A different bridge design.

[fox]

I have used this bridge design on the last few projects I have built including, 4 string 6 string & now this 8 string OM thingy....
To be honest it just sort of evolved over time & I don't really know if it has any benefits over other designs.
However it does allow two ways of fitting the strings, over the saddle and straight onto the tailpiece or over the saddle and through the holes onto the tailpiece.
So far, in every case I have tried, the 'through the holes sounds better and definitely offers more sustain!
Of course that might be due to the bracing and overall design of the instrument?
I have also used a brass pin dropped down into the tail block, I like this design as it allows for potential tone adjustment.
By fitting different length pins it is possible to reduce or increase string tension over the bridge.
But again I don't claim any benefits as so far I have just used a short pin.
What do you think?

[Jim Garber]

Interesting. It is somewhat a variant of the bridges and tensioners on old Italian mandolins, like this DeMeglio:

[Astro]

I've always preferred the idea of the strings passing through the bridge and being fixed at the end of the guitar(or whatever instrument) at a tail piece rather than the strings diving down into the bridge and being held by bridge pins. I just like the idea of the strings pushing the bridge down into the soundboard with the pass through to the tail piece design rather than the strings pulling the bridge plate up toward the neck as with the bridge pin design.

I would imagine the guitars bracing does need to be matched to the design.

Your design appears it may do a little of both. At the saddle, (front end of the bridge plate) the strings are pushing down. At the "the little holes" the strings are torquing that back end of the plate back up. Maybe that transfers vibration to a larger surface area while minifying some of the dampening to the soundboard because of the pulling up through the holes? Such that for the way your guitar is braced, you get more sustain? (I am only moving some air here--I have no technical knowledge)

So, anyway, I like your design. And for guitars too.

[Beanzy]

It reminds me of the Gelas bridges

[David Lewis]

I like your bridge. Does it tend to breakages? That would be the only thing. Otherwise there's a lot of advantage there I think. Congratulations.

[Pittsburgh Bill]

From looking at the pictures it appears that this style of bridge would eliminate vibration associated with the tail piece cover experienced on some mandolins.

[fox]

What I must try is a reverse pull on the bridge, I could try this by raising the tailpiece up high,.
That would put an upward force on the soundboard?

[derbex]

Wouldn't it put an upward force at the back and a downward one at the front? If you wanted a pure upward force then perhaps you just need the back part of the bridge with the holes in it?

[fox]

Yeah maybe but it just for fun
Its just me mate, I like to experiment & see how I can adapt things, I am not trying to reinvent the wheel its just that I like my instrument's to be different but still sound ok.
I have in my mind a design that will put a very direct upward pull, it involves a palm rest directly above the bridge. The rest would be an arch that extended across the lower bout & would be fixed to the rim and sides. I just need to find the time....
I also forgot to mention that the bridge design (above post) has a pin in the tail block but the neck also extends right back to the block & is rigidly fixed to the block.
It seemed to me that one piece neck (well three pieces laminates) running through the guitar with a direct contact to the tailpiece might have some small effect on the sound.