.....

[Rob Gerety]

Toward the tailpiece.

[MandoNicity]

well there u have two differing opinions... that's confusing...I'd listen to Barry as he's a luthier...no offense to Rob

[Rolfe]

Sideways? The real answer is: which way gives the best compensation. Put a straight edge across the side with the stamp then look at the offsets. The G obviously will be the most back from the E. The D should be a little bit back of the E. The A should be a little back of the D, maybe twice as far from the E as from the D. Now turn it around and look at the same thing on the non-stamped side. Many production bridges put the A too far back from the E, making the A strings flat at the 12th fret when everything else is spot on. So which way, stamp or non-stamp, puts the A the least back from the E but still a bit back from the D?

[Gail Hester]

The general rule is that the stamp goes on the bass side towards the tailpiece but on old Gibson's the stamp can be found on all four corners. Some Loar bridges are thicker (taller) in the base on one side, the thicker side of the base should be on the bass side so that the bridge saddle can be level while the bass side strings are higher off the fretboard. Regardless of which side the stamp is on, the most important thing is to get the saddle on corectly so that the compensations are correct as Rolfe said. There is only one correct orientation and the "E" string saddle should be the most flush with the front of the bridge (toward the neck) as pictured.

[barry k]

Randy's bridges come assembled from him with the treble side of the bridge and the stamping facing towards the neck. Thats just the way I do it, Randy would happily take your inquiring phone call, he's a nice guy. I dont have to be right, just trying to help.

[UncleNorm]

Rolfe...you are quite right about which way the SADDLE faces. But since the saddle can be removed from the base portion of the bridge and flipped end for end, your real answer for which way the base (with the stamp) faces is "either way" is it not? I've seen untouched Gibson bridge bases with stamps face both directions.

[Gail Hester]

Barry, the RW bridge pictured came with the stamp on the bass/tailpiece side which is how they are on most Loars. In my experience bridge saddles and bases get flopped around from bridge makers without respect to where the stamp is.

[barry k]

Ok then, that settles it...........

[3 finger]

Thanks to all for the advice. I wasn't sure if there was an absolute correct direction for the bridge. It would have been my luck to show somebody this mando and have them say "Hey...your bridge is on backwards". I'll give Randy a call and get his opinion and let you know his view.

As for now I decided to face it towards the neck and have to say I'm extremely pleased with the sound, considering it's new and the first day of playing it.

Thanks,
Gordon

[Gail Hester]

You will not be told your bridge is on backwards unless the saddle is on oposite of the picture above. The stamp location is not significant.

[Rob Gerety]

Barry, the RW bridge pictured came with the stamp on the bass/tailpiece side which is how they are on most Loars.

Yea, that is how mine came too.

[Darryl Wolfe]

Ditto everything that Gail has posted. The only thing I can add is that it appears Gibson instructed that the stamp be on the bass side of the bridge. This makes sense as it is most visible and is usually the tallest side. The stamp almost always faces the TP, but I have seen a few on the bass side facing the neck. If the stamp on your original bridge is on the pickguard/treble side, then it is most likely on backwards from the way it was installed at the factory.

[barry k]

The OP's question was about a "Randy Wood bridge", and the topic drifted off in another direction resulting in how Gibson and Loars bridges are orientated. I just got off the phone with Randy and I stand by what I said, there is a reason the stamp on "HIS" bridges face foward. The saddle is built with a slight taper on the bottom, allowing the bridge to tip back towards the tailpiece ever so slightly prior to putting tension on the strings, thus when tensioned up, the bridge stands up straight. So , when seating one of his bridges, you must remain dilligent to maintain that taper while leveling. Randy is my hero, he knows more about Gibsons then Gibsons knows about Gibsons , 45 years of expertise speaks for itself. I dont know of ANYONE that has been inside more mandolins then him.

[Rob Gerety]

Hmmm. Now I'm beginning to wonder if I have mine on correctly. The saddle it correct, I know that. But the base is oriented in the opposite direction - with the stamp facing the tail. The base seems to fit quite well - good tone and all with the stamp facing the tailpiece. Do I have it all messed up? Does the "taper" (not sure I understand that) sand out when you fit the bridge?

[3 finger]

Well, my hat's off to you Barry for making the call. I didn't have the chance to call Randy myself and sure glad I spared him from repeating the answer. I know some people are rather fickle about such things, myself being one of them. Thanks to all for the help and a big thanks to Barry!!

Gordon