quote:

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Originally posted by Evan C

I got my submerged birch a couple days ago. It arrived promptly and is a fine piece of craftsmanship.

I'm new to this, and other than the stock bridge on my Goodtime, this Purcell is only I've tried. However, to my ears, I have gotten a nice improvement in tone.

I really appreciate the simple 'P' branding. Appearance does matter, and my preference is to avoid conspicuous wording and designs. This is also why I like the simple compensation pattern Tim uses--you get a bit of help with the 3rd string without compromising the traditional look.

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Thank you for the kind words, Evan. Glad you like the birch.

quote:

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Originally posted by Kurt Kemp

That is some great looking wood and I look forward to kicking the tires on one!!

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You'll be getting one of these soon.......you might want to warn the neighbors first ..

Tim

Wow! Over the years I've tried several bridges to find one that worked with all (5) my banjos: Emerson Power, Samson walnut, Moon, Scorpion, and finally settled on Scott's Vintage Elite because that bridge sounded well on all of 'em. So then here comes comments on the Purcell in the forum.  Well, for around $20 what the heck, so I thought I'd try a red maple one. It came in the mail Monday and I put it on my '29 TB3 conversion. A first it sounded as good as the Z bridge until I started to digging into it and boy did the banjo come alive. Gonna have to try it on my RK when Keeby sends me the thin skirt, and then the others. Go figure. My wife said that I should donate my bridge collection to  the instrument museum in Scottsdale. At least, she says, I don't hang around in bars.

Tim,

Good talking with you yesterday.

To confirm, I'd like to purchase a .656  piano wood bridge.

Thanks,

Doug Peacock

pscdp@bellsouth.net

quote:

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Originally posted by dpeacock1

Tim,

Good talking with you yesterday.

To confirm, I'd like to purchase a .656  piano wood bridge.

 

Thanks,

Doug Peacock

pscdp@bellsouth.net

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It was great talking to you too, Doug. I'm going to glue the tops on some blanks right now and yours is included.

Do you want the 3rd compensated?

Tim

yeah def great looking...by the way, what is the difference between birch and maple for bridge wood? sound and tone wise?

quote:

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Originally posted by mikezjr

Wow! Over the years I've tried several bridges to find one that worked with all (5) my banjos: Emerson Power, Samson walnut, Moon, Scorpion, and finally settled on Scott's Vintage Elite because that bridge sounded well on all of 'em. So then here comes comments on the Purcell in the forum.  Well, for around $20 what the heck, so I thought I'd try a red maple one. It came in the mail Monday and I put it on my '29 TB3 conversion. A first it sounded as good as the Z bridge until I started to digging into it and boy did the banjo come alive. Gonna have to try it on my RK when Keeby sends me the thin skirt, and then the others. Go figure. My wife said that I should donate my bridge collection to  the instrument museum in Scottsdale. At least, she says, I don't hang around in bars.

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Hey Louis, thanks for the very nice comments my friend! I'm happy you like the red maple.

Tim

quote:

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Originally posted by erikforgod

yeah def great looking...by the way, what is the difference between birch and maple for bridge wood? sound and tone wise?

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Eric, the submerged birch I use is very warm sounding. A little more subdued on a flathead but with plenty of sustain. It really seems to like a little tighter head and more down pressure from the strings to bring out the lows and mids. Some arch top players seem to like the submerged birch.

Hard maple can really vary from bridge to bridge. It packs a lttle more punch when you dig into the strings more. Most of the old maple that I've experimented with has a quicker decay than submerged birch. It rteally depends on the density of the wood, height of top wood as well as width, how much wood mass is left, and the bridges footprint. Though it's not rocket science, as many will say, there is a lot to be said about the final shape of the bridge. These are my opinions of course and in no way should considered worthy of stone tablets....

Tim

Tim,

Wanted to let you know I really like your piano wood bridge.

I'm trying to schedule a meeting at MB Industries in Rosman in March. Will let you know the date and hopefully I can make it over to Chandler for a brief visit.

Thanks,

Doug

quote:

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Originally posted by dpeacock1

Tim,

Wanted to let you know I really like your piano wood bridge.

I'm trying to schedule a meeting at MB Industries in Rosman in March. Will let you know the date and hopefully I can make it over to Chandler for a brief visit.

Thanks,

Doug

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Glad to hear it....and I look forward to your visit.

Tim

Tim my new banjo bridge just arrived today and as expected I just put the new bridge on, but with the already old strings that were already on it and my wife came out of the kitchen and exclaimed how it sounded like a "new banjo" just the volume and clarity and sustain improvement is what jumps out at me about your bridges Tim. Thanks again for making a banjo player happy once again...both my banjos have really come to life now!

Edited by - erikforgod on 03/22/2012 17:02:41

The bridge I have on my RK75 is absolutely amazing. It has tone and clarity and consistency all over the neck...and is as powerful a bridge as I've used.

Awesome work Tim!!!!!!

quote:

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Originally posted by erikforgod

Tim my new banjo bridge just arrived today and as expected I just put the new bridge on, but with the already old strings that were already on it and my wife came out of the kitchen and exclaimed how it sounded like a "new banjo" just the volume and clarity and sustain improvement is what jumps out at me about your bridges Tim. Thanks again for making a banjo player happy once again...both my banjos have really come to life now!

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I'm tickled it got there in one piece!! Hopefully you can post a video of some more of your great playing AND singing, brother.....

quote:

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Originally posted by lazyarcher

The bridge I have on my RK75 is absolutely amazing. It has tone and clarity and consistency all over the neck...and is as powerful a bridge as I've used.

Awesome work Tim!!!!!!

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Thanks Dave......I'm hoping to get some old gym floor hard maple from a local North Carolina fellow. I've only got 5 blanks left but it's some really nice sounding bridge wood. I'll try and post a sound file of it.

Here's the old college gym floor bridge.

gym floor bridge test

quote:

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Originally posted by chickenpickin

quote:

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Originally posted by lazyarcher

The bridge I have on my RK75 is absolutely amazing. It has tone and clarity and consistency all over the neck...and is as powerful a bridge as I've used.

Awesome work Tim!!!!!!

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Thanks Dave......I'm hoping to get some old gym floor hard maple from a local North Carolina fellow. I've only got 5 blanks left but it's some really nice sounding bridge wood. I'll try and post a sound file of it.

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Tim

Ive got another chunk of it, Im going to mail it out tomorrow hopefully. I havent heard back from Eric. He may be out of town. Its excellent stuff, isn;t it!

It is definitely some very good bridge wood no doubt, John! I would love to try some with closer growth lines. It is very close in tone to the piano wood but has a nice rounded note decay and maybe a little more "pleasing to the ear" sound.

Thanks again for the wood, John. That's mighty kind of ya.......

Tim

Here it is all set up!!! ...my trusty Goodtime Crow has a new voice...out with the old and in with the new! I got the banjo all set up and it sounds great with my new Purcell bridge. I have some 5-stars planetary tuners comin for this banjo as well.....

Nothing like a finely crafted banjo bridge to make a huge difference in sound!

VIDEO: Tim Purcell Banjo bridge ( number 2 ) Piano Maple / ebony cap / Compensated G string (click to view)

Thanks for sharing the video, Eric. The banjo sounds really nice and it has a nice warm tone to it. Very easy to listen to.

Happy pickin'!

Tim

Tim here is another video...I was practicing the vocals to "Cluck Old Hen" and I pulled the towel stuffing out of the pot...this video you can hear even more of a difference....also in the past I had trouble with the "G" string whenever I tuned to "Sawmill tuning" in the past...its clear as a bell now. It really feels and sounds like a whole new banjo to me now...also my other bridge sagged in the middle ( the cheapie Deering stock bridge ) so I tightened just a quarter-turn all the way around the head also before I put the bridge on..soo everythings working together now....an these are like 4 month old strings!! LOL

VIDEO: Cluck Old Hen with vocals ( without banjo mute ) (click to view)

Edited by - erikforgod on 03/23/2012 07:01:56

Oh yeah!! quite a difference now. Your pickin' is top notch Eric and your vocals are spot on with this tune. I'm really impressed with your timing. Great job!!

Tim

Thanks Tim.....I was hoping the folks could hear both sounds...muted and un-muted. Here because our neighbors are so close I have to sometimes use a mute to tone it down..but even muted it sound so much better....if my wife comments on it..then it catches my attention..she is very observant...and the banjo is completely new to her. I have some 5-star banjo tuners in the mail...both of my banjos are perfect now in my opinion. I might be sooo tempted to buy another Goodtime...only fretless but maybe with a steel tone ring, one of your bridges and then put a brass or formica fingerboard over the neck...and I know I would have a nice banjer with that...fretless banjo is my next and maybe last step...that way each of my banjos has something different.

Before this bridge I didnt like this banjo un-muted as much...now it has such a nice bell tone to it!!

Edited by - erikforgod on 03/23/2012 07:30:23

I really like the sound file that you posted, that is a really good sounding banjo, good job. 

quote:

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Originally posted by banjomaster1980

I really like the sound file that you posted, that is a really good sounding banjo, good job. 

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Thanks...I didnt really understand the dynamic involved in having a custom bridge...boy am I a believer now...it makes a HUGE difference!

quote:

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Originally posted by mikezjr

Wow! Over the years I've tried several bridges to find one that worked with all (5) my banjos: Emerson Power, Samson walnut, Moon, Scorpion, and finally settled on Scott's Vintage Elite because that bridge sounded well on all of 'em. So then here comes comments on the Purcell in the forum.  Well, for around $20 what the heck, so I thought I'd try a red maple one. It came in the mail Monday and I put it on my '29 TB3 conversion. A first it sounded as good as the Z bridge until I started to digging into it and boy did the banjo come alive. Gonna have to try it on my RK when Keeby sends me the thin skirt, and then the others. Go figure. My wife said that I should donate my bridge collection to  the instrument museum in Scottsdale. At least, she says, I don't hang around in bars.

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Tried that Purcell bridge yet on your RK MIke? Just curious as to what you think?