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Registered User
Bouzouki Bridge Question
Hello,
A while ago I was changing strings on my Bouzouki and managed to snap one of the feet off the bridge (it was not on the instrument at the time!!).
Anyway, I evened up the bridge on the opposite side but it has left me with a much shorter bridge..I know this will not spread the load quite as efficiently but would this effect/ increase the downward tension on the soundboard?
To be honest i'm not that impressed by the plastic insert in the bridge and have an ebony blank I could hack into a bridge if necessary.
This is the bridge after emergency re shaping!
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Registered User
Re: Bouzouki Bridge Question
This was the kind of thing it originally looked like..
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Steg-Bruc...4AAOSwBkRaFv0b
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Mangler of Tunes
Re: Bouzouki Bridge Question
If I’ve understood correctly you’ve narrowed the bridge by cutting a piece of each side? That shouldn’t reduce the downward pressure but will concentrate it in a smaller area. I don’t know if the change is serious enough to risk damage. Why don’t you send Paul Hathway an email (the tailpiece gave it away!) to ask? He was very helpful when I was buying one of his mandolins second hand.
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Registered User
Re: Bouzouki Bridge Question
Yes, its a Hathaway and very nice to!
I might drop Paul a line actually but was also interested in a more 'general' view on any effects of this kind of size reduction.
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Registered User
Re: Bouzouki Bridge Question
As OCT says, you could contact Paul, who will be able to advise you re the bracing on the soundboard. If the top is cross-braced and the original feet sat on the braces, then now the bridge may be unsupported by the bracing, which could well put extra strain on the top. When I use cross-bracing I always aim to have the bridge sitting on the braces at the outer edges. Whether this is a good idea or not, it is my way of working and seems so far to have been successful in use.
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Mangler of Tunes
Re: Bouzouki Bridge Question
I think that you might be best placed to judge Have you noticed any difference in tone or volume?
From a non-musical or engineering perspective the overall force on the soundboard is unchanged, just concentrated on a smaller area. Whether this is a "bad thing" in terms of the strength of the instrument will depend on the bracing I assume - but I'm by no means an expert in this area! If, for example, the pieces that have been removed were over a brace this would put more pressure on a non braced region. But whether or not that is significant I'm not qualified to say.
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Registered User
Re: Bouzouki Bridge Question
I dont have it in hand but I think there is a decent lateral brace running from side to side right across the instrument.
The bridge sits just behind or in front (not sure) and it was a full contact job (not with feet).
Tone / volume wise.....I think the difference is negligible, i cant hear it anyhow, perhaps 'slightly' less in the bass (perhaps).
Makes you wonder about all this bridge mass stuff
Cheers
Oliver
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