Maple bridge?

[inoz]

Hi folks,
I was thinking a maple bridge might be nice, to pick up the maple binding on my current build but I don't think I've ever seen a maple bridge. Is there any reason why not? Is it too light? too dampening? I reckon it'd look good on an all Koa guitar.
ta,
Ray

[simso]

Too soft

[kiwigeo]

Dave Freeman uses birdseye maple on one or two of his steel strings.

[Lillian]

Hi folks,
I was thinking a maple bridge might be nice, to pick up the maple binding on my current build but I don't think I've ever seen a maple bridge. Is there any reason why not? Is it too light? too dampening? I reckon it'd look good on an all Koa guitar.
ta,
Ray

Which maple?

[inoz]

oops, sorry I bought a piece of quartersawn curly maple.
Ray.

[peter.coombe]

Curly Big Leaf Maple, curly Rock Maple, curly Red Maple, curly European Maple? What species? That is the question.

Peter

[kiwigeo]

An interesting link on maple mandolin bridges:

http://www.murphymethod.com/index.cfm?e ... ntentId=96

[inoz]

sorry again, it's Red Maple.

[Lillian]

The reason I asked which maple... From Wikipeidai "There are approximately 129 species, most of which are native to Asia, with a number also appearing in Europe, northern Africa, and North America. Only one species, the poorly studied Acer laurinum, is native to the Southern Hemisphere."

If you are talking about North American red maple that would be Acer rubrum. AKA scarlet maple, swamp maple, soft maple, Carolina red maple, Drummond red maple, and water maple.

Common Name(s): Red Maple
Scientific Name: Acer rubrum
Distribution: Eastern North America
Tree Size: 65-100 ft (20-30 m) tall, 2-3 ft (.6-1.0 m) trunk diameter
Average Dried Weight: 38lbs/ft3 (610 kg/m3)
Basic Specific Gravity: .49
Hardness: 950 lbf (4,230 N)
Rupture Strength: 13,400 lbf/in2 (92,410 kPa)
Elastic Strength: 1,640,000 lbf/in2 (11,310 MPa)
Shrinkage: Radial: 4.0%, Tangential: 8.2%, Volumetric: 12.6%, T/R Ratio: 2.1


Compare it to Rosewood Stats and decide for yourself.


Common Name(s): Brazilian Rosewood, Bahia Rosewood, Jacaranda
Scientific Name: Dalbergia nigra
Distribution: Brazil
Tree Size: 100-130 ft (30-40 m) tall, 3-4 ft (1-1.2 m) trunk diameter
Average Dried Weight: 52 lbs/ft3 (830 kg/m3)
Basic Specific Gravity: .68
Hardness: 2,270 lbf (10,100 N)
Rupture Strength: 18,970 lbf/in2 (130,830 kPa)
Elastic Strength: 1,880,000 lbf/in2 (12,970 MPa)
Shrinkage: Radial: 2.9%, Tangential: 4.6%, Volumetric: 8.5%, T/R Ratio: 1.6

[peter.coombe]

There is a thread on luthiersforum.com on this very subject.

http://www.luthiersforum.com/forum/view ... 01&t=33261

Also from Al Carruth

"Maple is fine for bridges: it's no softer than the cherry Comfyfoot's used. I'd do two things, though:
1) move the saddle back a bit, so that the slot is no closer than about 5mm from the front edge of the bridge, and
2) angle the slot back about 9 degrees from the vertical as seen from the side.

Both of these will reduce the likelihood that the saddle slot will split out the front of the bridge. More material in front is obvious. Angling the saddle back reduces the tipping force on the top: theoretically if the saddle angle bisects the break angle there is no net tipping force. That's how violins get away with that skinny maple bridge.

Watch the weight of the bridge; it can easily get too light with a lower density material. I shoot for 30-35 grams on steel strings; much less than 25 is getting light"

Sounds like good advice to me. On Mandolins Maple sounds brighter and louder, and to my ears somewat thinner. That may or may not be a good thing.

Peter