Making a flamenco bridge - dimensions please

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kominak

Posts: 135
Joined: Apr. 20 2010

Making a flamenco bridge - dimension...

I'm about to make a bridge for my first flamenco guitar build - it's going to have a 12 hole tie block. But looking at my guitar plan I'm not sure about some of the dimensions.
Could some of the more experienced luthiers here please fill in the numbers that work for you (A,B,C,D,E,F,G,H,I), in millimeters if possible? I have filled in the numbers that I could gather from my plan. When I'm talking about string holes I'm thinking distances from hole center.

basic footprint of the bridge (length x width): A x B = 185 x 28.5mm
dimensions of the tie block (length x width x height from the soundboard): C x D x E = 73 x 12.5 x 5mm
distance of the first line of string holes from the soundboard: F
distance of the second line of string holes from the soundboard: G
left-right offset between the first line and the second line of string holes: H
thickness of the bridge wings: I = 3.7mm

If some of the numbers E,F,G is not constant along the length of the tie block, please give your measurements on both ends (or high and low E string resp.)
If the thickness of the wings (I) is not constant along their length please give your measurements near the tie block and at the end of the wing. Do you make both wings about the same (bass and treble side)?

I know it's a lot of numbers but you'll really help me a lot and I don't know where else to find those numbers. Plus I think it'll be interesting to compare the numbers between you guys.
Thank you a lot!

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Martin Kominak
Slovakia

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jul. 12 2011 8:49:40

Sean

Posts: 672
Joined: Jan. 20 2011
From: Canada

RE: Making a flamenco bridge - dimen... (in reply to kominak)

I have not really checked over your measurements but I can tell you your missing one very important one and that is weight. If your bridge is to heavy you will get a slower reacting guitar with to much sustain, this is not very good for flamenco.
28.5 is fine, the length I vary by a hair depending on where the position of the bridge will be (scale length) and the fan struts location underneath. Like many things this is just a personal thing for me and is not necessarily right or wrong. Thicknesses vary for me depending on the density and stiffness of the material used. I once used ziricote for a bridge, I went thinner then I usually did before to bring the weight down, it was well cut and incredibly stiff so it turned out just fine.
Oh ya if you are planning to arch your bridge don't drill your lower string holes in a str8 line.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jul. 12 2011 15:47:28

kominak

Posts: 135
Joined: Apr. 20 2010

RE: Making a flamenco bridge - dimen... (in reply to Sean)

Hi Sean,
yes, I forgot to mention the weight. From what I learned so far, weight between 15 and 17 grams is OK for flamenco bridge? I hope I'll be able to get that low given the good design in the first place. My top has about 2-3 mm dome so I guess I'll have to make the bridge arched? Thanks for the advice, I would drill those holes in a straight line for sure...

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Martin Kominak
Slovakia

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jul. 12 2011 16:04:22

estebanana

Posts: 9367
Joined: Oct. 16 2009

RE: Making a flamenco bridge - dimen... (in reply to kominak)

I deleted my response because I did not understand your question and I spoke about the wrong thing.

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https://www.stephenfaulkguitars.com

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jul. 12 2011 16:06:22

Sean

Posts: 672
Joined: Jan. 20 2011
From: Canada

RE: Making a flamenco bridge - dimen... (in reply to kominak)

Yes you should arch the bridge to match the top, it wouldn't make sense to arch the top with the struts and then have the top forced down by a flat bridge. I think generally most makers keep the bridge weight under 19grams but I doubt you will reach such a low of 15.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jul. 12 2011 16:36:18

Andy Culpepper

Posts: 3023
Joined: Mar. 30 2009
From: NY, USA

RE: Making a flamenco bridge - dimen... (in reply to kominak)

My bridge depends on how I work the rest of the top, and what kind of voicing I'm going for...
I can't do your letter system, sorry

My total bridge length is 184 mm, 27.5 wide, tie block length is 80 mm by 11.1 wide. I make my tie block 7-7.5 mm tall (5 mm is really short). The part that holds the saddle is 6-6.5 mm high for a string height of 8 mm at the bridge. My bridge wings can range from 3.5 to 4.5 mm thick and are sometimes different thicknesses.

And the most important part: I'm always between 16 and 18 grams on a flamenco

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Andy Culpepper, luthier
http://www.andyculpepper.com

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jul. 12 2011 16:46:25

kominak

Posts: 135
Joined: Apr. 20 2010

RE: Making a flamenco bridge - dimen... (in reply to Andy Culpepper)

Thanks a lot guys!
One more thing - how close can I put those string holes to the bottom of the block?
I have a classical bridge here that has the string holes about 4mm above the soundboard. Can I go a bit lower?
And what's the minimum distance between the 2 holes (through which 1 string goes)?

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Martin Kominak
Slovakia

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jul. 12 2011 21:33:57

El Burdo

Posts: 632
Joined: Sep. 8 2011

RE: Making a flamenco bridge - dimen... (in reply to kominak)

Hi all.

I am making my second flamenco but in a restricted workplace. It's going quite well but I have produced a bridge that is slightly smaller than the recommended Santos Hernandez dimensions (which I am following). I have radiused it well but the height of the block at the centre is now 7mm instead of 8mm. Also (sorry) the width is now 26mm rather than the recommended 27mm. Reading elsewhere, I am told that a mm has enormous significance. I can see that in saddle height or thicknessing tapa it could be. But is my bridge now too wrong? The height will come from the saddle surely? It currently weighs 17g.

Any advice would be welcome.

Jeff.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Sep. 8 2011 13:22:33

Gimar Yestra

Posts: 298
Joined: Jan. 19 2011
From: The Netherlands

RE: Making a flamenco bridge - dimen... (in reply to kominak)

I wouldnt worry to much about it, just because your dimensions are slightly different doesnt make it a wrong bridge. I say just go for it, in the very worst case you could take off the bridge and replace it with a bigger one...all though i doubt that will happen, if for some reason the guitar doesnt turn out well i wouldnt blame it on the slightly smaller bradge in the first palce.

also don't get too worked up about all the mumbojumbo, people tend to make things look impossibly difficult so they look smarter.

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www.yestragitaarbouw.nl

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Sep. 8 2011 15:50:37

Gimar Yestra

Posts: 298
Joined: Jan. 19 2011
From: The Netherlands

RE: Making a flamenco bridge - dimen... (in reply to kominak)

also 7 mm might still be a bit high for a flamenco bridge?? I've seen bridges around 5 6 mm height, and a saddle string heidght of +- 8 or 9 mm

following a plan perfectly doesnt make a good guitar, your interpetation of what a piece of wood can do, how thick your top needs to be, how you work the braces, and how you work the wood it does.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Sep. 8 2011 15:52:59