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Permalink Reply by Tom T on February 1, 2019 at 7:42am

What do you mean by "improve"?

Do you want the bridge closer to the edge or closer to the center of the box?

Does the neck have a separate fret board? Is it fretted of a slider?

Is the neck notched for the box lid?

A photo could answer a lot of questions.

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Permalink Reply by Brent Kasl on February 1, 2019 at 10:03am

photo below

The yellow tape line shows bridge position

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Permalink Reply by Tom T on February 1, 2019 at 10:47am

Still not clear on what the chief concern is.

Is the bridge angle so low that the guitar doesn't play correctly?

If you want a greater angle from the tailpiece to the bridge (without raising the bridge) then you could cut the top of the tailpiece down so the brass rivets sit lower relative to the bridge, thus increasing the angle. On the other hand, if it plays okay, don't worry about it. Increasing downward force is not going to drive a cigar box top much more that it is currently. So if the objective is increased volume, it may be a lot of work for little gain.

Take a look at a hard-tail bridge and you'll see that there is really no bridge angle or down force, but hey are used commonly.

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Permalink Reply by Brent Kasl on February 1, 2019 at 9:59am

Bridge to box edge about 3" then the tailpiece as shown is about 2" and due to that length it is very low angle to the bridge

Attachments:

• tail.JPG, 96 KB

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Permalink Reply by Korrigan on February 1, 2019 at 12:08pm

Is your fretboard flush with the box? If so, that's the real problem.

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Permalink Reply by Kigar on February 1, 2019 at 12:11pm

If it helps the angle enough the easiest thing would be three new string holes close to the box

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Permalink Reply by Taffy Evans on February 1, 2019 at 5:58pm

Hi Brent, as I have mentioned before a simple line drawing before one starts building will help plan bridge position, neck set and break angle. Anyway................

If more angle is needed behind the bridge I would put a device, be it wood, brass, rod or flat, fitted where the two screws are with screw caps [using those two screws] behind the bridge on the edge of the lid, and run the strings under it - or through holes - and then to the bridge. Think string trees that would normally go on a peghead for the same reason.

Taff

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Permalink Reply by Taffy Evans on February 8, 2019 at 10:27am

Hi Brent, just wondering if you had a chance to address this, if so how you fixed your problem.

Taff

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Permalink Reply by Brent Kasl on February 8, 2019 at 10:43am

Finishing up an Alec Bradley American Box first with black dyed neck, chrome tuners, pickup and bridge, and walnut fretboard, then will most likely guide the strings on the build in question under a rod or screw held in place by two eyescrews then up towards bridge as mentioned. Should work fine, thanks

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Permalink Reply by Taffy Evans on February 8, 2019 at 11:28am

Thanks Brent, your new build sounds interesting.

I 'm surprised I received an email saying you had responded with in an hour??? I usually get informed next day if at all when people post. I hope that keeps up.

Taff

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