frettedstrings - Posted - 11/24/2011:  17:39:59

I was wondering where the optimal location for the bridge would be on my gut string open back banjo.  The pot measures about 10".   How far from the tail piece should the bridge be placed?  I want to get the best tone....all suggestions welcome.

My Little Waldo

steve davis - Posted - 11/24/2011:  17:56:13

The fretted and harmonic note comparison at the 12th fret is a great way to locate the bridge.
Play a 12th fret harmonic(chime) on the 3rd string.(first tune your banjo to a tuner if you have one).

Then play a fretted 3rd string at the 12th fret.
They should sound the same.

If the fretted note is sharp to the harmonic comparison,move the bridge toward the tailpiece.

If the fretted note at the 12th fret is flat to the harmonic,move the bridge toward the neck.

When they agree(harmonic and fretted note of all the strings) as close as you can get,that's the spot for the bridge.

Jim D - Posted - 11/24/2011:  19:34:29

If your banjo is fretted (as it appears in the photo), the approximate location for your bridge is twice the difference from the inside of the nut to the center of the 12th fret. The total measurement from the nut to the properly placed bridge is known as the "scale length" of your banjo. If your bridge isn't close to this location it will be increasingly out of tune as you progress "up" the neck.



Measure the distance between the inside of the nut and the 12th fret, then measure that same distance from the 12 fret toward the tailpiece. Place the bridge there... then start the fine tuning process that Steve mentions. (Due to the difference in width and string spacing between the nut and the bridge, your strings are not exactly the same length, so a bit of fine tuning is necessary. They make "compensated" bridges to help with that.)



Jim

Edited by - Jim D on 11/24/2011 19:35:05

frettedstrings - Posted - 11/24/2011:  20:26:26

Thanks, Jim & Steve !

Jim D - Posted - 11/25/2011:  10:57:56

And... once you get it THERE, take a pencil and make a mark on the head so you won't have to repeat the whole exercise when ever you change bridges, or heads.

Jim

rudy - Posted - 11/25/2011:  11:26:51

Tim, as others have said, with a fretted banjo there is only one correct location for your bridge.  You may find my open back set up page of some use:

bluestemstrings.com/pageBanjoC...ips2.html

picker1 - Posted - 11/26/2011:  12:24:22

quote:

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Originally posted by Jim D

And... once you get it THERE, take a pencil and make a mark on the head so you won't have to repeat the whole exercise when ever you change bridges, or heads.



Jim

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Wouldn't you have to repeat it if you change the head. Or am I missing something.

Wayne

Jim D - Posted - 11/26/2011:  13:26:59

quote:

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Originally posted by picker1

 

Wouldn't you have to repeat it if you change the head. Or am I missing something.

 

Wayne

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Yep.. I should have stopped with changing the bridge.... 

Jim

TxBubbaDog - Posted - 11/26/2011:  20:15:24

Definately check out Rudy's website. He provides a wealth of knowledge.

Here is a side question.....

How many of y'all glue down your bridge?