Bridge location and f-hole points ?

[juneman]

Hey everyone i have a question on just where exactly the bridge should sit in relation to the inner points of the f-holes. I know about set up,intonation etc on a mando that is already built,but what about a new build. To the builders that copy a LOAR exactly where should it sit? center of the points, rear or forward of the points. My different sets of plans show different placement. Is there a proper placement or any of the three acceptable.
On my new builds i always cut the points after i set the intonation. I always set up and play in the white. Therefore i can put them virtually anywhere. I usually center them. I was going back thru some drawings and plans and came up with the question when i saw the different variations.


Thanks WALTER
"JUNE" mandolins and guitars

[Darryl Wolfe]

Most Loars sit with the tailpiece side of the bridge on the F-hole centers. Or on other words, the bridge is not exactly centered...it's about a bridge width or less toward the nut

[JeffD]

My understanding (which should be checked with people who know) is that the relationship between the bridge location and the f holes is not as critical on the mandolin as it is on the violin, because the top plate doesn't work the same way. Neither is the actual shape of the f holes crucial to the sound on a mandolin, as it apparently is on a violin.

[billhay4]

Sorry.

[billhay4]

I doubt seriously the exact location makes much difference in sound. Instruments are made with holes all over the place: on the rim, on the back, in the middle. at the edges, etc.
The size of the holes does make a difference, I think, but not as much as you might expect.
The big difference to me is aesthetics. If you are going to use an f-shape hole of some sort, AND it will have a point in the middle (many do not), then I feel placing the bridge so it lines up with the point at the center is the preferred location. However, this is just an aesthetic judgement, and as such is subject to personal preference.
The real factor in placing a bridge is intonation. I know of no such limitation on holes.
Bill

[Paul Hird]

In dealing with my Weber mandolins it isn't about finding the right spot in relationship to the F hole point, but rather the correct distance from the nut and then fine tuning the intonation after that. I may be wrong but, where the bridge is in relationship to the F hole point is merely due to the distance from the nut and any fine tuning to reach the correct intonation. That may be coincidentally perfectly centered to the F hole point or be slightly off from the point. My intonation is spot on but the bridge is not totally centered to the F hole point.

[Tom Haywood]

FWIW, on the vast majority of the f hole mandolins I've set up, regardless of maker and model (no Loars), approx. 2/3 of the bridge base sits behind the points, indicating that the points are centered on the scale length line when cut and the bridge is later shifted back for intonation. This causes untold worry for many players and results in a lot of intonation issues after string changes.

[HoGo]

Most Loars sit with the tailpiece side of the bridge on the F-hole centers. Or on other words, the bridge is not exactly centered...it's about a bridge width or less toward the nut

On Loars they probably designed the body using theoretical distance from 15th fret to bridge measured from the crosspiece to notches. But in the reality they nearly always erred fitting the neck hair longer so the 15th fret sits on the outer edge of the crosspiece towards headstock and also they didn't count with neck angle that moves the bridge a bit further from tailpiece. When I measure this way I always get the same relative position as seen on Loars.
If you are careful with your measurements and build it exactly you can have the bridge spot on between notches everytime without need to adjust them afte rstringing.