You may have noticed when you play with a certain bridge for some months or years the sound seems to deteriorate. At first it's great then as time goes by it becomes meh. You put it in the case for months or years, re-install it and it knocks your socks off. A common reaction. Here is why:
--as you play the banjo the bridge gradually fills up with music. When it is full it loses it's vibrational abilities. Resting in the case the music gradually bleeds away until the bridge is empty at which point its vibrational qualities are restored. It's science.
Edited by - Texasbanjo on 01/29/2023 04:39:51
Send me some of what you're smoking! Sharing is caring
I believe in order to get this phenomenon to work there are certain pagan incantations which must be chanted as well.
Must be why fiddle bridges have holes in them.
Also explains why those spillway dam bridges sound so good, lots of room for the music to flow.
I don't think the mushrooms you are foraging for are the right variety.
Hi KC thanks for the plug on my bridges, much appreciated. Stringbean 45
I was going to keep this a secret, to myself, but I guess I'll share. One of my bridges does something different ...it sucks up just my mistakes. On a good day I can play wonderfully for maybe 45 minutes or an hour, then the bridge is full. Back in the case, the mistakes seem to empty out. Sometimes it takes a day, sometimes two, depending how I played before I put the banjo back in the case. If I take it out too soon, then you can hear the mistakes right away. So, rather than having an "A" day, I might have a "B" day. I won't share the name of the bridge, as it is a prototype ,but you can imagine that it will be prohibitively expensive once it is on the market.
Edited by - thisoldman on 01/27/2023 16:24:15
If I were to put my bridge in the case to rest, it would be to "rest in peace. " That's what I have done with other dead things, like relatives If the old music leaks out while resting, maybe you could sell the banjo at a profit and just play the banjo case.
Maybe the bridge is not filled with music, though, and can be livened back up with a few amphetamines or a line or two of coke.
This subject has taken a turn
quote:
Originally posted by Possum FatThis subject has taken a turn
From what to what? We're still talking about bridges, aren't we?
I can't say I've experienced the phenomenon you mention, but then my banjos all have skin heads. The vellum soaks up humidity to a much greater extent than plastic heads do, so I guess it soaks up surplus music, too. Seems like my bridges dry out where the feet rest on the head. Yeah, I guess that's what you call science.
Cheers,
John
Whenever I want to get rid of old music, I don't mess with what's been trapped in the bridge, I just burn the sheet music.
This topic should definately be moved to building/setup/repair, we wouldn't want the world to miss out on this one!
You haven't thought this one out.
What you need is an earthing strap from the bridge that drags in the floor just like cars use.
??
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