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Any luthier or other person with knowledge enough to judge if the bridge on my old (but new for me) guitar looks healthy or not? See pic below.
I can barely slip a little part of a papers corner beneath. The treble side of the bridge has perfect contact with the soundboard all the way.
I recently bought it online from a dealer mention nothing about it and states a luthier overhauled it before shipping. Maybe it's minor enough not worth mention nor fix? Maybe it's not even to consider a run-up of a future problem? Maybe I'm just fussy?
I have no experience of problematic bridges myself but I think it looks suspect, so please tell me what you think. Thanks.
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RE: Bridge coming loose? (in reply to Stephen Eden)
I don't know really, I got the guitar like this and I've only had it for a couple of days. I just played it for a bit, say five minutes, when it arrived and then released the tension because I got worried. I bought it as a guitar in good condition and it was quite expensive and on top of my budget already so any extras for repair work would be most unwelcome.
RE: Bridge coming loose? (in reply to FERREREZAKI)
quote:
ORIGINAL: FERREREZAKI
And the break angle, with string height approx 7,5 mm at bridge and 3 mm at 12th fret. Looks little shallow maybe?
The break angle looks ok to me. You could probably even lower the saddle a bit if you wanted. I wouldn't worry about the loose spot under the bridge unless it starts to grow.
RE: Bridge coming loose? (in reply to FERREREZAKI)
The break angle looks fine to me too. There's been research and testing done on break angle by Alan Carruth and his conclusions, which I would trust, are that we previously thought low break angles loose string energy. His experiments showed that after certain point there are diminishing returns and you can get away with as little as 5 degrees in some situations.
I used to try to extreme break angles thinking it gave me an edge in bridge efficiency, but then came to to the conclusion a few years ago that my guitars were just basically getting better as I was trying steeper break angles. I stopped fussing with that. Then I read what Carruth had done and how he experimented and agreed.
If you can slip feeler gauge under there and see how far back that opening goes that could tell you if the bridge is in need of help. I've worked hot hide glue in seams like that and done a little clamping and it seals up the problem.
But I agree with what Eden and John said, play and watch it.
My experience after having 12 hole bridge conversions, increasing break angle is that the strings feel noticably less compliant to my right hand and therefore I can and do play harder. This of course changes the sound and increases the volume my hand produces from the guitar.
Took it to a reputable luthier the other day, he could reach in quite far with his feeler gauge, almost the entire half of the bridge. So I will have to have it repaired before it ends up like the one on RobJe's picture.
Posts: 1708
Joined: Jan. 29 2012
From: Seattle, Washington, USA
RE: Bridge coming loose? (in reply to FERREREZAKI)
quote:
And the break angle, with string height approx 7,5 mm at bridge and 3 mm at 12th fret. Looks little shallow maybe?
I think they are very good pictures. I would push those loops of string over the valley down, against the tie block, which would increase the break-over angle.
My god, you scared me; when I scrolled down, I thought it was the original poster.
quote:
I think they are very good pictures. I would push those loops of string over the valley down, against the tie block, which would increase the break-over angle.
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