Drawing the line

[Soupy1957]

How frequently should a Bridge be replaced?
-Soupy1957

(Some smart-alec is gonna say "when it wears out" but I want a description of what excessive wear IS, so that I know I should be changing it).

[Jerry Byers]

I'm curious, how much wear is on your bridge? Bridges generally last as long as the instrument, unless they fail and crack under the load.

Are you referring to the depth of the string slots?

[MikeB]

Hey, Soupy, I'm NOT the expert you hoped would weigh in here, but I'm going to go out on a limb and guess that a properly taken care of bridge might never need replacing. Look at all the adds for old mandolins with "original" bridges. Some of them are close to 100 years old.

I don't even see much reason a bridge should wear out, really. The amount of string movement through the normally shallow slots would be negligible, I think. If it's an adjustable bridge, I don't see how any of those parts would wear out, either, given the infrequency of adjustments.

So, maybe I'm wrong here. (That might bait one of the experts to weigh in for you...)

[sunburst]

Right you are, Mike.
And you ever qualified you statemnt with "properly taken care of".
That's the key to a lot of things. If they are well cared for, they last a long time. Mandolin bridges, especially adjustable mandolin bridges don't wear out in normal use.
Bridges can be damaged, broken, or simply not good to start with, and require replacement though.

[Soupy1957]

The question was raised because I note that I've run across a few threads, (not sure if it was in here, or not, but I think so), in which there have been discussions about Bridge replacements. I think the context of those threads (if I recall correctly) was with regard to replacing "stock" Bridges with "Customized" Bridges of a preferred type of material. They seemed to be discussing Bridge replacement, not necessarily because of need, but because of a preference for a type of material.

Guess I figured the question was valid if Bridges tend to wear, but questioned the preferencial changing if it was not necessary.

My Bridges are "fine" right now, thanks.

-Soupy1957

[Jerry Byers]

I see where you are going now. Yes, I have replaced the bridges on most of my mandos. I didn't like the stock bridge on my MK or my Eastman, and the bridges on the various Gibsons have been off, one way or another. I have bought several bridges from Steve (Cumberland Acoustics) and a couple of Brekke bridges.

I got a nut/saddle kit (Stew-Mac) for Christmas, so I'm looking at a couple of bridges that I want to "clean" up.

[sunburst]

Yep, Soupy, there's a certain amount of "hot rodding" going on.
Bridges, tailpieces, tuners, and to some extent, frets and nuts are the things the owner can easilly replace or have replaced. Sort of like wheels, wheel covers, tires, mufflers...

[Dave Hanson]

The original bridge on my Gibson A is 90 years old next year and still works perfectly, nuff said.

Dave H

[mythicfish]

Some things like "excessive wear" are difficult to define ... it's kind of like pornography: You'll know it when you see it.

Curt