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New Hardtail
http://w-ww.luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10123&t=38642		 Page 1 of 1
Author:  Stuart Gort [ Sun Dec 23, 2012 4:46 pm ]
Post subject:  New Hardtail
Here's a new hardtail bridge design. The basic idea is to use aluminum for weight reduction but have the string lay over a hardened steel pin...which won't wear with age. Also, the saddle design uses nothing but string tension to apply leverage to all parts...eliminating any potential to rattle.

I strung this one up for the first time today...works as designed.
Author:  Chris Pile [ Sun Dec 23, 2012 6:01 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: New Hardtail
Clever. I like it.
Author:  dzsmith [ Sun Dec 23, 2012 6:51 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: New Hardtail
Very nice precise work.
If this was on the market and moderately priced, I'd buy one.
Author:  Irving [ Sun Dec 23, 2012 7:02 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: New Hardtail
You designed and built this bridge yourself?
Author:  nyazzip [ Sun Dec 23, 2012 7:41 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: New Hardtail
cool. are you worried that the super-hard steel height adjust screws will tear the heck out of the bridge's bed? i know they tear chrome plating up after a bit

what i'd like to see attempted is an acoustic bridge- the density of aluminum is about 3 times higher than ebony(i just looked it up, 2.7g/cm3), but with a CNC you could mill it/"honeycomb" it, etc, and probably get it down to being as light as an ebony bridge. dunno how you'd attach it to a spruce top though
Author:  nyazzip [ Sun Dec 23, 2012 7:41 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: New Hardtail
doppelpost
Author:  Stuart Gort [ Sun Dec 23, 2012 8:27 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: New Hardtail
Irving wrote:
You designed and built this bridge yourself?


Yes...it's loosely based on my previous design. Those steel pins are the biggest improvement. After about 200 playing hours on some fully aluminum saddles they mushed out ever so slightly on two out of six strings. These pins will never wear.
Author:  Stuart Gort [ Sun Dec 23, 2012 8:27 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: New Hardtail
dzsmith wrote:
Very nice precise work.
If this was on the market and moderately priced, I'd buy one.


Thank you.

What do you consider a moderate price?
Author:  Don Williams [ Sun Dec 23, 2012 8:30 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: New Hardtail
Really nice. You do have a great sense of design aesthetics. It's clean, precise, and I'm guessing works great.
Author:  Stuart Gort [ Sun Dec 23, 2012 8:38 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: New Hardtail
nyazzip wrote:
cool. are you worried that the super-hard steel height adjust screws will tear the heck out of the bridge's bed?


Yes...a little. But a fully tuned set of light strings only pulls about 35 pounds a string. Even with the leverage it doesn't tear it up too much. It basically marred the surface on the old design a little bit...and I'll live with it since it's covered by the saddle. If it was a problem I could get it plated with an electroless nickle process...and that would certainly deal with it.

The pin concept allows for a different kind of bridge though...kind of like you'd see on a PRS P-22...if that helps. :) I have that design finished as well. It eliminates the allen screw height adjustment entirely.
Author:  Stuart Gort [ Sun Dec 23, 2012 8:51 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: New Hardtail
Don Williams wrote:
Really nice. You do have a great sense of design aesthetics. It's clean, precise, and I'm guessing works great.


Thanks!

Yes...it's working well.

But it's funny you should mention 'clean' because I did spend quite a bit of time on the next design after this one trying to clean up the look of it...lol.

The pickup rings adjust up and down in the cavities. The next bridge will similarly adjust up and down in it's own cavity. It will be artistically similar in shape to the pickup rings.
Author:  Irving [ Mon Dec 24, 2012 12:03 am ]
Post subject:  Re: New Hardtail
Do you have some sort of CNC equipment and or software that you designed and cut it with? Or do you make them all with handheld routers, sanders, files, drill press and so forth?
Author:  Stuart Gort [ Mon Dec 24, 2012 12:20 am ]
Post subject:  Re: New Hardtail
Irving wrote:
Do you have some sort of CNC equipment and or software that you designed and cut it with? Or do you make them all with handheld routers, sanders, files, drill press and so forth?


It's all done on production level cnc equipment and software. I used to own a business and had several Haas mills. I sold that business and moved two of the machines to my home where I now make guitars.
Author:  B. Howard [ Mon Dec 24, 2012 7:27 am ]
Post subject:  Re: New Hardtail
Beautiful as always......
Author:  dzsmith [ Mon Dec 24, 2012 9:27 am ]
Post subject:  Re: New Hardtail
Zlurgh wrote:
dzsmith wrote:
Very nice precise work.
If this was on the market and moderately priced, I'd buy one.


Thank you.

What do you consider a moderate price?

Hi Stuart, on my hobby budget I'd pay $50-$100 for a bridge.
If I made high quality guitars, I'd pay more to obtain the best bridge.
Your bridge appears to fit the "best" category.
Author:  nutsdan [ Mon Dec 24, 2012 3:42 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: New Hardtail
Absolutely beautiful. When will you start selling them and how much?
Author:  pullshocks [ Mon Dec 24, 2012 10:33 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: New Hardtail
Very cool. I especially like the countersunk intonation screws.. The proportions and execution are great. The look really hangs together.
Author:  Stuart Gort [ Tue Dec 25, 2012 11:35 am ]
Post subject:  Re: New Hardtail
nutsdan wrote:
Absolutely beautiful. When will you start selling them and how much?


Hehe...if I never sell any more whole guitars I suppose I'll have to consider selling parts...but I'm sad thinking that. :)

I've only really considered these for my own guitars.
Author:  klooker [ Tue Dec 25, 2012 12:06 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: New Hardtail
Hey Stu,

Are there any issues with dissimilar metals - steel against aluminum? Will sweat be an issue too?

Besides those concerns, looks fantastic but I think you are a little cruel not offering to sell them (read, give them away) to us.

Kevin Looker
Author:  Stuart Gort [ Tue Dec 25, 2012 2:30 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: New Hardtail
klooker wrote:
Are there any issues with dissimilar metals - steel against aluminum? Will sweat be an issue too?


You can get galvanic corrosion between certain metals...in the presence of some kind of electrolyte. No...I don't expect any issue though. 6061 Aluminum and 17-4 stainless are pretty compatible generally and there would have to be a lot of moisture present between them.

I doubt sweat will do anything to it...but it's an option to plate these with nickle if it does.
Author:  ATL4S [ Fri Dec 28, 2012 9:26 am ]
Post subject:  New Hardtail
I'd be looking to pay a minimum of $150 for a bridge like that. Then factor in limited runs, maybe $200. It really is very nice work. I'd consider hard tails more often personally but I tend to rest my hand on the bridge and the height adjust screws are a discomfort. Perhaps a through body design someday?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Author:  ZekeM [ Sat Dec 29, 2012 10:37 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: New Hardtail
Cool design. I'm sure try are light as a feather made from aluminum. Wear is the only issue I can see with it but your hardened pins should take most of that out of the equation. Now you just need a marketing strategy :)
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