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Here's Steve Tourtellotte's description of his new bridge.
On August 2nd, Steve wrote:
Hello Red,
Since you've started your bridge experiment I've been doing research. I've
called violin makers all over the country to see what I could find out.
Also there is some great information on the web:
http://www.rivinus-instruments.com/DesignConcepts.htm
http://www.violadabraccio.com/historical_violin/bridge.shtml
http://jaybuckey.com/violin_bridges.htm
The mandolin and Arch top Guitars are the only acoustic instruments with an
adjustable bridge, Why? I think it was a banjo players plot 80 years ago. I
spoke with a violin maker the other day and he said if you put a ebony
bridge on a violin it would sound terrible. I also found out the type of
wood is very important. The French and Germans use select maple with certain
tonal qualities and a special hardening treatment which they have kept
secret for hundreds of years. I've ordered some European Maple from a violin
supply co. and will be doing some more experiments with the design and wood
treatment, which I think is equally important. About caps! if you use the
right maple you won't need a cap. But if you think it's necessary try bone.
Ebony deadens the string vibrations.
The pictures attached is my bridge (made from an old bass bridge) on my new
mandolin which I have just completed. It has no finish but the sound coming
out of it with this new bridge is incredible. I have just started building
again after 15 years and have several more mandolins in the works. I'll
never go back to ebony again.
I thank you, Frank Ford and all the other mandolin players experimenting
with this long overdue development.
Steve
Steve Tourtellotte
Vice President - Alabama Bluegrass Music Association
www.alabamabluegrass.org
Mandolin Player for the Distant Cousins Band
www.distantcousinsband.com
These are photos of Steve's bridge:
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