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I have the stock, kit bridge plate for my Martin Kit which I beleive is spruce, and a bit a spare rosewood left from cutting the back out.

Is there a noticable tonal difference between the two woods? Which is brighter? Which is warmer?

Thanks

LarryLarryH38731.6241203704

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Thank You and Best To All

Larry,

Spruce will not last as a bridge plate. Rosewood and maple are the most common. The function of the bridge plate is stop the ball ends of the strings from ripping through the top and to help support that area of the top, in conjunction with the bridge, from being torqued too much.

Hope that helps!

Shane

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Canada

[QUOTE=LarryH] I have the stock, kit bridge plate for my Martin Kit which
I beleive is spruce. [/QUOTE]

Hi Larry, if it came with your Martin kit it's hard maple, not spruce. You
can definitely use it and maybe reduce the size a little bit (keep it flush
with the x-braces though). You could use a spruce bridgeplate, and the
grain needs to be at least 45? opposite of the top, only if you glue a thin
piece of hardwood (like RW, ebony, padauk etc.) where the pinholes are.
Like Shane says spruce is too fragile and soft for the string ball ends.

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Laurent Brondel
West Paris, Maine - USA
http://www.laurentbrondel.com/

The bridge plate also acts in conjunction with the bridge as the biggest brace on the top to help produce the "sound". A spruce bridge plate is a viable option for a pinless bridge, but unless laminated with a harder wood under the bridgepins probably wouldn't last too long without significant wear.

Are you sure the bridge plate is spruce and not maple?

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Dave White
De Faoite Stringed Instruments
". . . the one thing a machine just can't do is give you character and personalities and sometimes that comes with flaws, but it always comes with humanity" Monty Don talking about hand weaving, "Mastercrafts", Weaving, BBC March 2010

I'm not sure of much theses days except for the expertise on this forum. Let's assume it's maple and change the question.

Is there a noticable tonal difference between maple and rosewood? Which might be brighter? Warmer?

Thanks

Larry

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Thank You and Best To All