Maple mandolin bridges are now available!

(Do-it-yourselfers scroll down for maple bridge wood.)

(Scroll down also for high-and low-profile bridge options, as well as banjo-mandolin bridges.)

OK, folks. You win. I've put this off for a long time, and experimented with these maple mandolin bridges for almost two years. But finally, enough of you have written me about the bridges that I've decided to sell them.

And what am I talking about? I'm talking about my one-piece maple mandolin bridges, which are guaranteed* to make your mandolin sound better. The bridges are all personally made by me, and they are individually signed and numbered. I have bridges ready to ship for mandolin, mandola, and mando-cello, all at the same price (see below).

These maple bridges are for all carved-top and flat-top mandolin-family instruments, from mandolins and mandolas to octave mandolins and mandocellos. I have made and shipped over 600 maple bridges so far, and I've personally installed them on many mandolins, beginning in June, 2002. (You can see details of the bridges and their development here.)

So why switch to a one-piece maple bridge? To put it simply, you can get more quality sound from your mandolin. You can expect improvements in volume, richness, clarity, sustain, and ease of tuning, and you can expect it on mandolins ranging from the highest-quality instruments down to the most economical imports. Modern F-5 and A-5 style mandolins will give more volume, clarity, and richness with a maple bridge, and those old oval-hole Gibson A-models and H-models will really sound out with more smoothness, resonance, and volume. This has been verified by the installation of hundreds of maple bridges on mandolins of all types.

How to Order

To order a bridge on line, just click here!

Or, you can call us toll-free (The Murphy Method) at 800-227-2357 and order with a credit card. (You can also email or call me and send a check.) When you order, tell me whether you need a bridge for a mandolin, mandola, or mandocello, and whether the mandolin's top has an oval hole or f-holes. Also let me know the approximate height of your present bridge. (There's a message block provided for you to fill in this information when you order on line.) I'll select and send you a bridge of quality well-aged maple, ready to be fitted to your mandolin by your favorite repair-person (or you can fit it yourself with directions which I'll include). Fitting and compensating the bridge will typically involve up to an hour of shop time, or more if it is the first time you have done this. To see what is involved in the fitting process, read about it here.

*And here's that guarantee. The bottom line is that I want you to be satisfied. I believe in these bridges and I want to minimize the risk to you, so here's the Red Henry Maple Bridge Guarantee: If anything goes wrong in installing the bridge, for example if your installer manages to chip it or cut it too low the first time, you can send it back and I'll replace it free of charge. AND-- this is the most important part-- if after playing your mandolin with this bridge on it for 30 days you don't think it sounds better, you can send the bridge back for a refund. (No one has asked for a refund yet, but the guarantee is there just the same.)

I can usually mail a bridge out within one or two business days. Write me with any questions. The designs are well-proven, and the bridges are ready to go.

Is it worth $20.00 plus installation? Think about the sound.

Regards,

Red Henry

To order a bridge: Click here!

Here are new options for you when ordering a maple bridge:

Special Low-profile Maple Bridges:

Low-profile bridges: These are useful for mandolins requiring a short bridge, and can be cut as low as 5/8" height. Available both in American maple (for oval hole mandolins) and in European maple (for f-holes).

Super-low-profile bridges: These bridges are especially intended for flat-top mandolins, but are useful on any mandolin requiring an extra-low bridge, down to 3/8" height.

Any of these bridges can be ordered with straight feet, for a flat-top mandolin. Even on those plain, off-brand teardrop-shaped mandolins made from the 19-'teens up into the 1950s, changing the bridge to maple can make a big difference in the sound. The price of a low-profile bridge is the same as usual, $20.00 postpaid. To order a low-profile or a super-low-profile bridge, just specify when ordering. Please let me know the approximate height of your present bridge, so that I can send one that will be easy to cut to height.

Some of the Other Custom Bridges Available

I can deliver quite a few options in a bridge. Write me about a bridge for your special needs.

High-profile bridges: Occasionally a mandolin-family instrument will require an extra high bridge. These are often in stock, but if not they can usually be delivered in a few days. Specify the approximate height that you require, so that I can supply a bridge somewhat higher, which can be cut down to your needs. Available both in American maple (for oval hole mandolins) and in European maple (for f-holes). Specify mandolin, mandola, or mandocello. $20.00 postpaid.

Octave Mandolin or Bouzouki bridges: These are usually related to mandola bridges, and are made from American maple for oval-hole, flat-topped instruments. Specify the approximate height you need, so that I can send a bridge that's in the ball park and will not need too much material removed when cut to height. $20.00 postpaid.
(On carved-top instruments, one of my regular mandola bridges usually works great.)

Banjo-Mandolin bridges: After numerous experiments, I've developed a banjo-mandolin bridge that delivers a nicer tone and less harshness than ordinary banjo-style bridges. I make these from mahogany, which gives a mellow, plunky sound. Available in a wide range of heights. Usually delivered unslotted. (Copy your present string-slot spacing when you install it.) Specify height. $20.00 postpaid.

Maple bridge wood is now available!
(Added March, 2005)

In response to MANY requests, here is some good-quality maple, in case you'd like to try your hand at making a bridge. The price is low, too, considering that it is quality wood. This is aged European or American maple, good for making bridges for mandolin-family instruments of all types and sizes. Here's what we have:

Strips of maple about 3/8" thick, each strip usually long enough to make three mandolin bridges. Strips are European maple for mandolins with f-holes, or American maple for mandolins with oval holes. These strips are fairly rough-cut and will often require some thinning. Price $4.00 each, including shipping (to U.S. and Canada). Overseas shipping extra.

This is actually wood intended for violin construction. I have used this same maple to make a great many bridges for f-hole and oval-hole mandolins. Now, you can try it yourself. Instructions and templates for making mandolin bridges are here.

I can also supply thicker and taller maple strips (big enough for two mandocello or archtop guitar bridges) on request, at the same price as above. Just call, or drop me a line.

Red Henry

To order a bridge or maple strips: Click here!

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