Bridges -- stupid question

Posted by James Boutilier on May 16, 2011 at 8:16pm

terribly sorry for the newbie question folks:

 

The bridge, I see some are positioned straight, and some on an angle.

Is there a reason beyond aesthetics ?

 

I mean, that slight angle does not make intonation differences, so is it just style ?

 

thank you

jim

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Replies

  • Wichita Sam May 16, 2011 at 11:03pm

    James,

     

    You didn't annoy me at all.  Just pointing out things that will make your experience better and will help others be more helpful. 

     

    Or, would you rather have not known about the search function and comment wall?

     

    Keep asking questions... I hope my answer was useful.  Before you know it, you will be helping others.

     

    the best,

     

    Wichita Sam

  • Diane in Chicago May 16, 2011 at 11:03pm

    No worries!

     

    And the way you figure out how much to angle the bridge is with a digital tuner.  You tune the string to some perfect pitch, like a D.  Then fret the instrument at the octave (the 12th fret if chromatic, or the 7th fret or whatever for a diatonic) and check the tuner again -- you should be at a perfect d. You can skootchie the bridge up or back to get a perfect octave AND a perfect open note.  Then, try real hard to leave that end of the bridge where it is, and do the same for the other strings.  You can't get it really perfect, but you can get really close!

  • James Boutilier May 16, 2011 at 9:58pm

    Thanks Sam,

    And sorry to annoy

    I did not see the search function, nor did I know about the comment wall.... as I said, I'm just finding my way around.

     

    Again... my apology... thought I was just asking a quesiton.

     

    later

  • Wichita Sam May 16, 2011 at 9:54pm

    James,

     

    First of all you can get answers with starting a whole new discussion.  Just ask your question on the comment wall.  There whole group will see it there and the won't be a clutter of discussions with only a few replys....

     

    Second, you might want to take advantage of the search function... 2 or the first 5 hits under "angle bridge" was about your questions.

     

    Now to reapond to your question.  If a CBG is being played slide, then there is no need to angle the bridge.  The slide "floats" on top of the strings, so there is no intonation issues from string stretching.  However, if you are fretting/chording on a fretted instrument, a Wiley says the smallest strings will stretch the most and to off set this a slight angle of a straight bridge offsets the "sharpening" of the smaller strings.   Many electric guitars, have individually adjustable bridges for each string.  If you look at a properly intonated bridge, you will usually see the smaller/solid string bridge adjusted to shorten the string.

     

    So, not "just style"...

     

    the best,

     

    Wichita Sam 

     

     

     

     

  • Wiley Rutledge May 16, 2011 at 8:33pm
    The bridge positioned at an angle is called a compensated bridge.  It seems to have something to do with the differential stretch of the different size strings, with the smaller strings having more stretch which will make a difference in intonation, especially in the higher tones.
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