Official Luthiers Forum!

Is a bridge weigh of 40 grams ok. I have this bridge finished and can not get the weight down. I usually shoot for 35.

How big is the guitar? That may be OK for a dred or jumbo, but I think it's a little too heavy.
It can be made to work, depending on the rest of the design. I typically use much lighter bridges (~25 grams), so it would be good to wait for someone that uses a heavier bridge. I believe Somogyi uses 35 grams for his bridges, so heavy bridges can work.

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A man hears what he wants to hear, and disreguards the rest. Paul Simon

Never made one as heavy (even from African Blackwood) as that so I can't say, what's it mde from? And a pic may bring suggestions to lighten it if you want to.
I typically shave a slope south of the saddle, to around 2.5mm at the rear after gluing it on.

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The name catgut is confusing. There are two explanations for the mix up.

Catgut is an abbreviation of the word cattle gut. Gut strings are made from sheep or goat intestines, in the past even from horse, mule or donkey intestines.

Otherwise it could be from the word kitgut or kitstring. Kit meant fiddle, not kitten.

Have any of you opened up a cavity in the bottom of a bridge to lighten the weight?

Maintaining the full perimeter of the footprint, but just adding some pockets might bring the weight down, but still preserve a very functional gluing footprint.

I have never tried this myself, but I keep thinking about the Gibson mustache style bridges...

I've thought about that, but worry about the surface area reduction for gluing strength. Although I've never considered the Gibson mustache bridge when trying to think through that.

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Jim Watts
http://jameswattsguitars.com

Depends. If it is a large top, with fairly lightl bracing and a light bridge plate, a heavy bridge might be just the ticket. I had a similar situation with an african blackwood bridge. It worked great. I'd have to check my records but I think it 39g

If yours is a OM or SJ or smaller sized guitar and is heavily braced it probably will hinder top response. But my experience is limited to one heavy bridge. I mostly use bois de rose for 27 to 32g bridges now.

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Joe Beaver
Maker of Sawdust