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Bridge - Fixed or Loose?

Posted by Steven West on December 11, 2009 at 10:53pm in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion
I just built my first CBG and I haven't decided on the bridge. I am using a bolt, and I have notched it to space the strings (they were moving around). Can anyone tell me what the effect on the sound quality of gluing the bolt to the top vs. leaving it loose? Right now I think it sounds pretty terrible, but that is mostly because I don't know how to play it...

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Replies

  • Steven West December 13, 2009 at 6:48pm
    Thanks everyone for the wonderful advice.
  • Steven West December 13, 2009 at 6:47pm
    Nice guitar, Ronnie. I love the look of that brass rod on the wood. I just found a really nice brass bolt with big threads, so I'm going to try it out in place of the stainless one I was using. I filed one of the string grooves too big and now it buzzes. With this bolt I shouldn't have to file, the strings should stay put wherever they are when I tighten. I wish I had drilled the sting holes straight across like you did. I have another box, I'm going to try again after Christmas.

    Ronnie Retherford said:
    Bolt, no glue. quick and easy. Wood, no glue, slower and easy. I like to use a piece of brass rod on top of the wood bridge. http://www.cigarboxnation.com/photo/4-string-3-4?context=user
  • Ronnie Retherford December 12, 2009 at 10:40pm
    Bolt, no glue. quick and easy. Wood, no glue, slower and easy. I like to use a piece of brass rod on top of the wood bridge. http://www.cigarboxnation.com/photo/4-string-3-4?context=user
  • Brendan deVallance December 12, 2009 at 9:45am
    I love the look of the bolt bridge, but I use a wooden one and it is not fixed. While your still setting it up give a wood one a try, it transfers the to the soundboard better in my opinion, for a rich sound.
  • Outhouse Instruments December 12, 2009 at 6:12am
    c# merle said:
    tried gluing the bridge on an early build but wasn`t impressed with the sound.
    floating bridge gives you the choice to move the bridge around to find the best sound/pitch

    Yep ... and since you're just learning, I can almost guarantee you'll be experimenting with strings. As you try different strings, the bridge will need to be in different places. A floating bridge will alow you to do this.

    Matt
  • c# merle December 12, 2009 at 3:06am
    tried gluing the bridge on an early build but wasn`t impressed with the sound.
    floating bridge gives you the choice to move the bridge around to find the best sound/pitch
  • Wichita Sam December 11, 2009 at 11:40pm
    really no need to glue a bolt.... the "threads" bite into the top under string tension and transmits vibrations readily.
  • Tres Seaver December 11, 2009 at 11:32pm
    Leaving the bridge loose allows you to fine-tune the scale lengths ('compensating'): string pressure should hold it in place just fine. Just my $0.02, of course.
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