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Advantages of a 12 hole bridge?   You are logged in as Guest
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ejbrown

 

Posts: 1
Joined: May 6 2023
 

Advantages of a 12 hole bridge? 
Hi,
I didn’t see any posts that addressed the pros/cons of this bridge.

My new guitar, 2022 Jeronimo Perez has a 12 hole bridge and I find it a challenge to get the strings through due to the angle.
Are there any advantages, sonic or otherwise?

Thank you,
  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Nov. 9 2023 17:14:44
 
silddx

Posts: 570
Joined: May 8 2012
From: London

RE: Advantages of a 12 hole bridge? (in reply to ejbrown) 
Never had any problems with the one I had. I liked it. Good break angle.
  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Nov. 9 2023 22:06:53
 
RobF

Posts: 1611
Joined: Aug. 24 2017
 

RE: Advantages of a 12 hole bridge? (in reply to ejbrown) 
You could string your guitar in the same configuration as a six hole and see which you prefer.

The twelve hole style is sometimes retrofitted to increase the break angle on older guitars if the saddle is low in relation to the tie block. That’s really only necessary if the strings are slipping on the saddle, though. A disadvantage to the 12 hole bridges is they seem to be more prone to string slippage, especially with carbon strings, and the resulting top dings. But that’s more just a thing to be aware of to be careful when stringing. There’s no right or wrong to it, it’s user and builder preference and a lot of makers do both.
  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Nov. 10 2023 0:14:43
 
Morante

 

Posts: 2182
Joined: Nov. 21 2010
 

RE: Advantages of a 12 hole bridge? (in reply to ejbrown) 
Works with 6 or 12.
  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Nov. 10 2023 0:32:26
 
Ricardo

Posts: 14825
Joined: Dec. 14 2004
From: Washington DC

RE: Advantages of a 12 hole bridge? (in reply to ejbrown) 
As RobF points out it is one way to fix a guitar whose setup is not good (either due to initial flaw or neck/top movement over time). You want to lower the bridge saddle but end up with too shallow a break angle, then new holes can be drilled etc. A similar fix is to use string ties (no looping you feed the string through the tieblock once and tie it to a bead type thing). So as a repair it is ideal solution vs changing the neck angle or making a new bridge etc.

But Luthiers that build with this design of 12 or more (I have seen 18!) holes are thinking only about slightly increasing the Break angle by avoiding the traditional loop tie under the string that pulls up on that angled portion of string between the saddle and the tie block. Why? They are under the false impression that due to Physics, the break angle is proportional to sound volume output. Increase the angle increases downward pressure and more volume. This MIGHT have some small effect on PIEZO pickups placed under the saddle for acoustic-electric guitars, but I consider it a minor detail. More important is the flatness of the saddle and bridge Chanel such that you can properly sandwich the piezo so each string picks up equally. Many builders gave up trying that thing and use Mclish style pick ups, one under each string ala godin.

In the end the break angle does not increase volume of acoustic guitars, so I feel that the 12 hole design in bogus. What increases volume output is increasing the action such that you have more dynamic range. This is a trade off of course, since playability is affected by the action.

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  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Nov. 10 2023 14:20:25
 
constructordeguitarras

Posts: 1677
Joined: Jan. 29 2012
From: Seattle, Washington, USA

RE: Advantages of a 12 hole bridge? (in reply to ejbrown) 
I like 12 holes because it makes it easy to tie the string onto the tie block with the end of the string pointing up--instead of the end of the string digging into the soundboard below the bridge. I melt a ball on the end of each treble string (with a lighter) to make it secure against slipping out. As on this classical bridge. (Is that big enough?)



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Ethan Deutsch
www.edluthier.com
www.facebook.com/ethandeutschguitars
www.youtube.com/marioamayaflamenco
I always have flamenco guitars available for sale.
  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Nov. 11 2023 3:02:11
 
oldskoolfool

 

Posts: 12
Joined: Nov. 15 2012
 

RE: Advantages of a 12 hole bridge? (in reply to constructordeguitarras) 
Hi Ethan,
Thanks for your reply! The takeaway is that it really doesn't add anything sonically. That said, I did notice how the strings point up although I don't take a lighter to them. Boy you luthiers are a crazy bunch. I remember the first time I saw a luthier clean up an old guitar with lighter fluid I was blown away (no pun intended).


Also, I just recently became aware of your guitars via videos on this site and was blown away! The sound is so crisp. Great work! I noticed one was being sold at GSI and if I didn't already have three guitars I need to sell, I'd buy it.
Ed
  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Nov. 15 2023 22:19:06
 
constructordeguitarras

Posts: 1677
Joined: Jan. 29 2012
From: Seattle, Washington, USA

RE: Advantages of a 12 hole bridge? (in reply to oldskoolfool) 
Hi, Ed.

Thanks for your appreciation of my guitars.

I wouldn't be sure that the 12-holes don't add anything sonically. The increased break angle could make a difference over 6 holes in some cases. Even if the holes are drilled at the same angle, the way strings are tied with 6 holes usually involves a loop under the main part of the string between the hole and the saddle which tends to pull it up, reducing the break-over angle.

_____________________________

Ethan Deutsch
www.edluthier.com
www.facebook.com/ethandeutschguitars
www.youtube.com/marioamayaflamenco
I always have flamenco guitars available for sale.
  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Nov. 17 2023 5:47:29
 
Joan Maher

 

Posts: 213
Joined: Dec. 3 2013
 

RE: Advantages of a 12 hole bridge? (in reply to ejbrown) 
I think six are fine just overkill

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Joan Josep Maher
  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Dec. 4 2023 20:11:02
 
mark indigo

 

Posts: 3625
Joined: Dec. 5 2007
 

RE: Advantages of a 12 hole bridge? (in reply to ejbrown) 
quote:

I didn’t see any posts that addressed the pros/cons of this bridge.

My new guitar, 2022 Jeronimo Perez has a 12 hole bridge and I find it a challenge to get the strings through due to the angle.
Are there any advantages, sonic or otherwise?


I have no idea where I got this from, whether I read it on the foro here or elsewhere, but I understood the point of the 12 hole break angle thing was to prevent buzzing with a lower action....

...or maybe I just made that up, I really can't remember!

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  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Dec. 5 2023 13:00:01
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