bluejazz says:
12/12/2015 3:58:33 AM

Of all of them I have run across, one seems to be almost universally highly regarded. The Sullivan Roasted Maple bridge. (now someone will likely write and say they HATE Sullivan Roasted Maple bridges.) :-)

Another option is to engage a bridge maker to help you decide based on your banjo, what you want to play, etc . Bart Veerman here on BHO is good.

RUSTYSTILL says:
1/2/2016 2:11:34 PM

The original Deering bridge that came with my calico started bowing so I switched to a Snuffy Smith lll and that works pretty well. I also have open back banjos and one year at the Centralia WA old time campout met Doc (Partick) Huff and his banjos. I had him do a little minor setup on my Whyte Laydie and I tried one of his cathedral bridges and the difference in tone was pretty amazing. A couple of years ago I went up to his shop and tried some of his new bluegrass bridges on my Calico and found one that worked well for my ears. Bridges can vary considerably in their effect on a banjo's tone and it's all a matter of which one affects the tone in a way you prefer. I tend to like a darker fatter tone and Doc helped me pick a bridge to suit my tastes and it's been on my Calico ever since and sounds great with the Thomastik strings. Check out;
docsbanjos.com/bridges/
fwiw, his open back banjos are from another world.....simply awesome.

Jim

tkocason says:
1/7/2016 3:02:37 PM

Hey, I own about 25 different bridges. The one I ended up with on my Calico is actually a Huber bridge. ( I know, it pained me to do it) A SS bridge was pretty close but I left the Huber on.
If it works, it works. it was best to my ear...

halfnote says:
4/23/2016 9:08:41 PM

Try David Cunningham Banjo Works in Stl area. He professionally makes a million different bridges of all kinds. If you're in the area go see him and you can likely try bridges 'til you find something that you truly like.

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