New (Monroe?) bridge for Mandola

[steve V. johnson]

A while ago I got a Troubadour Tenor Mandola for a friend and I'd like to upgrade it a bit for him. I'd like to replace the bridge/saddle with either a solid ebony one, or an ebony with a bone insert.

Where should I go to look for the best of these, or for a good selection of them to choose from?

Here is a picture of the Troubadour Gervaise Tenor Mandola.

Many thanks,

steveV


http://www.troubadour.uk.com/mandolina.jpg

[pickinBob]

I would check these out:


Husky Acoustics (http://huskyacoustics.com/index.htm)

I put one on my mandolin and had a very good increase in clarity of tone, sustain, and volume. They are a bit pricey but in my opinion I feel my money was well spent.

[Dolamon]

Steve - Last year I carved three different types, sizes - shapes of bridges for that particular mandolin. I'll see if I still have the article in file for it. This is a flat top and it takes just a little work to make a nice playing, feeling and looking bridge. The problem with this instrument is that there are a few compromises in building it and a few corners were cut to make them inexpensively. But the basic design is quite simple and easy to fabricate. And - it does make a very big difference in sound.

I'll source the material out sometime tomorrow. As far as buying one off the shelf ... I don't know of anyone who is making one to fit. Except ... perhaps if you took a set of measurements and sent them to Mid Mo, they might be coerced into selling you one or two. But I don't think they build bridges out of Ebony. I don't recall seeing any - which is neither here nor there.

[Martin Jonas]

Sorry for reviving a really old thread, but I've just fitted a nice bridge blank to my Troubadour bouzouki. I got it for GBP5.99 (about $10) from Ebay here (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=3747672600&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT). The seller, Frank, has these specially made for him and they are very nice workmanship. I went for the ebony bridge with bone insert (top in the Ebay photo), which is a great match for the Troubadour. Certainly way better than the rather amateurish stock bridge.

Martin