Acoustic Guitar Bridge

One of the most imperative parts in the tone creation chain of classical or acoustic guitars is the bridge component. With unsuitable installation, or if the bridge is made of less than prime materials, the bridge can cause the luthier significant problems.

Primary Purpose of the Bridge:

Providing a secure and efficient attachment of the guitar strings to the guitar top plate is the first role of the guitar bridge. The caliber of this attachment cannot be over-emphasized as the guitar bridge is required to endure the approximately 200 pounds of tension placed on the top.

What is the Secondary Function of the Bridge?

The secondary role of the guitar bridge is the transmission of the vibrations that are produced as the guitar strings are picked or strummed, to the guitar top.

What is the Last Purpose of the Guitar Bridge?

Guitar bridge appearance is the concluding use of the bridge. Form follows function is a phrase that applies to the expression of the bridge and what you you strive for with guitar bridge design. It also should be comfortable to place your hand on the bridge while playing the instrument.

Types of Guitar Bridges:

There are 3 basic varieties of guitar bridges that are used for the acoustic guitar. The initial classical guitar bridge was designed in the mid-1800′s by famed luthier Antonio De Torres and has hardly changed since that time.

There are three main elements of the classical guitar bridge. Those components consist of the saddle capture area, the string tie down block and the bridge wings. The bridge is glued directly to the top of the guitar top plate, without any supplementary attachment.

The First Bridge Type – The Belly Bridge:

Probably the most employed bridge type is the acoustic guitar belly bridge. In the early 1930′s the CF Martin Company designed the belly bridge as part of their launching of the Dreadnought Guitar line. The popularity is ascribable no doubt to the simpleness and elegance that belly bridge exhibits. There are three major design features of the belly bridge. The captured saddle area, the belly-shaped plan-form, and the gracefully shaped bridge ramps. A glue joint is most typically the only method of attachment of the belly bridge.

Acoustic Guitar Prism Bridge:

As with the belly bridge, the prism bridge was rolled-out by the CF Martin Company and was used on their vintage small body guitar and the contemporary re-issue of those same guitars. There are numerous differences between the belly bridge such as a rectangular plan-form, prism-shaped ramps and a through saddle. Mechanical fasteners are infrequently used as an fastening method for the prism bridge and the securement method of choice is often just a glue joint.

The Third Bridge Type – Mustache Bridge:

Mustache bridges were designed by Gibson Guitar Company. This bridge was first introduced in Gibson’s pre-war acoustic guitar line and has since seen popularity in their re-issue vintage guitars. Major components of the mustache bridge comprise a captured saddle, a mustache or very curvilinear plan-form, which is it’s namesake. Another deviation from the usual belly bridge or prism bridge is that the bridge pin shape is often bow-shaped. A glue joint is most often combined with some sort of mechanical fastener for attachment of the mustache bridge.

That’s the low down on bridges. This covers the vast bulk of bridges that are used for both classical and acoustic guitars. The use is often governed by personal preference.