Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by MadGomer on April 12, 2020 at 10:40am

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by MadGomer on April 12, 2020 at 10:45am

I used a brass casing (empty) for a license plate git I built as a Christmas gift.  I did file string grooves in it and had it cradled in a radiused saddle, very stable and sounds fine to my crude ears.  Yeah, I don't recommend using a live round for this, but you could certainly insert a bullet into a spent casing to make it look real while being fully safe.  Find a gun guy who reloads ammo, it's a quick process (if you're in central Illinois I can do it for you).

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Paul Craig on April 12, 2020 at 11:03am

Nice looking git MadGomer.

I said that the brass can have a dulling effect, sometimes that can be a good thing. So whatever your git needs to sound right, is the right thing to use.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Terry on April 12, 2020 at 11:12am

Yeah it is a spent  round. I'm thinking of using a different caliber (.450 bushmaster). My father in law reloads so I'll have him sort it out. I'll only use the round if I need the string height or intonation.

I used a spent  case before on my other build and filed slots in it. I find the old rounds make a nice bridge because it's easy. 

I'd prefer a square bridge as I could easier measure the frets but hey, I'll use my guitar tuner to do it instead.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Taffy Evans on April 12, 2020 at 11:39am

Hi Terry, l like your idea for the bridge, and a nice touch if the guitar is mainly electric. But If its to be mainly an acoustic instrument that design may not lend itself to creating the best response out of the top and body.

Good sustain for an electric but a dampening effect for an acoustic, I'm thinking. Just food for thought, tho I do like the idea.
Taff

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Terry on April 12, 2020 at 11:43am

How do you mean, Taff? the bullet? or the knife? With the knife I plan to roll it so the knife blade is curved so the point of the  knife is pressed into the top of the guitar, it willl sit flat but  the vibrtions should feed into the centre of the body. 

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Paul Craig on April 13, 2020 at 10:05am

I think what Taff is saying is that if the git is all acoustic, you want all the best string vibration transfer you can get. If your using a pickup or piezo, you may want/need less string vibration transfer. Too much of a good thing - so to speak.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Terry on April 13, 2020 at 10:09am

So then is he saying it is the knife or the bullet which is stopping vibration? should I place a bone nut more central to the top?

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Paul Craig on April 13, 2020 at 10:35am

The brass shell is what can have a damping effect to the vibrations.

That could be a lot of damping or very little. Try it out as you are making it and if it has a dull tone, remove the shell and replace with a piece of bone, wood or steel to get a better sound.

Each guitar can be different and the right parts to use can change for each guitar. So try it first and change it if you don't like the result. ;)

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Paul Craig on April 13, 2020 at 10:40am

Bridge position has a big effect on the sound of a guitar. Close to the middle of the top is best for acoustic guitar while close to the end of the guitar has a different sound and usually does best with a piezo or pickup. Closer to the end usually gives a higher treble sound while close to the middle tends to be more midrange and bass tones in my opinion.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Taffy Evans on April 13, 2020 at 12:48pm

Hi Guy's, just got back....to the computer.

Its a big subject. The advise I give or comments I make are normally based on the issues surrounding full acoustic instruments. Guitars, mandolins, violins, ukes etc, are built to a common set of guidelines. These have been worked out over 100's of years and "tweaked" along the way. And are continually being tweaked in the search for better performance.

As Paul says the bridge works best in the centre of the functioning part of the soundboard. So that it can drive/excite more of the top which in turn moves air within the box, this air carries the soundwave we hear.

As I said this is in full acoustic instruments. But acoustics is acoustics, so I think the same guidelines must also apply to the simple CBG. And I use the things I've learnt from building full size instruments in my CBG's

However, having said all that we do work at a disadvantage, and that is the beast we work with is far from ideal, there is no standard, each box is different, [unless you build your own] we have to think on our feet balancing originality and visual effects with sound and function.

So, what I was saying [about time]is a metal plate is not going to vibrate, noticeably, from the energy of a vibrating string so may not transmit much of that energy to the top.
Also a solid bridge may work better than a hollow one. But I say try it and lets us know.
Sorry about the sermon. Taff

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Terry on April 13, 2020 at 12:56pm

Thanks, Taff.

I get your point. I'll try find somthing solid in the garage to upcycle into a bridge instead and move the potential bridge into the centre of the box

• ▶ Reply

• ‹ Previous
• 1
• …
• 141
• 142
• 143
• 144
• 145
• …
• 187
• Next ›
• Page