Was talking to my guitar friend at work about 'hardtail' bridges. He explained about the string dynamics of VSL and what he called 'voice'. So in concept, I understand what is being acomplished.
What I am not clear on is whether the units are in fact bridges themselves, or can a hardtail be used with an all-thread bridge. Seems to me that used alone, you are changing the VSL, but if used with allthread/wood, the VSL will not change, but the 'voice' can be tuned.
Help?
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This seems to be diving into the deep end of theory (at lease for me).
As I understand it, the Vibrating Scale Length is the distance from the front edge of the nut to the point on the bridge where the strings touch. If it is measured at 24" with a hard tail bridge and 24" with a thread/wood bridge, I think the VSL is still 24" in both cases.
"Voice", the sound quality of any given note is a really, really complex thing. String tension plays a big role. A string tuned to D3 at 25# tension will not sound the same as a string tuned to D3 at 15# tension even if the scale length is the same in both cases. Low tension strings is one of the reasons old-school blues sounds like it does. You can't get that sound at 25# tension.
Bridge and nut materials also affect "voice". A bone nut will definitely sound different than a plastic or metal zero fret nut.
How the bridge is attached to the guitar body has an profound effect on elements of voice such as sustain. The whole reason Les Paul developed his original solid body electric was to improve sustain. By having a metal bridge (like a hard tail) and screwing it firmly to the body (on neck on a through neck design) will definitely increase sustain and will have an affect on "how"" the note sounds (i.e. voice).
Add to this a mag pickup with a tone circuit and the implications for the sound of a note become almost endless.
This is, at least for me, the study of a lifetime and I still have a lot to learn.
If I understand your question about using a hard tail as, basically, a string anchor point then using a thread/wood bridge is of course possible, but I'm not sure what it would accomplish over more common box guitar string anchor methods. I say, give it a try and let us know what you find out. We all have room to learn.
Thanks for a very interesting question.
Many thanks. This is all completely uncharted territory for me, but I think my friend (Hippie George, staff electrician on Battleship Iowa in San Pedro) was trying to show me the detail of how a hardtail by itself, when adjusted is in fact changing the VSL, but if used with a allthread bridge/saddle, the string pitch is changed by adjustment, but the VSL doesn't change because of the 'stop' at the allthread. Does that make sense?
I view my ignorance as a two edged sword. I have nothing to 'un-learn', and no preconceived 'that doesn't work', so I am not limited by that. The down side can be dollars down a deep hole...
You mention D3 at 15# and 25#...bot D3. Is that done with string gauge?
Your friend Hippie George is correct that a hard tail bridge allows individual string VSL to be adjusted, but this is usually only used to ensure proper intonation of each individual string. While you can set the scale length (VSL) precisely and tune each string to exactly the desired note, the hard truth is that as the string is shortened (fretted up the neck) the note can drift off slightly. For that reason, most people first tune their strings to the desired "open" note then check to ensure that the note is still dead on at the octave (12th fret). This is what is meant by intonation and all guitars require some degree on intonation adjustment. Thus the reason for the hard tail adjust ability. You actually do the same thing with a thread/wood bridge by first moving is slightly to ensure correct intonation of the big string, then (most of the time) angling it slightly to get the higher treble strings to reach intonation as well. Essentially, you "tweak" the VSL on both bridge types to get the instrument to hold a true note up the bridge (intone).
And you ignorance of the subject is a blessing since you don't have to unlearn.
To answer your string tension question, yes it is accomplished by varying sting gauge. A 0.029" bronze string tuned D3 on a 24" scale will have 25# tension. A 0.024" bronze string on the same guitar would be at only 15# tension tuned to the same D3. These two strings may be tuned to exactly the same note, but you would have no problem hearing the difference when picked. Just one more variable to deal with.
Your post is basically exactly what Hippie George told me. Many thanks.
So, I think I get at least a broad concept. Seems then that the adjustments of a hardtail bridge are pretty damn small.