Happy Easter! As you might remember, due to many people's kind recommendations, I purchased a RK-36 a few months ago, and I'm very happy I did. With the recommendations I bought a new bridge, which was the standard height and spacing Scorpion bridge, which also was great. However, last night when playing my D string would just pop out of the relevant groove on the bridge, after loosing and putting it back in place, and tuning up and continuing, as soon as it is plucked it pops right out of place. I thought I would ask you kind people is there a way of resolving this (that's easy for an amateur to do) or can someone recommend another good bridge that I can purchase?
16 Comments |
 | alfiedog says:
3/27/2016 5:09:54 AM
Just cut the slot deeper with a Stanley knife blade.
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| alfiedog says:
3/27/2016 5:12:58 AM
Or buy a Tim Purcell bridge. Tim makes some great bridge's, I have one on my RK, and my Gibson. He will make you whatever size, and string spacing you want.
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 | mooweesworld says:
3/27/2016 6:10:47 AM
Very helpful, thank you! Cut into it a little and it's holding. What sort of lifespan do you tend to get out of a bridge?
Does Tim Purcell have a website? And what sort of prices are we talking for one of his bridges?
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 | Andy Campbell says:
3/27/2016 8:12:45 AM
purcell-banjo-bridges.com/
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 | RB-1 says:
3/27/2016 9:39:12 AM
Scorpion bridges are among the world's best, so I wouldn't replace it.
On the contrary, every banjo that I added a Scorpion to, improved by spades.
You're talking about your 'D string'. Which one? There are two on a banjo, just like there are two Gs... ;-)
I'd advice against trying to do this job with a knife. Nutfiles are the proper tool here, and in case you can't afford them (I couldn't) use 'torch tip cleaners' instead. They're perfect miniature round files. Use the size that matches the string gauge (calipers!). A few strokes will do the job (check after each stroke),
the string should sit about half way in the slot.
Make sure that you'd angle the file so the highest point of the slot is on the inner edge of the bridge (neck side) Angle the file parallel to the strings between bridge and tail piece to get this correctly.
If the highest point in the bridge slot is somewhere in the middle, you WILL have a buzz.
Tip cleaners: ebay.co.uk/itm/Tip-Cleaner-Nee...996340430
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| mooweesworld says:
3/27/2016 1:30:31 PM
As always, thank you everyone! And it was my 4th string :)
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| alfiedog says:
3/27/2016 4:33:42 PM
Glad to hear it's holding. Scorpion Bridge's must not have good QC, if the thick D string is jumping out of the bridge slot. I have seen the low d jumping out of a Nut slot on several RK Banjo's, but never on a bridge.....What gauge string's are on your banjo ?
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| alfiedog says:
3/27/2016 5:09:10 PM
Sorry Bruno i have to dispute your method mate. I have a set of nut files, and a set of torch cleaning files (i use the torch cleaners at work) I have never seen a bridge with a perfect semi circular slot. I have made several bridges out of Rosewood, Ramin, even Oak. look at any bridge and it will have a v shaped slot to take the string.
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 | conic says:
3/28/2016 4:23:36 AM
Is the bridge the right way round ?
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| mooweesworld says:
3/28/2016 4:33:04 AM
Yes definitely the right way round. It's holding at the moment, but have seen how much the Purcell bridges are and I think I'll get one of them soon and try it out.
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| alfiedog says:
3/28/2016 6:26:48 AM
If you send Tim a sound file featuring your Banjo, he can tell you what bridge would be best..
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| conic says:
3/28/2016 4:46:28 PM
Is it possible to get a 5/8 standard scorpion bridge from the UK, I cant seem to find one in Europe let alone uk
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| mooweesworld says:
3/28/2016 10:22:31 PM
Mine came from here
moloneymusic.com/Products/Banj...dUkeleles
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| conic says:
3/29/2016 9:40:37 AM
Thanks Calum, I must be blind as I have checked this site several times under products /banjos but could not see the header "scorpion banjo bridges", Doh
I have since contacted the workshop where they are made and should have one on the way soon
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| conic says:
4/21/2016 1:16:44 PM
Calum did you sort out your scorpion issue or did you buy another bridge.
I received my new scorpion from Italy and its outstanding, The guy who makes them is a master craftsman and I'm sure he would want to know if you have had problems, he is on the hangout a few times so try and contact him , search for Silvio Ferretti.
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| mooweesworld says:
4/21/2016 2:51:12 PM
All I did was score a deeper hole with my knife, so far it's holding up! If it pops out again, then I'll hit him up and let him know.
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