White Bridge Saddle

[TEvans]

I've seen these in a few places recently, my mandolin teacher's old Gibson A, and in a few videos.

What are they? Are they bone? Some sort of ivory or tusk?
I've heard it brightens up the mids and highs, as well.

If anyone knows anything and could steer me in the right direction, that would be awesome!

Thanks!

[Freddyfingers]

Pic?

[Folkmusician.com]

If you are looking to retrofit a current mandolin, bone is going to be the easy choice as it is readily available. An older mandolin could have ivory. Any of these will brighten up the mandolin, but usually in a bad way.

[jim33]

Do a google search for mandolin bridge bone saddle. I did and got this:

http://www.mandolinluthier.com/bone_...ass_bridge.htm

[Jim Garber]

Around 1921 Gibson put some aluminum tops on the bridges of some mandolins. Is that what you might be seeing.

[TEvans]

I figured it was bone. I really enjoy my instructor's tone. But that may have less to do with the bridge and more to do with him being really freaking good at mandolin.

[Willie Poole]

Some years ago in Bluegrass Unlimited there was an ad for bridge saddles made from deer antlers, I bought two of them and on one mandolin it made it sound a tad better and on another it took away from what sound I like, I have since removed them from all mandolins and am happy with the ebony saddles...They do seem to bring out the treble sound a bit more if that is what you are after but they don`t really make that much difference, at least to me they didn`t.....

It never hurts to try different things because you might hit on something that really makes your mando come alive...I also made one out of aluminum and it didn`t do anything but kill 50% of the loudness and tone...

Willie

[RustyMadd]

Talk about resurrecting an old thread, but I believe your seeing Antler bridges by Rosa String Works.