What bridge to use?

[Richard McLain]

I am trying to find the proper bridge for my Wunderlich Boucher, any suggestions? I have had to sand the bridges down to about 1/2" height to keep the action normal, what material, shape, brand? Thanks again!

 

[John Masciale]

Many of us tend to make our own.  George Wunderlich says that it is better to make one from a soft wood like pine, and that the goal for the earlier banjos is to keep the mass of the bridge low.  I am presently making mine out of poplar, which seems to work fairly well.

[Richard McLain]

thanks John, i have been making them all week, and not satisfied, do you prefer two feet as opposed to 3?

 

[Joel Hooks]

There are no period examples known to our era with 3 legs.

[Bell Banjos]

Bridge? Ebony topped hard rock maple sandwiched around carbon fiber. Just kidding.

Pine. Two feet.

[Bart McNeil]

If I recall correctly in his video discussing building minstrel banjos Wunderlich mentions using a pine bridge on his creations (and I believe he discusses why he is using pine). You should be able to duplicate the present one fairly easily. It would seem a dowel stick adjustment may be in order. Then you could add some pine to the missing feet of the present bridge. I have a bunch of home made and store bought bridges to fuss with my banjos. In any case having a spare bridge or two is a good idea with humidity chnges. They are so easy to make they are hardly worth ordering and waiting. Resetting (repositioning) the dowel stick may not be as big a problem as one might guess....  In any case that would be your ultimate and probably necessary solution.

 

Sounds like you have a really nice banjo. I don't know what is ideal for one of his banjos but mine (non-minstrel) are roughly 1/2". My minstrel banjo is 1/2" but my pot is home made and I don't know what the ideal hight is for them.

[Richard McLain]

thanks all, i think i will try making some two footed pine bridges this evening

 

[Tim Twiss]

I use a 3 foot bridge..sugar pine.

I like it.

[Ian Bell]

Wow Tim - A three foot bridge? That must be one big banjo!

(Sorry - it was a bad joke but somebody had to make it)

Tim Twiss said:

I use a 3 foot bridge..sugar pine.

I like it.

[Carl Anderton]

Don't be afeared to crank that action up, more volume is a good thing.

[Ian Bell]

I use basswood that I've had around for making ship models. It comes in small sheets that are very conveniently bridge-width. You can get it at hobby stores like Michael's. It's light stuff and works nicely.

[Richard McLain]

How high do you suggest the action be, I'm used to it being level down the neck as a clawhammer player, but this seems to have a lot of differences than my modern banjos

[Tim Twiss]

Ha...I thought about that after I wrote it....looks funny!
Ian Bell said:

Wow Tim - A three foot bridge? That must be one big banjo!

(Sorry - it was a bad joke but somebody had to make it)

Tim Twiss said:

I use a 3 foot bridge..sugar pine.

I like it.