Comments

• pdg ✭✭

  September 24 edited September 24 Posts: 614

  Indian rosewood is the usual wood (usually stained black). I've compared bridges of Ind. rosewood with different tap tones and can't hear a difference when they're on the guitar..Weight is probably at least as important, as is width of base (though the latter is usually standard).
• paulmcevoy75 Portland, MaineNew

  September 24 Posts: 631

  I've made bridges out of a few different woods. Lately I've done some in Wenge, I like the bridges, up close I'm not super into the appearance but it just registers as dark brown wood. It's toxic as shit and nasty to work with, I just have some.

  Indian Rosewood is fine, it is hard to find it thick enough.

  I've made some in Maple that are really nice but I don't like light colored bridges (you could ebonize it though).

  I think Sapele would probably make really nice bridges as it seems to be really stiff and doesn't like to bend.

  Sometimes I drop different blanks on the bench and see which one "clinks" the most. That might indicate that it transfers sound faster...there's a term for that but I can't remember what it is.

  TBH I've switched between a Maple and a Wenge bridge on a guitar and I don't hear a huge difference. I don't want to make a super heavy bridge, so generally avoid Ebony, but who knows...it might be fine.

  It is helpful to have a little druggy scale to weigh the bridges.

  Selmer bridges are not super easy to make. I do mine on the CNC. If I didn't have that I'd have to figure out a good way to carve them but to get nice flowing surfaces seems like a PITA.
• happyjazzer New

  September 24 Posts: 19

  Thanks for the posts so far. Years ago—‘not knowing now what I know now’ syndrome— I made a bridge out of Satin wood. Sounded not bad. I think you have to experiment with different woods. Maybe it’s not all ebony and Indian rosewood as is the tradition.
• Joshl-m New

  September 25 Posts: 92

  I’ve not made one of ebony but I have made some out of rosewood, ziricote and maple. The maple was ok but kind of dull sounding. Ziricote was nice but lacked a little warmth. Rosewood was my favourite. Really clear but still warm. I purchased some from “exotic woods Burlington” in Burlington ON. Ordering is hit and miss with them but the block I got was nice. They sell a lot of 2”x2”x18-24” pieces for wood turning.

  I also found a really good pice at A&M woods on Cambridge ON. For $12! It was on a table of off cuts and it was covered in wax. The cashier couldn’t identify it but it looked promising. As soon as I cut into it I knew what it was. I used that in my new guitar and I’m very happy with it. I can get 3 more bridges out of that block
• Joshl-m New

  September 25 Posts: 92

  Also, it’s kinda been touched on here but learning how to make the bridge is more important, at first, than the material. You can make nice bridges out of lots of different materials but you can also waste a lot of good materials figuring out how to do it. Maybe start with maple because it’s cheap and plentiful. And having a good bridge or two to reference is super helpful. I was playing cheap GJ guitars f the hat needed upgrading. So I ordered two different sized bridges from Tommy Davey and spent a lot of time learning what I could from those