Official Luthiers Forum!

I've been fluting about with bridge designs the last few days and I've finally come up with something I'm reasonably happy with. I'm just not so sure about the wing on the bass side .

I've taken an assymetrical approach because I want to tie this in with the end of the fingerboard and headstock.

The bridge pins will follow the curve of the belly.

This prototype is made from Tassie blackwood and weighs in at 21 grams. 6" long and 1 1/4 wide.

Any suggestions or critiques would be most welcome.

Thanks for looking.

Bob

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Bob Connor
Geelong, Australia

I think it's a cool looking design Bob. I too thought of a fish shape. There are so many designs out there,It's kind of hard to come up with an original but I think you have done a good job! The tassie Blackwood is nice lookin' too.

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Anderson Guitars
Clearwater,Fl. 33755

I also see a fish, so I hope you kinda wanted that to happen. I also like it.

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Jim Watts
http://jameswattsguitars.com

Looks good to me, Bob. Give it a shot. I`m interested in the idea of having more mass/weight on the bass side. Let us know how it turns out!

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Give me 50 cents worth of regular.
Check my oil too, if you don`t mind,,,

Very nice Bob!

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Peter M.
Cornerstone Guitars
http://www.cornerstoneukes.com

I like the asymmetry Bob,
The angle of the saddle can look odd on a symmetric shaped bridge anyway. Nice curves.
Show us a pic when you get it on a top!

Wade

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Wade
Nashua, NH
http://www.wadefx.com

Wow, it's crystal clear that it's a fish. That is exactly
what hit me when I saw it, and then I saw as I read down the replies that my impression would be somewhat redundant.
It is a pleasant shape and very striking.

I'm really marveling over how uniform everyone's take on it was.

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Jim Kirby
kirby@udel.edu

Designs are not easy, your's is nice. Reminds me a bit of this one.

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http://www.dickeyguitars.com

Thanks for the thumbs up gentlemen.

I found that the most difficult part of the design process is trying to come up with something that pays homage to tradition while not getting too outrageous.

I hadn't seen the fish until you all mentioned it but now that you have it's very obvious. Maybe I can name the different models on an aquatic theme. The Salmon, the Trout or the Flathead (Flathead would have to be a dready)

You'll see it on a guitar shortly Wade. I have six on the bench at present and I've already made the bridges for three of them so it's a little way off.

Thanks for the input folks.

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Bob Connor
Geelong, Australia

I recently posted my new design. While no one said it looked like an animal , most seemed to like it and offer suggestions. You might post it with the slot cut and holes drilled, as that does make a difference an how it looks. With mine, some suggested that I put the holes in a semicircle instead of a straight line. I think that helped the looks a lot.

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"An adventure is only an inconvenience rightly considered. An inconvenience is an adventure wrongly considered." G. K. Chesterton.

I saw the fish too!

I like it Bob. Nice job.

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Joe Breault
Merrimack, NH
Perpetual novice

Very nice Bob!