Originally Posted by
sunburst
There are various schools of thought on this.
One is:
A sharper breakover angle applies more static downward bridge pressure to the top so string motion drives the top better.
I don't subscribe to that notion but instead adhere more closely to the school of thought that says:
Only enough static downward pressure on the bridge to hold it in place is needed.
Static downward pressure does nothing to drive the top. The top is driven by string motion and thus it is the dynamic pressures that drive the top. Why would we want to limit top motion by pressing a bridge hard against the top damping some of it's motion?
In practice, there is probably an optimal breakover angle and static downward pressure for each instrument depending on type of construction, materials used, desired sound and perhaps all sorts of other things. I don't know what standard angles are for various types of mandolins, but I'm not sure standard angles are optimal in all cases.
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