#1 resource for Cigar Box Guitars, Free Plans, How-To, Parts & More!

Bridge idea

Idea for a bridge with adjustable action and intonation. The end of the bolt is ground to a point to give a nice break point for the string. There would be one bolt for every string. Not sure how having a slot cut for every string would affect the tone though.

1 member likes this

View Full Size

Tags:

Comment

You need to be a member of Cigar Box Nation to add comments!

Join Cigar Box Nation

Comment by Randy Webb on February 12, 2010 at 9:06am: Ive trimmed them down to the width of a cloths pin. My "Boss Hog" was done that way and it works/sounds great. there is a video here and on baconfatguitars.com where you can hear the sound of that trimmed disc.

Comment by Michael Gajeski on February 12, 2010 at 8:59am: No offense taken guys. I was already playing with the idea of a brass or aluminum plate over a hardwood block. I think that the best way would be to put the metal plate above the top and the block underneath the top. also, I saw a thread a while back where roosterman (at least I think it was roosterman) was trimming the sides of of Piezo discs to make them fit into smaller bridges. I'm hoping that I can cut them small enough to fit between the slots. I'll play with the idea and give it a try soon.

Comment by Randy Webb on February 12, 2010 at 5:10am: http://www.cigarboxnation.com/photo/adjustable-bridge-idea Here is my idea

Comment by The Phrygian Kid on February 12, 2010 at 4:44am: sorry i dont mean to be patronizing with this of course business, no disrespect..
that was the sound of the penny dropping over here too.. peace

Comment by The Phrygian Kid on February 12, 2010 at 4:43am: 'the washers are too small to support the string tension' of course!!
this is because they are regular circular ones...
need to fabricate a reinforcement for the entire slot from steel or brass etc..
one little plate with the slots cut in it too..
and you wont need any washer, it'll effectively distribute the pressure over its entire area..
could be pretty too...

Comment by Randy Webb on February 12, 2010 at 4:34am: It wasnt that it weakend them too much, it was another problem that did it in.

I couldnt get them close enough together to keep the string spacing right. The washers were too small to support the string tension if they were spaced properly. It works fine for a didly bow tho.

But, if you give me 30 min, i am uploading something I did come up with. This kinda got me thinking in the right direction.

Comment by The Phrygian Kid on February 12, 2010 at 4:33am: oh no you didnt lol

Comment by The Phrygian Kid on February 12, 2010 at 4:33am: you totally forgot to mention that you have individual adjusting of string height now too ;)

Comment by The Phrygian Kid on February 12, 2010 at 4:29am: i really like this idea too mate..

but (and i hate to be the naysayer) i think 3 or 4 parallel slots like this might weaken the soundboard too much, and right in the most critical spot, where the strings are pushing down on it to make a sound..( Randy may prove me wrong of course)

an effective compromise might be to put these slots and bolts in a small bit of hardwood, maybe 1 and a half inch , countersinking the bolts underneath so it can sit flush.. there you go a little tuna matic.. You'll have to angle your neck or elevate your fretboard to bring the action down of course..