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Jul 30, 2026 - 12:54:44 AM
21 posts since 6/5/2026

Strummers and Pickers:

I have a Gold Tone Cripple Creek Tenor (4 string) banjo. I want to replace the bridge. If you look closely at my picture, the bridge appears to have a longer length from the first string to the tip than it does from the fourth string to opposite side tip. Maybe the builder or luthier was named "Stevie Wonder", "Jose Feliciano" or "Helen Keller" - I don't know - but I can surely SEE that is a tad "off". As a result, my fourth string seems to skirt the edge of the fretboard making fretting it a "PITA", so it's got to go.

I previously mentioned the "weirdness" of having a 5 string tailpiece on this 4 string banjo (see picture) and someone mentioned to skip the middle slot on the tailpiece. I've since done that!! Thank you for the suggestion! On Ebay I've seen that other "Gold Tone Cripple Creek tenor banjos" have the same 5 string tailpiece, so I've decided to "accept" and "embrace" it's "strangeness". LOL

Now, I want to replace the "cock-eyed" bridge. I've found several on Ebay.

Could someone please explain the difference between a "5/8' Tenor Maple/Ebony banjo bridge" and a 5/8" "Banjolele" 4 String Maple/Ebony (made by Gold Tone) bridge? They look exactly the same to me. I'm guessing "Stevie", "Jose" and "Helen" would unanimously agree.

Thanks for your time and help!!


 

Jul 30, 2026 - 5:18:54 AM

BobbyE

USA

3901 posts since 11/29/2007

The banjolele bridge would be for a banjo-uk instrument and the other would be for a straight ahead tenor banjo.  That being said, there might not be any difference between the two as far as what it would sound like on your banjo.  I don't mean the sound wouldn't be different, just no way to tell which would sound the best until you put them on your banjo and give them a test drive. 

Bobby

Edited by - BobbyE on 07/30/2026 05:23:57

Jul 30, 2026 - 6:00:10 AM

Bart Veerman

Canada

6164 posts since 1/5/2005

Just a sloppy slotting job so it's a cosmetic issue only. Push the bridge sideways so the distance from the 1st and 4th string is the same and you're all set.
If you need/want a 5/8" bridge check on the classivides on this website, plenty people who can hook you up.

Jul 30, 2026 - 6:15:16 AM
like this

jduke

USA

1240 posts since 1/15/2009

They may actually be the same bridge with one difference. Ukuleles and banjo Ukes are almost always strung with Nylon stings which need slightly wider slots in the bridge.

Jul 30, 2026 - 6:26:36 AM
likes this

82218 posts since 5/9/2007

I find the references to the blind people to be rather cold.

Jul 30, 2026 - 6:31:55 AM

220 posts since 8/20/2025

As long as the string spacing between each string is even then its just the sheer length of each side of the bridge that seems to be the issue? They probably use the same bridge template and cut it for 4, 5, and 6 strings.

The length of the bridge to the sides of the top and bottom strings doesn't affect the placement of the strings down the neck so maybe the bridge is off-center? Since banjo bridges are not fixed on the head you can nudge the bridge towards the first string side to get more of the fourth string over the frets. See if you can get an even amount of fretboard overhang above 4th string and below 1st string on the fretboard to an acceptable amount where neither string is too close to being off the fretboard.

Jul 30, 2026 - 7:37:19 PM

21 posts since 6/5/2026

quote:
Originally posted by steve davis

I find the references to the blind people to be rather cold.


Stop sitting on the toilet when urinating. "Man-up!!"

Jul 30, 2026 - 7:41:44 PM

21 posts since 6/5/2026

quote:
Originally posted by localhost

As long as the string spacing between each string is even then its just the sheer length of each side of the bridge that seems to be the issue? They probably use the same bridge template and cut it for 4, 5, and 6 strings.

The length of the bridge to the sides of the top and bottom strings doesn't affect the placement of the strings down the neck so maybe the bridge is off-center? Since banjo bridges are not fixed on the head you can nudge the bridge towards the first string side to get more of the fourth string over the frets. See if you can get an even amount of fretboard overhang above 4th string and below 1st string on the fretboard to an acceptable amount where neither string is too close to being off the fretboard.


Thanks for responding. 
Yes. It's off center - for sure - but it's one of those minor "ticky-tacky" things that can "annoy".  

Jul 30, 2026 - 7:44:13 PM

21 posts since 6/5/2026

quote:
Originally posted by jduke

They may actually be the same bridge with one difference. Ukuleles and banjo Ukes are almost always strung with Nylon stings which need slightly wider slots in the bridge.


Great point - "noted". Either way I'll hafta check the slots and possibly file them for fit.   Thanks for responding! 

Edited by - 86OmniGLH on 07/30/2026 19:46:09

Jul 30, 2026 - 7:50:33 PM

21 posts since 6/5/2026

quote:
Originally posted by BobbyE

The banjolele bridge would be for a banjo-uk instrument and the other would be for a straight ahead tenor banjo.  That being said, there might not be any difference between the two as far as what it would sound like on your banjo.  I don't mean the sound wouldn't be different, just no way to tell which would sound the best until you put them on your banjo and give them a test drive. 

Bobby


Bobby thanks for explaining the differences. I didn't know banjoleles were UK instruments. I am primarily strumming chords on my banjos and - particularly - learning chords with the "CGDA" tuning on my tenor and finger picking on my 5 string.

Jul 30, 2026 - 7:56:38 PM

21 posts since 6/5/2026

quote:
Originally posted by Bart Veerman

Just a sloppy slotting job so it's a cosmetic issue only. Push the bridge sideways so the distance from the 1st and 4th string is the same and you're all set.
If you need/want a 5/8" bridge check on the classivides on this website, plenty people who can hook you up.


Bart, you are correct. It's a "cosmetic issue" but it "annoys" me.  On a more academic level, I actually love learning about tone changes by trying out different bridges and strings.  I gotta try nylgut or nylon strings, soon.  

Jul 31, 2026 - 7:43:15 AM

Alex Z

USA

6197 posts since 12/7/2006

"I can surely SEE that is a tad "off". As a result, my fourth string seems to skirt the edge of the fretboard making fretting it a "PITA", so it's got to go."

Looking closely at the image, the immediate thing I notice is the masking tape holding the edge feet of the bridge to the head.  May not be aesthetically pleasing to the eye, but if it functions OK for the poster, so be it.

The observation that the fourth string "seems" to skirt the edge of the fingerboard may have two causes:  1. If the neck angle side to side is lined up perfectly with the tailpiece that is perfectly centered, and the bridge is exactly in line with a line drawn through the center of the fingerboard to the center of the tailpiece, then the position of the strings relative to the edges of the fingerboard is determined by the grooves on the bridge;  or 2. Either the neck or the tailpiece is not aligned properly or centered.  A common cause of offset string position on the neck is that the neck does not point directly at the center of the tailpiece.  This can be checked by sighting down the neck from the tailpiece side.  

The remedy is to slide the bridge  slightly sideways to the desired position (and then it can be taped down).   Mr. Bart mentioned this also.  I do this by eye, because my preference is that the 1st string be slightly closer to the edge of the fingerboard than the 5th string (on a 5-string banjo).

If the difference in the groove position to the edge, 1st string compared to 4th string, is about 1/16" inch (from what can be seen on a close up of the picture) then the bridge has to be moved only 1/32".   If this fixes the difficulty in fretting, then maybe the poster can get rid of the masking tape.  If it doesn't fix it, then look at the neck angle and observe the centering of the tailpiece.

As Yogi Berra has been quoted, "You can observe a lot by watching."  They key to the solution here may be to take a close look and solve the string position issue analytically first, then apply the visual aesthetics to the solution.

Hope this helps.

Jul 31, 2026 - 12:03:08 PM

21 posts since 6/5/2026

quote:
Originally posted by Alex Z

"I can surely SEE that is a tad "off". As a result, my fourth string seems to skirt the edge of the fretboard making fretting it a "PITA", so it's got to go."

Looking closely at the image, the immediate thing I notice is the masking tape holding the edge feet of the bridge to the head.  May not be aesthetically pleasing to the eye, but if it functions OK for the poster, so be it.

The observation that the fourth string "seems" to skirt the edge of the fingerboard may have two causes:  1. If the neck angle side to side is lined up perfectly with the tailpiece that is perfectly centered, and the bridge is exactly in line with a line drawn through the center of the fingerboard to the center of the tailpiece, then the position of the strings relative to the edges of the fingerboard is determined by the grooves on the bridge;  or 2. Either the neck or the tailpiece is not aligned properly or centered.  A common cause of offset string position on the neck is that the neck does not point directly at the center of the tailpiece.  This can be checked by sighting down the neck from the tailpiece side.  

The remedy is to slide the bridge  slightly sideways to the desired position (and then it can be taped down).   Mr. Bart mentioned this also.  I do this by eye, because my preference is that the 1st string be slightly closer to the edge of the fingerboard than the 5th string (on a 5-string banjo).

If the difference in the groove position to the edge, 1st string compared to 4th string, is about 1/16" inch (from what can be seen on a close up of the picture) then the bridge has to be moved only 1/32".   If this fixes the difficulty in fretting, then maybe the poster can get rid of the masking tape.  If it doesn't fix it, then look at the neck angle and observe the centering of the tailpiece.

As Yogi Berra has been quoted, "You can observe a lot by watching."  They key to the solution here may be to take a close look and solve the string position issue analytically first, then apply the visual aesthetics to the solution.

Hope this helps.

Thanks for responding Alex.  The masking tape was to mark the spot where the bridge was while loosening the strings.  I just didn't take it off before taking the picture of the tailpiece. 

"Exactly" - loosen the strings and slide the bridge a few millimeters until it is "at" centered OR buy another bridge that aesthetically looks better for less than ten bucks.... 
My banjo probably also needs a set-up, too as you suggested.. 

Yogi also - more famously said (reiterated two decades later in song by Lenny Kravitz) : "It's ain't over 'til it's over." I was a fan of the '73 Mets and "Tom Terrific". 

Thanks so much for taking the time to help by responding!  
Jul 31, 2026 - 2:14:53 PM

Alex Z

USA

6197 posts since 12/7/2006

Another bridge will sound different.  Could be preferable , or could be worse.  Ears and hands tell you that. Don't need good vision  to discern a difference in tone or playability.   In fact, double blind test after double blind test on violins, guitars, banjos indicate that "hearing with the eyes" is very common. 
 

So if you get a new bridge, test it out on someone with discriminatory ears, new bridge vs adjusted current bridge, without telling them which is which.  Ask them to describe the differences they are hearing, if any. 
 

Myself, being able to ask Mr. Stevie or Mr. Jose or Mr. Doc what they are hearing from my banjo or in my playing would a high point in a lifetime.

Jul 31, 2026 - 2:59:23 PM

Dean T

USA

3825 posts since 4/18/2024

My first impression of the photo, even though the strap covers it, is the short distance between the tailpiece and left hook, and the longer distance between the tailpiece and the strap, and still no hook is visible. This tells me the tailpiece is way off center. My guess is the strap catches on the tailpiece, and has pulled it off center, which would definitely explain the 4 string running too close to the edge of the fretboard.

Aug 1, 2026 - 6:40:22 AM

82218 posts since 5/9/2007

quote:
Originally posted by 86OmniGLH
quote:
Originally posted by steve davis

I find the references to the blind people to be rather cold.


Stop sitting on the toilet when urinating. "Man-up!!"


What is that supposed to mean?

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