I decided to try an idea for a bridge I've been kicking around, basically it gets away from the 3 foot design, in order to prevent a sag in the middle. Instead of 3 feet and air in between, it uses a solid piece of wood with holes drilled in it. The holes are spaced between and under the strings, to lighten the solid piece, and so each string has the same configuration of wood around it.
I have some Osage Orange wood which is harder than maple, and has good sound properties. Earlier I made a new bridge top for my mandola out of it, and it sounds very nice, kind of airy and sweet, compared to ebony. This one is a two piece, Osage Orange top with Red Maple bottom.
I think it sounds pretty good for the ML-1, a little woody maybe, less brash, and it lets me dig in a little harder which helps sometimes. I did a short video so you can see it and hear it.
Does it look anything like this? This one was made by Don New, a member here who makes bridges.
That idea has been around for quite awhile. Open-back builders have applied that design to achieve a sound that many clawhammer players desire.
I think it may make a wonderful modification to "bluegrass" banjos who's players aren't necessarily wanting to sound exactly like Mr. Scruggs.
Edited by - mrphysics55 on 06/14/2026 17:45:04
Short Story …
I like your bridge. Maybe you could sell me one?
Hey Jon, that sounds really sweet! And I love your armrest!
You remind me of a BHO member who goes by the name xnavyguy. He made bridges a lot like yours, and also some really wild crazy designs. He was older and hasn’t been active here since last year, so I hope he’s ok. If you look up his homepage, he’s got 18 pages of photos, many many bridge designs. If the link works, here’s an example.
I guess if I could have gotten the video to play the first time, I would have known what the bridge looked like.
quote:
Originally posted by CullodenDoes it look anything like this? This one was made by Don New, a member here who makes bridges.
pretty close, but the ML-1 takes a very tall bridge so mine has a solid base with two rows of holes. A shorter bridge might be too weak if it had two rows of holes. It probably would be good for a frailing banjo.
That's mostly what Don makes; frailing bridges.
Like it!
And I've made similar, but not the same.
Yours sounds good, and that's all that really counts
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