bridge question

[HardboiledRosie]

Hello,

my chris sands heavy gauge strings arrived, but I hadn't anticipated the obvious fact that the gauge of the strings is larger than the previous steel strings. The strings won't stay put in the bridge's grooves. After trying to file the grooves larger I ended up chipping the bridge.

How and where can I order a bridge whose grooves will fit the specific gauge of the nylon strings?

thanks!

[Trapdoor2]

I don't know of anyone who provides bridges pre-cut for nylon strings, esp. for the big/heavy Sands. I've always simply cut my own notches/grooves, often using an Xacto knife rather than a file.

A properly sized nut-file is a delight to use...but sometimes they do cause splintering, etc., esp. on typical bridge woods. I don't know if I have a file the right size for the Sands strings as I haven't used them in years.

What kind/brand/height of bridge are you using? If I have one, I'll see if I can find some Sands heavies and fix one up for you.

[thereallyniceman]

You say that you chipped the bridge?  Was it an ebony capped one? Normally plain maple ones are recommended for classic banjo.  The "Morley" style is my favourite and available from Clifford Essex Music Co.

LINK TO:

Morley Bridge from Clifford Essex

The grooves rarely need a very slight widening (if any widening at all) when using heavy strings.

I use welding torch cleaning files ( $3 on Ebay) to open up the bridge grooves and the nut if necessary.

On Ebay.com:    Welding Tip Cleaning File

 I fit the bridge, move the string that does not fit or jumps out, to the side then use the right sized circular tip cleaning file gently backwards and forwards, holding it at each end, to file the groove wider and maybe "slightly" deeper.  The bridge is held firmly in place by the tension of the other strings while filing. Then I put the string in its new groove and repeat with any other grooves that need widening.

Good luck.... only a slight set back, and all part of a Classic Banjo learning curve :-)

[HardboiledRosie]

Thank you!!

The one I chipped looks like this-- 

And then after I also chipped a standard ebony one :-)

Thanks Trapdoor for the offer! I think it will be just as easy to order the Morely bridge that Ian recommended. It should arrive by the time I am back from vacation, and I'll be able to use my aunt's files to widen it if necessary. Thank you both!!!

[Trapdoor2]

No problem, Rosie. You should notice a big difference between that old Grover #96 and the Morley bridge. Those Grover's are most widely favored by the 4-string folks (tenor and plectrum). A good solid-maple bridge will make your banjo sit up and speak with authority!

Ian is spot on with the welders tip cleaners. They work nicely and produce a rounded-bottom groove.

[Jody Stecher]

I have never been able to figure out why the bridges with white  insets make a tenor banjo sound better and make a five string banjo sound worse. I have tested this and have verified that this is the case but so far I don't understand why.

Trapdoor2 said:

No problem, Rosie. You should notice a big difference between that old Grover #96 and the Morley bridge. Those Grover's are most widely favored by the 4-string folks (tenor and plectrum). A good solid-maple bridge will make your banjo sit up and speak with authority!

Ian is spot on with the welders tip cleaners. They work nicely and produce a rounded-bottom groove.

[Trapdoor2]

Obvious: because Earl didn't use one. ;-)

Speculation:

I think it may have something to do with the string length vs bridge mass. Those things are usually very heavy and 'most' TBs tend to produce a very short pulse, which decays rapidly. To counteract that and give 'em a little bit more sustain...a heavy bridge is called for.

I have tried the #96 Grover on my plectrum banjos and I don't like it...but same goes for my two tenors (Bacon Blue Ribbon and Paramount Style A). Every Bacon Silver Bell I've ever actually liked had one on it though.
 
Jody Stecher said:

I have never been able to figure out why the bridges with white  insets make a tenor banjo sound better and make a five string banjo sound worse. I have tested this and have verified that this is the case but so far I don't understand why.

[Jody Stecher]

I never tried the Grover brand but this type of bridge (very old) certainly made my Orpheum #1 tenor and my Paramount Aristocrat tenor sound better, and I tried 3 or 4 other types of bridge.  I think your theory about sustain might be correct. On long scale banjos these bridges  produce the most godawful clang and clunk.

Trapdoor2 said:

Obvious: because Earl didn't use one. ;-)

Speculation:

I think it may have something to do with the string length vs bridge mass. Those things are usually very heavy and 'most' TBs tend to produce a very short pulse, which decays rapidly. To counteract that and give 'em a little bit more sustain...a heavy bridge is called for.

I have tried the #96 Grover on my plectrum banjos and I don't like it...but same goes for my two tenors (Bacon Blue Ribbon and Paramount Style A). Every Bacon Silver Bell I've ever actually liked had one on it though.
 
Jody Stecher said:

I have never been able to figure out why the bridges with white  insets make a tenor banjo sound better and make a five string banjo sound worse. I have tested this and have verified that this is the case but so far I don't understand why.