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Crooked Bridge?
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Author:  string-a-ling [ Tue Dec 04, 2012 3:30 pm ]
Post subject:  Crooked Bridge?
Do you guys think a bridge that's slightly off is a big deal? Looks like the left side is about an 1/8 inch higher than the right..
Author:  nyazzip [ Tue Dec 04, 2012 3:43 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Crooked Bridge?
...higher? you need to describe it a bit better
Author:  Rodger Knox [ Tue Dec 04, 2012 3:52 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Crooked Bridge?
I'm guessing you mean the left side of the bridge is 1/8" higher than it should be to be square with the neck.
That will make the angle of the saddle off just a bit (if it's already cut), which will make the intonation off a bit, but probably not enough for most people to notice.
I'd be more concerned about the visual impact, does it look crooked? Everybody can see crooked, and it usually looks bad.
Taking a bridge off and reglueing isn't too big a deal, I'd fix it if it's noticeable.
Author:  string-a-ling [ Tue Dec 04, 2012 4:33 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Crooked Bridge?
Rodger Knox wrote:
I'm guessing you mean the left side of the bridge is 1/8" higher than it should be to be square with the neck.
That will make the angle of the saddle off just a bit (if it's already cut), which will make the intonation off a bit, but probably not enough for most people to notice.
I'd be more concerned about the visual impact, does it look crooked? Everybody can see crooked, and it usually looks bad.
Taking a bridge off and reglueing isn't too big a deal, I'd fix it if it's noticeable.


Yeah, that's what I mean, and yes I can tell by looking. I've asked one other person and they couldn't tell. I wouldn't hesitate to fix it, accept that this might be the best sounding guitar I've made and the intonation is perfect. I think it's crooked, because of how I locate the bridge by intonation, and this is my first 12 fret short scale, and I didn't adjust the angle of the saddle slot to allow for the compensation adjustment. Well, I think it's a combination of that, maybe being a little off when I routed the saddle slot, and probably something else I'm not thinking of to be off that far. I also just measured a factory made guitar and it's off by 1/16th, although I can't see it by looking. I guess that it's still better to just fix it though.. Just a pain..
Author:  Bryan Bear [ Tue Dec 04, 2012 5:43 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Crooked Bridge?
If it sounds good and intonates well, what is to fix? Seems like a lot of trouble (removing the bridge, making a new one, plugging the old bridge pin holes not to mention the required finish touch ups) to fix something that looks off to some people who have already been tipped off to look for it. Is this for sale, commission or a personal guitar? What does the owner think?

Try asking several people to look at it and tell you what is off. Make sure they know that something is not right, but don't tell them what it is. How many will get it right?
Author:  wbergman [ Tue Dec 04, 2012 6:32 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Crooked Bridge?
Is it even something a person would notice? I bought a new Kohno 30 more than 30 years ago and I did not notice for many years that the bridge was off center by 1/16" or more. I does make a difference in the tendency to pull strings off the edge of the fingerboard.
Author:  string-a-ling [ Tue Dec 04, 2012 6:48 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Crooked Bridge?
Well, I don't think most people would notice or care, but I'm worried about the few that would care and run their mouth.. It would be a pain to fix.. I actually just checked a factory made guitar I have, and it's off a hair over 1/16, but I can't tell by looking. I bet if people checked it would be pretty common for bridges to be off 1/16 or less, but that would be hard to see, I think this is just far enough to be visible if you look for it. I tend to notice things like this though, I can always spot a crooked picture hanging on the wall.. I think I might just make sure I'm up front about it and reduce the price a little. Oh, to answer the previous question, it's just for sale, not a commision. Idk, it sounds so good, I might be better off to leave it alone.. Thanks for the comments everyone:)
Author:  WudWerkr [ Tue Dec 04, 2012 7:22 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Crooked Bridge?
Its NOT off , Its a Advance in the ongoing struggle to get perfect intonation . Leave it and move on . [:Y:]
Author:  Alain Moisan [ Tue Dec 04, 2012 9:09 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Crooked Bridge?
If it's a steel string, did you drill the holes for the pins? If so, leave it or the bridge plate will soon be damadged by the strings ball end.

If not, then you decide if you need to fix it. If you do, you will be glad you did. if you don't, and it doesn't bother you, you will be glad you didn't.
Author:  unkabob [ Tue Dec 04, 2012 10:11 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Crooked Bridge?
In the words of Red Green," If it ain't broke, don't fix it".

Bob :ugeek:
Author:  Nils [ Tue Dec 04, 2012 10:46 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Crooked Bridge?
I cant really say without seeing it; if the rest of the guitar is, like - impeccable or something, I'd by all means do it.
Or if someone wants to buy it or its for a customer, I'd do it too.
Focusing on whats ahead of you and not behind you is always a safe choice too.
Author:  Tony_in_NYC [ Wed Dec 05, 2012 9:39 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Crooked Bridge?
On my second guitar, the bridge looks like it is off to me, but it is not off when you measure it. I don't know why it looks off to me, it is a store bought Martin-style belly bridge and seems to be nicely made, square, measures out to the specs it should be, but when I look at it, it definitely seems crooked. Nobody else has noticed, I even asked my brother if the bridge looked crooked to him (I made the guitar for him) and he said it does not. I just can't help but stare at it despite the fact that it is square to the neck and center line. Looks crooked as a judge to me.
Author:  grumpy [ Wed Dec 05, 2012 10:20 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Crooked Bridge?
If it's your guitar, leave as it is; when you're playing it, nobody else will ever be able to see if the bridge is a bit off or not. And if you're passing the guitar around and someone asks if the bridge is a bit crooked because it looks that way to their eyes, tell them it is, slightly, but since it sounded so fine and intonated so well, that you chose to leave it as-is. They'll agree that that was a good decision.

If you're going to sell it or use it at shows as a display model, best to straighten it now. Easily done with a slightly oversized bridge, so you can keep the saddle and bridge pins located -exactly- where they are now, so that you don't have to mess-up the bridge plate. You just need it to be oversized enough to cover-up where the finish was removed for the first bridge.

But really, wood grain being what it is, and never truly running dead-straight, many times we'll see guitars that look crooked or "off" somehow, yet when measured, all is fine, so with that in mind, most folks, even if they're looking-over the guitar carefully, will dismiss your current, slightly-crooked bridge as a "tromp d-oeil" and never think twice....
Author:  string-a-ling [ Wed Dec 05, 2012 12:22 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Crooked Bridge?
Ok, here are a couple of pics. What I'm thinking about doing now is just taking this bridge off, and carving it to be asymmetrical and contoured to look right, so as stated above I won't have to plug and redrill the bridge pins. Again, thanks to everyone for their comments..

Image

Image
Author:  Michael.N. [ Wed Dec 05, 2012 12:49 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Crooked Bridge?
It's visually off. Vast majority of luthiers will notice although I suspect that not many players will.
I vote for leaving it alone, especially if it plays and intonates well.
Author:  Barry Daniels [ Wed Dec 05, 2012 12:53 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Crooked Bridge?
That looks to be about 1/2" off. Very apparent. But you will probably have to refinish the top if you move the bridge by that much. I would do it as this would bug me every time I looked at the guitar.
Author:  string-a-ling [ Wed Dec 05, 2012 1:36 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Crooked Bridge?
1/2"!?! no, it's off 1/8"..



Barry Daniels wrote:
That looks to be about 1/2" off. Very apparent. But you will probably have to refinish the top if you move the bridge by that much. I would do it as this would bug me every time I looked at the guitar.
Author:  nyazzip [ Wed Dec 05, 2012 1:37 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Crooked Bridge?
maybe something like this...?
Image
Author:  string-a-ling [ Wed Dec 05, 2012 2:07 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Crooked Bridge?
that's a little different than what i was thinking, but that's better than what i was thinking! thanks!



nyazzip wrote:
maybe something like this...?
Image
Author:  WudWerkr [ Wed Dec 05, 2012 5:16 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Crooked Bridge?
Its your set up , do what makes you Happy . I still vote to leave it . Looks beautiful to me . [:Y:]
Author:  PeterF [ Wed Dec 05, 2012 5:34 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Crooked Bridge?
I quite like it like that - it almost mirrors the saddle angle! But then, I like asymmetric guitars idunno

I love the rest of the guitar - how did you do the rosette and headstock?
Author:  string-a-ling [ Wed Dec 05, 2012 5:43 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Crooked Bridge?
WudWerkr wrote:
Its your set up , do what makes you Happy . I still vote to leave it . Looks beautiful to me . [:Y:]


Thanks! and you might be right, i might regret changing it if the sound changes, or something else happens during the process of changing it, but i just don't want people saying we're building guitars with poor craftsmanship. if i could afford it i would keep it, because for me it's probably the most enjoyable guitar i've ever played.
Author:  string-a-ling [ Wed Dec 05, 2012 5:46 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Crooked Bridge?
PeterF wrote:
I quite like it like that - it almost mirrors the saddle angle! But then, I like asymmetric guitars idunno

I love the rest of the guitar - how did you do the rosette and headstock?


thanks! the vines are pyrography on spalted maple. yeah, like i said in my previous post, i hope i don't regret changing it, but it's going to bother me if i don't.
Author:  nyazzip [ Wed Dec 05, 2012 5:51 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Crooked Bridge?
Quote:
the vines are pyrography on spalted maple.

just a few weeks ago i dragged out the woodburner; i was going to practice a bit and then do some burning on a maple headstock....HECK no, i am terrible at it! yours looks great
Author:  string-a-ling [ Wed Dec 05, 2012 6:38 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Crooked Bridge?
nyazzip wrote:
Quote:
the vines are pyrography on spalted maple.

just a few weeks ago i dragged out the woodburner; i was going to practice a bit and then do some burning on a maple headstock....HECK no, i am terrible at it! yours looks great


thanks! but, if you can draw then you can wood burn. it does make a difference what tips you use and the heat setting, but you will catch on fast. if you think what i did is good google "jack white pyrography guitar" or something similar, if you can find the photos, he had a tattoo artist burn some female portraits into a few guitars and it looks incredible.
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