Official Luthiers Forum! :: View topic - Acceptable bridge wing thickness?

It depends on your bridge plate, top thickness/stiffness, the spread of your X-brace under the bridge, whether you have any gaps between the X and the bridge plate, and whether or not your finger braces are directly under the bridge on the outside of the X....

If you have a fairly flexible bridge plate, a wide X-spacing, and no finger braces under the bridge - then it will need to stay thicker.... if you have gaps between the bridge plate and the X- then those wings will need to stay thicker... If your top wood is super duper hard and kinda thick - then your bridge can be thinner.. Ect.

Thanks

My concern was more for the bridge cracking.

Is your response in reference to the effect on sound or structural failure or both? I'm aware that all of these things will possibly effect sound, and I suppose they all effect the structural integrity of the bridge wings to some extent. My concern was more for the bridge cracking. I guess I didn't think problems such as soundboard deformation would be caused by thin bridge wings necessarily Thanks for the info.

j42c7j wrote:

Why wouldn't the bridge and wings effect soundboard deformation? It's the stiffest and heaviest crossgrain brace in the lower bout, and it ties much of the lower bout bracing together... All the things I mentioned will effect how much the soundboard flexes....

I haven't seen bridge wings crack - but they do flex quite a bit... Take a look at your average guitar shop bridge - how it conforms to the dome of the top... but they are generally flat when glued on...

If you are worried about splitting the wings - then stay away from curly/burly wood....

Thanks

Author:	j42c7j [ Tue Jan 10, 2012 9:33 pm ]
Post subject:	Acceptable bridge wing thickness?
What do you think is the thinnest that ebony bridge wings could be on a 00 that will be strung with lights? Thanks in advance.

Author:	crich [ Tue Jan 10, 2012 10:15 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Acceptable bridge wing thickness?
3/32"

Author:	truckjohn [ Tue Jan 10, 2012 10:33 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Acceptable bridge wing thickness?
It depends on your bridge plate, top thickness/stiffness, the spread of your X-brace under the bridge, whether you have any gaps between the X and the bridge plate, and whether or not your finger braces are directly under the bridge on the outside of the X.... If you have a fairly flexible bridge plate, a wide X-spacing, and no finger braces under the bridge - then it will need to stay thicker.... if you have gaps between the bridge plate and the X- then those wings will need to stay thicker... If your top wood is super duper hard and kinda thick - then your bridge can be thinner.. Ect. Thanks

Author:	j42c7j [ Tue Jan 10, 2012 11:02 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Acceptable bridge wing thickness?
truckjohn wrote: It depends on your bridge plate, top thickness/stiffness, the spread of your X-brace under the bridge, whether you have any gaps between the X and the bridge plate, and whether or not your finger braces are directly under the bridge on the outside of the X.... If you have a fairly flexible bridge plate, a wide X-spacing, and no finger braces under the bridge - then it will need to stay thicker.... if you have gaps between the bridge plate and the X- then those wings will need to stay thicker... If your top wood is super duper hard and kinda thick - then your bridge can be thinner.. Ect. Thanks Is your response in reference to the effect on sound or structural failure or both? I'm aware that all of these things will possibly effect sound, and I suppose they all effect the structural integrity of the bridge wings to some extent. My concern was more for the bridge cracking. I guess I didn't think problems such as soundboard deformation would be caused by thin bridge wings necessarily Thanks for the info.

Author:	John Arnold [ Wed Jan 11, 2012 1:22 am ]
Post subject:	Re: Acceptable bridge wing thickness?
Quote: My concern was more for the bridge cracking. I have never seen a bridge crack because the wings were too thin. The bridge is a brace, and its stiffness figures into the top's resistance to deform under string tension. In my experience, forward-X braced guitars are more sensitive to top bellying if the bridge wings are too thin. On forward-X guitars, I will make the bridge wings about 0.120". On rear-X guitars, I will go down to about 0.090".

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Author:	Mark Groza [ Wed Jan 11, 2012 8:58 am ]
Post subject:	Re: Acceptable bridge wing thickness?
I your concern is cracking, i would not worry about the wing thickness as much as the saddle depth or grain orientation.

Author:	truckjohn [ Wed Jan 11, 2012 9:26 am ]
Post subject:	Re: Acceptable bridge wing thickness?
j42c7j wrote: Is your response in reference to the effect on sound or structural failure or both? I'm aware that all of these things will possibly effect sound, and I suppose they all effect the structural integrity of the bridge wings to some extent. My concern was more for the bridge cracking. I guess I didn't think problems such as soundboard deformation would be caused by thin bridge wings necessarily Thanks for the info. Why wouldn't the bridge and wings effect soundboard deformation? It's the stiffest and heaviest crossgrain brace in the lower bout, and it ties much of the lower bout bracing together... All the things I mentioned will effect how much the soundboard flexes.... I haven't seen bridge wings crack - but they do flex quite a bit... Take a look at your average guitar shop bridge - how it conforms to the dome of the top... but they are generally flat when glued on... If you are worried about splitting the wings - then stay away from curly/burly wood.... Thanks

Author:	j42c7j [ Wed Jan 11, 2012 10:44 am ]
Post subject:	Re: Acceptable bridge wing thickness?
truckjohn wrote: j42c7j wrote: Is your response in reference to the effect on sound or structural failure or both? I'm aware that all of these things will possibly effect sound, and I suppose they all effect the structural integrity of the bridge wings to some extent. My concern was more for the bridge cracking. I guess I didn't think problems such as soundboard deformation would be caused by thin bridge wings necessarily Thanks for the info. Why wouldn't the bridge and wings effect soundboard deformation? It's the stiffest and heaviest crossgrain brace in the lower bout, and it ties much of the lower bout bracing together... All the things I mentioned will effect how much the soundboard flexes.... I haven't seen bridge wings crack - but they do flex quite a bit... Take a look at your average guitar shop bridge - how it conforms to the dome of the top... but they are generally flat when glued on... If you are worried about splitting the wings - then stay away from curly/burly wood.... Thanks The bridge is .090 on the treble side and .070 on the bass side. I didn't think having the wings slightly thinner than what is generally the accepted standard would result in soundboard deformation unless you were teetering on the brink so to speak. My fault for not explaining better. I'm using symetrical bracing, so I have a horizontal tonebar about an inch below the bridgeplate. The BP is maple and about .095. The finger braces are coupled to the X, 2 on each side. The BP is coupled to the X, and the X isn't fully forward shifted, but slightly higher than most Martin 00's. The SB IS .095. I felt I was probably safe, but wanted to ask. The grain is a little off quarter on the bridge, so I am a little concerned about the grain lines too closely aligned with the pin holes, but decided it would probably be ok. The BP grain is diagonally opposite of the bridge pin holes so I'm good there. Thanks everyone for your input, it's appriciated

Author:	James Ringelspaugh [ Wed Jan 11, 2012 12:11 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Acceptable bridge wing thickness?
If everything is coupled together well, the X is tall enough, and the X crosses directly over both sides of the bridge you should be fine. I'd think in your case 1/16" would be pushing the limits so it's close on the bass side.

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