I have seen these a few times, and it looks like a great idea. Anyone know the ins and outs of this type of bridge tailpiece combination as used on this mandola?
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I have seen these a few times, and it looks like a great idea. Anyone know the ins and outs of this type of bridge tailpiece combination as used on this mandola?
Attachment 142858
Were you asking about the little curved thingies on each end of the bridge? If so, I have no idea. :confused: However...Quote:
Originally Posted by Moon
If you were wanting to know what's the difference between fixed bridge and floating bridge... while you're waiting for the experts to weigh-in, meanwhile here are some links for some background info:
- General-purpose discussions at other sites, not mandolin-specific:
- Fixed vs Floating Bridge (on oud, somewhat like mandolin)
- Bridge Pins vs. Tailpiece - Pros and Cons (guitar)
- MandolinCafe links about mandos, I just skimmed through these, I haven't read completely through all of the following links yet :redface: but they look promising:
Here's my personal and completely non-scientific observation:
I don't like glued-on bridges on *any* instrument, because there isn't a user-friendly way to adjust the intonation - in other words, you can't just scoot the bridge back or forward, if the strings are fretting sharp or flat.
I like to experiment with different (usually slack) tunings, so it's really important for me to be able to move the bridge to the correct spot for better intonation.
Probably most people don't experiment like that though, otherwise regular modern flat-top acoustic guitars wouldn't exist, with their glued-on non-moveable bridges.
The thing on the mandolin appears to be both a bridge and the tailpiece. The strings start there... there's no separate bridge.
What you show in that photo is just like a guitar bridge. Not exactly a new idea. You can do a lot of research on guitars to find out more about that type of design.
Personally, I absolutely hate that about guitars. And I wouldn't buy a mandolin-family instrument that had it. The bracing required to support the string tension anchored to the top plate would be so heavy that the tone would be drastically affected. Intonation and action are not easily adjusted compared to traditional mandolin bridges and separate tailpieces.
Really, I can't think of any advantage a guitar-style bridge would bring to a mandolin. Only disadvantages.
There is NO tailpiece on that mandola. It is a fixed bridge. It changes the stresses on the top of the instrument and so the bracing system is changed as well.
With a fixed bridge the strings are pulling UP on the top. With a tailpiece/floating bridge arrangement the strings are putting DOWN pressure on the top. Both systems work but for mandolin family instruments a floating bridge system is more common.
Some modern examples of fixed bridge mandolin family instruments are/where the Ovation line as seen in this video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ajIIGNr9dQg