Bridge leg width question

JtheJazzMan · #1 06-09-2009, 08:17 PM

When buying a new bridge, and the leg width measurement is listed, where is the measurement taken from? Inner leg, outer leg, how far up or down the leg etc

bonaventura · #2 06-10-2009, 06:13 AM

The bridges I've bought were listed as having say a "150mm foot spread" or "150 mm leg width" and this is the distance between the outside of the feet. Whatever your existing bridge measures from the outside of one foot to the outside of the other foot is what you should look for in a bridge blank. Cheers

Don Higdon · #3 06-10-2009, 06:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bonaventura

Whatever your existing bridge measures from the outside of one foot to the outside of the other foot is what you should look for in a bridge blank. Cheers

The width of the bridge stance depends on the location of the bass bar. There's no guarantee the existing bridge is the proper size. As a double check, one should determine where the bass bar is.

JtheJazzMan · #4 06-11-2009, 01:51 AM

Hmm, Im hesitant to buy something off the net for this reason.

My current bridge is about 170mm from the outer edges of the feet. I have a 3/4 bass, but its a 5 string.

bonaventura · #5 06-11-2009, 04:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Don Higdon

The width of the bridge stance depends on the location of the bass bar. There's no guarantee the existing bridge is the proper size. As a double check, one should determine where the bass bar is.

Don is right. I was ass-u-m-ing the existing bridge is the correct size. Did not mean to mislead.

But this is not rocket science. Like Chuck Trager's book or many others will tell you (or even check here on TB) that the E string bridge leg needs to be centered over the bass bar at the level of the inside notch, and the entire bridge in that position needs to be well centered over the bass top, i.e., the two feet are equidistant from the inner edge of the respective ff holes... right, Don?

I've bought excellent bridges from Bob Gollihur, which is "off the net" but a very trustworthy source.

Jake deVilliers · #6 06-11-2009, 01:20 PM

I looked in your Profile to see what bass you played, so as to be able to offer some useful advice, but there is no DB listed......

bonaventura · #7 06-12-2009, 02:25 AM

Jake, the luthier who made my bass (H. Gruenert) put an original bridge on it with a "foot spread" of 170mm. Is that a standard size and where could I get a good one? It's not like I need one right now, but I was just looking around it does not seem to be one of the more common sizes.

JtheJazzMan · #8 06-12-2009, 02:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jake deVilliers

I looked in your Profile to see what bass you played, so as to be able to offer some useful advice, but there is no DB listed......

Ah yes havent been there for a long time

New Rom. Bass - For the 5-string-curious

Theres some pics, though that may not help as im led to believe its unlike the Gligas that make their way into the states.

I checked the bass bar and the bridge foot does go directly over it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by bonaventura

Jake, the luthier who made my bass (H. Gruenert) put an original bridge on it with a "foot spread" of 170mm. Is that a standard size and where could I get a good one? It's not like I need one right now, but I was just looking around it does not seem to be one of the more common sizes.

This is what I meant being hesitant to buy off the net, a 170mm bridge seems close to a 4 and 3/4 inch centre to centre foot spread, but Id like to double check first in case its not the correct dimensions.

Jake deVilliers · #9 06-12-2009, 10:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bonaventura

Jake, the luthier who made my bass (H. Gruenert) put an original bridge on it with a "foot spread" of 170mm. Is that a standard size and where could I get a good one? It's not like I need one right now, but I was just looking around it does not seem to be one of the more common sizes.

What is the distance between the f-hole eyes up above the bridge?

J, what size is your present bridge from toe to toe? The Gligas and Strunals I've seen here use 150mm bridges for both 4 & 5 stringers.

JtheJazzMan · #10 06-12-2009, 07:40 PM

Is toe-toe the outer edges of the bridge feet? If so then its 170mm like I listed above

Jake deVilliers · #11 06-12-2009, 10:15 PM

Sorry, I got you guys confused...

Email the usual suspects for a 170mm bridge - Metropolitan Music, (All Hail!) Bob Gollihur, International Violin, Lemur, you know the rest...

bonaventura · #12 06-13-2009, 02:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jake deVilliers

What is the distance between the f-hole eyes up above the bridge?

Jake, that's pretty much exactly 14.5 cm. And the outside edbge line of each foot would run pretty much through the middle of the respective eye.

I don't think Bob G or Lemur carry a 170mm bridge. That's why I was asking. But if that's your answer, I will accept that and continue to look...

Thanks for your help.

Bill

Jake deVilliers · #13 06-13-2009, 10:10 AM

Lemur definitely carries the Despiau in 165mm - its on their website.

Ken Smith would tell you that the bridge feet need to be narrower than the upper f-hole eyes and unless the bar is on an unusual angle, I will too!
Is the E foot of the bridge centred on the bar?

Schoolhouse · #14 06-13-2009, 04:31 PM

165 mm is the largest I've found in the States. C.A. Gotz in Germany carries bass bridges up to 175mm. Shipping is expensive.

Tom

bonaventura · #15 06-14-2009, 08:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jake deVilliers

Lemur definitely carries the Despiau in 165mm - its on their website.

Ken Smith would tell you that the bridge feet need to be narrower than the upper f-hole eyes and unless the bar is on an unusual angle, I will too!
Is the E foot of the bridge centred on the bar?

Jake, yes on both questions. The outer edge of the feet is on a line that runs through the center of the upperf-hold eyes, which means the center of the bridge foot is narrower. Or did Ken mean the outer edge of the bridge foot ought to be inside the eyes? Yes, the center of the leg is right on top of the bar.

Thanks for your comments.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Schoolhouse

165 mm is the largest I've found in the States. C.A. Gotz in Germany carries bass bridges up to 175mm. Shipping is expensive.

Tom

Thanks for the tip. I may need to go there...

stefaniw80401 · #16 06-15-2009, 03:50 PM

I've always wondered about this issue, and if a wider bridge centered over the bassbar would get the most out of my bass. My 2003 carved Romanian (Gyorgi) was setup at Robertsons in NM. So I would think that it's "done right".

Facts about my (unbranded) bridge and f-hole eyes:

Each bridge foot is 2" wide, each bridge leg is 3/4" wide.
Inside distance between upper f-hole eyes is 6 1/4".
The outer edges of the bridge feet measure 6 1/2", which means that the feet spread wider than the f-hole eyes.
However, the bass bridge leg is NOT centered over the bass bar.
If my bassbar is ~3/4", then I estimate that the bridge leg is centered over the inner edge of the bassbar, which makes my bridge too narrow by about 3/8" (x2).